Did Pratchett See The Recession Coming? (Making Money - Terry Pratchett)

Name: shewhoguards

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Product:	Making Money - Terry Pratchett
Date:	30/04/08 (13 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Both funny and rtelevant to the current economical situation

Disadvantages: Maybe more enjoyable to us economy/political geeks

Now and then, Terry Pratchett's timing can be uncanny. This book was released only days after the run on Northern Rock in the UK - a coincidence that still leaves me gaping a little at the appropriateness of it all.

For Making Money is, as the title might suggest, about banks. Moist von Lipwig - star of Going Postal - reappears in this one to be handed the responsibility of the Bank of Ankh Morpork.

What I love most about Pratchett's newer work is the way he does his research. While the principle of money in this book - the idea of it being in our heads, of us not NEEDING gold - is explained in slightly laughing tones throughout this book, it is nevertheless explained accurately. I particularly liked the mention of the people who are represented in the economic system as "keeping money in an old sock" - again, particularly good timing as the BBC reported less than a week ago tha\t the "keeping money under the mattress" quotient in the UK.

I can see that this one's had a couple of negative reviews. I don't know - maybe it's because I'm a bit of an economy and political geek, but I LIKED this book. Maybe it's not as silly as the early Pratchett books, swinging closer to satire than outright humour, but I enjoy that in his later works. It still leaves me giggling, but makes me think too.

Amazon currently have it for £12.53 in hardback, but if you wait for June you can get the paperback for just over £5.

Summary: A good book, with slightly frightenig timing for publication