Money of the Mind

James Grant's lively narrative history traces American credit from the Civil War through 1980s junk bonds with wit, anecdote, and genuine analytical sharpness — Kirkus praised it, and it remains a cited classic of financial journalism decades later. It predates the 2008 crisis and leans heavily on anecdote over data, so read it as an entertaining introduction to credit cycles rather than a comprehensive reference. Educated general readers get real value here.