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The second half of the 20th century was marked by the ebb and flow of government influence over national and international economies. Daniel Yergin and Joseph Stanislaw characterize the balance between government and private marketplace clout as a battle for the commanding heights of the economy. They trace this fight back to the years after World War II, where they discover that capitalism had been widely discredited and governments were basking in the glow of wartime victory. With descriptions of the catalytic people and events that moved markets and policy, Yergin and Stanislaw have turned an essentially academic topic into a readable book, which is as much about economics as it is about history. As engaging as the stories are, don’t assume you’re in for a light read. Many business books today have plenty of sizzle, but not much steak. getAbstract recommends that you sink your teeth into this big, juicy T-bone of a book, a rare treat for intellectual readers searching for economic adventure and substantive history.

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From THE COMMANDING HEIGHTS by Daniel Yergin and Joseph Stanislaw. Copyright © 1998 by Daniel A Yergin and Joseph Stanislaw. Reprinted by permission of Simon & Schuster, Inc.