The Great Crashes

Lessons from Global Meltdowns and How to Prevent Them

A fascinating account of a century of financial crashes, showing what lessons can be learned from history and where the next crash will come from

'A masterclass in spotting the early signs of a crisis' Nouriel Roubini, author, Megathreats

Since the Wall Street Crash of 1929, the global economy has weathered the most tumultuous century in financial history. From the currency crises of the 1980s, to Japan's housing meltdown, the dot com boom and bust, the global financial crash and the COVID pandemic, crash after crash has sent shockwaves through our world.

The Great Crashes tells the stories of ten of these historic financial events. They serve as a series of cautionary tales, each with their own lessons to be learnt.

With clear-eyed analysis, renowned economist Professor Linda Yueh uses these meltdowns to extract a critical three-step framework to help recognise the early signs of a crash, mitigate the effects and even prevent them in the future. There is very little that is certain in economics, except for this: there will be another financial crisis. 

Combining her in-depth knowledge with her compelling storytelling, The Great Crashes is essential reading that offers urgent lessons for the modern world.

'This is the historical perspective we need' John Kay, author, Radical Uncertainty

'A first point of entry for anybody who wants to learn how the world sleep-walked into multiple crashes' Daron Acemoglu, author, Why Nations Fail

'Fascinating, well-written and authoritative' Tim Harford, author, The Data Detective