Listen free for 30 days
-
Tower of Basel
- The Shadowy History of the Secret Bank that Runs the World
- Narrated by: John Mawson
- Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wish list failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy Now for $33.01
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Publisher's Summary
Tower of Basel is the first investigative history of the world’s most secretive global financial institution. Based on extensive archival research in Switzerland, Britain, and the United States, and in-depth interviews with key decision-makers including Paul Volcker, the former chairman of the US Federal Reserve; Sir Mervyn King, governor of the Bank of England; and former senior Bank for International Settlements managers and officials.
Tower of Basel tells the inside story of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS): the central bankers’ own bank. Created by the governors of the Bank of England and the Reichsbank in 1930, and protected by an international treaty, the BIS and its assets are legally beyond the reach of any government or jurisdiction. The bank is untouchable.
Swiss authorities have no jurisdiction over the bank or its premises. The BIS has just 140 customers but made tax-free profits of $1.17 billion in 20112012.Since its creation, the bank has been at the heart of global events but has often gone unnoticed. Under Thomas McKittrick, the bank’s American president from 19401946, the BIS was open for business throughout the Second World War. The BIS accepted looted Nazi gold, conducted foreign exchange deals for the Reichsbank, and was used by both the Allies and the Axis powers as a secret contact point to keep the channels of international finance open.
After 1945 the BIS still behind the scenes for decades provided the necessary technical and administrative support for the trans-European currency project, from the first attempts to harmonize exchange rates in the late 1940s to the launch of the Euro in 2002. It now stands at the center of efforts to build a new global financial and regulatory architecture, once again proving that it has the power to shape the financial rules of our world. Yet despite its pivotal role in the financial and political history of the last century and during the economic current crisis, the BIS has remained largely unknown until now.
More from the same
Narrator:
What listeners say about Tower of Basel
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Raven Mad
- 2018-03-01
important read
financial literacy is the least attended topic in the world it seems. Mr Lebor is trying to rectify that and he presents us all with an opportunity to open our eyes and to see how the financial system and bankers rule our lives. more people need to wake to the reality.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- David LaPointe
- 2023-04-09
Informative, but slow
It will be a surprise to most people that BIS exists and that it is above the law. It will be more of a surprise that the bank has a dark history of Nazi collaboration. It's a timely story. But it felt like the story was told in a repetitious fashion and dragged on.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Joey
- 2018-05-28
Great Narration, Important Content
Loved the narration. Perfect tone for the subject matter, clear, and pleasant to listen to.
As for the story, I am astonished that the BIS is not discussed more and applaud the author for shedding light on this dark cornerstone of international finance.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Amazon Customer
- 2019-09-08
Good read, good information.
Really good information. John Mawson is a good narrator but should skip trying to do different international accents.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!