Financial crises are to us what natural disasters were to our ancient ancestors. From ancient Rome to the Great Meltdown of 2008, their unpredictable nature and punishing aftermath have made them objects of mystery and morbid fascination. In this sweeping account, acclaimed commentator and financier Bob Swarup examines our shared history of financial speculation and its consequences. Money Mania tracks and analyses the persistent seduction of our senses by new investment opportunities; the subsuming of individuals into the euphoria of the crowd; the ever-enriching boom, fuelled by a surfeit of money; and the complexities that we never understand till it is too late. In short, it is the story of what makes us human.

Bob Swarup began as a refugee from cosmology and has spent his career thereafter dabbling in financial markets, macroeconomics and regulation. He has worked at the highest levels with leading asset managers, institutional investors and policymakers, advising them on investment strategy as well as proactively managing the dynamic complexity of risks they face. Bob is a Fellow in Finance at the Institute of Economic Affairs; a Senior Visiting Fellow at Cass Business School; and an Associate of Lombard Street Research. He holds a PhD from Imperial College London and MA (Hons) from the University of Cambridge.

RSVP: via email or on 0207 799 8900.