Go for it if---
you want to know how it all started
you want to understand the terms "Credit" then Banks
you want to why and how Bond Market ( the "biggest" market) can make nations falter
you want to know how a first "bubble" was created in early 17th century
you want to know how Insurance came into effect and start and history of "risk management"
you want to know why Houses was once assumed to be safest bet in the world ("As safe as houses")
you want to know why then "Houses" was replaced by "housewives"
you want to know that Globalization existed from Mid 19th Century
you want to know that the same Globalization ended as World War I
you want to know that how again it came to play and in what form
you want to know why China is said to be main drivers of recent "subprime crisis"
Beautifully written, Well collected stats from all over the world libraries - You can guess that from the long list of libraries the authors thanks in acknowledgement. A recommended buy for one's shelf whose interests in the field of finance. With the world in the grip of the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression, there is never been a better time to understand the ascent - and probably the descent - of money.
