Title
The Reckoning: Financial Accountability And The Rise And Fall Of Nations
Delivery time: 8-12 business days (International)
A Brilliant (Los Angeles Review Of Books) History Of Accounting, Showing How Financial And Political Accountability Has Shaped The Rise And Fall Of Nations And Empireswhether Building A Road Or Fighting A War, Leaders From Ancient Mesopotamia To The Present Have Relied On Financial Accounting To Track Their State'S Assets And Guide Its Policies. Basic Accounting Tools Such As Auditing And Doubleentry Bookkeeping Form The Basis Of Modern Capitalism And The Nationstate. Yet Our Appreciation For Accounting And Its Formative Role Throughout History Remains Minimal At Bestand We Remain Ignorant At Our Peril. Poor Or Risky Practices Can Shake, And Even Bring Down, Entire Societies.In The Reckoning, Historian And Macarthur Genius Awardwinner Jacob Soll Presents A Sweeping History Of Accounting, Drawing On A Wealth Of Examples From Over A Millennia Of Human History To Reveal How Accounting Has Shaped Kingdoms, Empires, And Entire Civilizations. The Medici Family Of 15Th Century Florence Used The Doubleentry Method To Win The Loyalty Of Their Clients, But Eventually Began To Misrepresent Their Accounts, Ultimately Contributing To The Economic Decline Of The Florentine State Itself. In The 17Th And 18Th Centuries, European Rulers Shunned Honest Accounting, Understanding That Accurate Bookkeeping Would Constrain Their Spending And Throw Their Legitimacy Into Question. And In Fact, When King Louis Xvi'S Director Of Finances Published The Crown'S Accounts In 1781, His Revelations Provoked A Public Outcry That Helped To Fuel The French Revolution. When Transparent Accounting Finally Took Hold In The 19Th Century, The Practice Helped England Establish A Global Empire. But Both Inept And Willfully Misused Accounting Persist, As The Catastrophic Stock Market Crash Of 1929 And The Great Recession Of 2008 Have Made All Too Clear.A Masterwork Of Economic And Political History, And A Radically New Perspective On The Recent Past, The Reckoning Compels Us To See How Accounting Is An Essential Instrument Of Great Institutions And Nationsand One That, In Our Increasingly Transparent And Interconnected World, Has Never Been More Vital.
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Shipping & Returns
Shipping
We ship your order within 2–3 business days for USA deliveries and 5–8 business days for international shipments. Once your package has been dispatched from our warehouse, you'll receive an email confirmation with a tracking number, allowing you to track the status of your delivery.
Returns
To facilitate a smooth return process, a Return Authorization (RA) Number is required for all returns. Returns without a valid RA number will be declined and may incur additional fees. You can request an RA number within 15 days of the original delivery date. For more details, please refer to our Return & Refund Policy page.
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Warranty
We provide a 2-year limited warranty, from the date of purchase for all our products.
If you believe you have received a defective product, or are experiencing any problems with your product, please contact us.
This warranty strictly does not cover damages that arose from negligence, misuse, wear and tear, or not in accordance with product instructions (dropping the product, etc.).
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: What is the main theme of 'The Reckoning' by Jacob Soll? A: 'The Reckoning' explores the history of accounting and its critical role in shaping financial and political accountability throughout history, illustrating how these factors have influenced the rise and fall of nations and empires.
- Q: Who is the author of 'The Reckoning'? A: The author of 'The Reckoning' is Jacob Soll, a historian and winner of the MacArthur 'Genius' Award.
- Q: What are the key historical examples discussed in the book? A: The book discusses various historical examples, including the Medici family in 15th century Florence and the impact of King Louis XVI's financial revelations on the French Revolution, highlighting how accounting practices shaped political legitimacy.
- Q: When was 'The Reckoning' published? A: 'The Reckoning' was published on April 29, 2014.
- Q: What type of binding does this book have? A: 'The Reckoning' is available in a hardcover binding, which is durable and suitable for long-term use.
- Q: How many pages are in 'The Reckoning'? A: 'The Reckoning' contains a total of 312 pages.
- Q: What is the condition of the book? A: The book is listed as 'New', ensuring it is in pristine condition for readers.
- Q: What category does 'The Reckoning' fall under? A: 'The Reckoning' is categorized under Economic History, making it relevant for those interested in the intersection of finance and historical events.
- Q: What insights does 'The Reckoning' provide about modern accounting? A: The book offers insights into how accounting practices, when transparent and responsible, can support the stability of nations, while poor practices can lead to economic crises, as demonstrated by events like the Stock Market Crash of 1929.
- Q: Is 'The Reckoning' suitable for readers without a background in economics? A: Yes, 'The Reckoning' is written in an accessible style that caters to a broad audience, making it suitable for readers without a background in economics while still providing valuable insights into accounting's historical significance.