Secrets of the Temple: How the Federal Reserve Runs the Country

by William Greider
Secrets of the Temple: How the Federal Reserve Runs the Country
book data
65 ratings, 3.82 average rating, 15 reviews (more data...)
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published
January 15th 1989 (first published 1987) by Simon & Schuster

binding
Paperback, 800 pages

isbn
0671675567    (isbn13: 9780671675561)

description
This ground-breaking best-seller reveals for the first time how the mighty and mysterious Federal Reserve operates -- and how it manipulated and trans...more




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Peterna
02/10/09
Peterna rated it: 3 of 5 stars

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in March, 2009
recommends it for: people curious about the Fed
This book would be a kind of companion to "The Creature from Jekyll Island" by Edward Griffin, about the creation and inside workings of the Federal Reserve, Greider's book is more up to date, adds much detail. In fact, you might say he adds a bit too much detail, repeating himself, jumping around in the natural chronology. He does not appear to have a conspiracy plot in mind, but mentions many of them. He is a very respected journalist and would like to keep his large readership and a...more
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Beth in SF
09/13/07
Beth in SF rated it: 4 of 5 stars

bookshelves: non-fiction
A very good attempt at explaining the mechanics of controlling the capital of an empire of capitalism. Complicated and eye opening.
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Brian
03/18/09
Brian rated it: 2 of 5 stars

What the bought-and-paid-for mainstream media calls "balanced" is more like apologist propaganda for world financial elites. For one thing, Grider beats around the bush about whether the Federal Reserve is a private or governmental body. In truth, it is completely private. The Federal Reserve is no more "federal" than Federal Express. Further, Greider is downright dismissive of the idea that the entire system is a conspiratorial ponzi scheme ultimately designed to fail (in a ...more
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Eric_W
12/09/08
Eric_W rated it: 4 of 5 stars

Read in January, 1990
It's always fun to observe values changing over time, depending on the needs of society. William Greider, in Secrets of the Temple, a history of the Federal Reserve System, relates how usury was once considered a heinous offense against the church. There are perhaps a dozen clear prohibitions against charging interest in the Bible. It was considered an immoral way to make money, as it resulted from no work. The wealthy had an obligation to help those less fortunate, without profiting from their ...more
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Hilary Johnson
09/27/07
Hilary Johnson rated it: 3 of 5 stars

bookshelves: money
Read in November, 2007
recommends it for: People determined to understand our money system
I didn't finish this because I had to return it to the library, but here's what I learned:

1. Over time, money has become less tied to anything real or practical, BUT it has always ultimately been based on agreement between people about value. For example, when money was cattle, people agreed that the value of a service or whatever was so many cattle and not more or less.

2. The gold standard did not guarantee price or economic stability. The value of gold and silver alway...more
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Byron
04/01/09
Byron rated it: 4 of 5 stars

bookshelves: finance
Read in May, 2009
I slogged through most of the 700 dense pages (not including appendix). This could have easily been two books: one about the history of the Federal Reserve and its place in the financial and political history of the US, and another book about the story of Paul Volker as head of the Fed during the Carter and Reagan years. For the most part this is a fascinating book especially in light of the current financial situation. The really intriguing aspect of the book is the author's assertion that ...more
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Sean
12/28/08
Sean rated it: 4 of 5 stars

Read in June, 2003
the author brings a certain bias to this book that was too difficult to avoid. that being said, i was fairly ignorant on this topic so that's why i bought this book. i wanted to better understand the federal reserve and that part of the economy and this book managed to bring me up to a level where i could converse with people who were in the know, so that's why it gets 4 stars. but i wouldn't recommend this book to anyone else. i was just very motivated at the time to learn.
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Dave
02/15/09
Dave rated it: 1 of 5 stars

Read in May, 2009
Man, I learned all kindsa stuff reading this book! Here are three instances of the droppage of science done by the Greider! And I only had to read 150 pages to learn all this awesome shit!

1. The Fed either is or is not a government body. Mr. G does not say whether it is or not, but he let me know that it either is or is not.

2. Inflation is good for one segment of the population (low-income borrowers). This makes it cool for the Fed to inflate the money supply for everyone...more
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Radioanngal
11/19/08
Radioanngal rated it: 5 of 5 stars

bookshelves: currently-reading
Wow! What a timely read! Gives you an appreciation for the role independent agencies play in our democracy, and how much power they have. Reading Greider though has a tendency to turn you into an anarchist. I don't know if that's his goal as a journalist, but the outlook is pretty grim. Why do I do this to myself?
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Krisette Spangler
01/05/09
Krisette Spangler rated it: 2 of 5 stars

bookshelves: nonfiction
Read in January, 2009
O.K., so I only read 1/2 of it. I did learn some interesting things about how the Fed controls our economy through manipulation of the money supply. I didn't like the way the information was presented. It kept jumping back and forth through different periods of history, which made it difficult to follow.
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Derek
12/10/08
Derek rated it: 4 of 5 stars

bookshelves: currently-reading
great so far.....you need to have a little base on wall street and how it functions before you dive into it. good book though
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Cailean
02/12/08
Cailean rated it: 4 of 5 stars

bookshelves: have-read
Read in January, 2004
So while perusing the aisles at Barnes and Noble years ago, this title struck me not only because of the words used but because it was in the Business section! It was a very fascinating insight into indeed how the Fed really does determine the health of our country.
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Mike Applegate
01/31/08
Mike Applegate rated it: 4 of 5 stars

I have a Ph.D in economics, but I learned a great deal from this book about the history of money and the inner workings of the Fed. It illuminates very well the interface between politics, economic policy and the resulting effects on all of us.
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Andy
02/01/08
Andy added it

Read in January, 2008
just started in on this one...not sure how deep i'll be able to go before terminal
boredom sets in
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Jerry
10/28/08
Jerry is currently reading it

bookshelves: currently-reading
PRetty good so far. The Feds are in charge!
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Brian
06/22/09
Brian marked it as to-read

bookshelves: to-read

Jeff
06/18/09
Jeff rated it: 4 of 5 stars


Memoryleak84
06/15/09
Memoryleak84 rated it: 1 of 5 stars


Jim
06/09/09
Jim rated it: 4 of 5 stars



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