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Recycling is our penance for the material advantages of a consumer society. It is no more sensible to ask about its benefits than to inquire whether Hail Marys do the Blessed Virgin any good. FT, 25.2.04	"Everlasting Light Bulbs" It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Everlasting Light Bulbs is based on a collection of John's columns for the Financial Times, written between 1996 and 2004. The period was characterised by the dawn of the new economy, fears of 'irrational exuberance', attacks on the legitimacy of capitalism and the greatest speculative bubble in world history that swept the ballgoers off the floor. However, at the time when this collection was put together, a new lot of hopefuls had emerged at the edges of the ballroom, waiting to launch once more to the ballroom floor. Those who do not learn from history are destined to repeat it. There are enduring truths about how national economies, businesses and industries function - truths valid before 1996, still valid in 2004, and discarded at great danger to our reputations and our wealth. In this book, John shares some of the insights and lessons of his articles during this remarkably turbulent time, and gives thought to how economics illuminates the world - from BT's dress code to the deadweight loss of Christmas. "John Kay sounds like the archetypal polemicist, an economist with attitude, the dismal science's answer to David Starkey. Wrong on all counts. Kay argues that Keynes was right when he wanted economists to be treated like dentists." Larry Elliott, The Guardian "A lot more economists than you might think can write", says Peter Dougherty, Princeton University's Press's economics editor. Mr Dougherty rates Paul Krugman and John Kay as the best today." The Economist This book is available to buy from our site. Click to order. ^ back to top
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