The Library of Mistakes

Join Russell Napier and American economist George Selgin as they discuss George’s book, ‘Good Money – Birmingham Button Makers, the Royal Mint and the Beginnings of Modern Coinage 1775-1821’. George’s colourful and impeccably researched insights into what served as money more than two hundred years ago remain every bit as relevant today.www.libraryofmistakes.com

There's a festive feeling in the air for the last Shelf Life episode of the year, in which our guests are Jonathan Ford and Neil Collins. The pair are co-presenters of A Long Time In Finance, a history of finance podcast, which is now part of the Library of Mistakes family.Jonathan and Neil talked to us about their background as financial journalists, the thinking behind the podcast, and memorable moments from the series to date. There's also a spot of entertaining sparring between the duo, demonstrating their contrasting styles.Meanwhile, Librarian Helen Williams spotlights several gems from our corporate history shelves, and David Clarke previews our December events.And if you're fearful of Library of Mistakes podcast withdrawal symptoms, fear not as Russell Napier will be back with another interview before Christmas – plus there's a huge archive of podcast episodes and Library of Mistakes YouTube videos that you can freely access. Enjoy!Shelf Life is presented and produced by Leila Johnston and Fraser Allen.Leila@libraryofmistakes.comfraser@libraryofmistakes.comwww.libraryofmistakes.com

Join Russell Napier in discussion with author Perry Mehrling about the extraordinary life of Charles P. Kindleberger – central banker, US Department of State representative steering post-war German reconstruction, leading academic, and author of Manias, Panics And Crashes. Kindleberger was driven by the hope that, if he helped people understand how the dollar system really works, they would stop trying to destroy it. Perry's account is given additional nuance and insight through the friendship he developed with Kindleberger in his later years.www.libraryofmistakes.com

There's a student takeover for this episode of Shelf Life as the talented duo of Megan Day and Emilie Stewart interview Jen Mair. Jen is Chair of Future Asset, the charity which encourages young women to consider a career in finance. She is also Strategic Initiative Lead at Franklin Templeton and has wonderful insights about working in the sector, ably quizzed by Megan and Emilie, who are both Future Asset alumni. We also have a big news update from David Clarke (CEO of Didasko) on what's happening at the Library, while Librarian Helen Williams picks out some of the Nobel Prize winners who feature in our collection.Shelf Life is presented and produced by Leila Johnston and Fraser Allen.Leila@libraryofmistakes.comfraser@libraryofmistakes.comwww.libraryofmistakes.com

Once again, Leila Johnston and Fraser Allen are backstage at the Library of Mistakes, sampling highlights from the book collection, hearing about the many events and activities coming up, and meeting members of the team. In this episode we have an in-depth chat with the newest member of the gang, economist and author Robbie Mochrie, who has taken on the mantle of 'Errorist In Residence'. Among other things, Robbie tells us what he's got planned for our upcoming Adam Smith celebrations (2026 marks 250 years since the publication of The Wealth of Nations) and reflects on his book, How To Think Like An Economist. We also include a taste of a recent talk by the Deputy Director of the HM Treasury, Mario Pisani, plus our usual catch-ups with librarian Helen Williams and the CEO of Didasko, David Clarke.To get in touch with anything Shelf Life-related, feel free to email us at fraser@libraryofmistakes.com or leila@libraryofmistakes.com, or contact us through social media.www.libraryofmistakes.com

What happens when an experienced economist and an English literature expert have a proper conversation? Quite a lot as it turns out. Morton Schapiro and Saul Morson have written an outstanding book on what economists can learn from the humanities. They argue that Adam Smith’s heirs include Jane Austen, Anton Chekhov and Leo Tolstoy – and that economists need a richer appreciation of behaviour, ethics, culture, and narrative – all of which the great writers teach better than anyone. Russell Napier joins the duo in conversation.www.libraryofmistakes.com

Personal finance is the theme of this episode as we hear from two friends of the Library of Mistakes deeply committed to making financial understanding more accessible – particularly to younger people.Iona Bain has made her name as a supporter of millennials striving to make the most of their finances, and is the resident money expert on BBC One's Morning Live. Originally from Edinburgh, she has also taken part in a series of videos with Russell Napier promoting the Library.We also hear from Michael Gilmore, a Singapore-based fund manager who became so frustrated at the reluctance of the finance profession to share the basics of money awareness with younger people that he founded the global Money Awareness and Inclusion Awards.Our trio of guests is completed by our regular chat with David Clarke, CEO of the charity Didasko which, as well as running the Library of Mistakes, supports two valuable financial inclusivity projects – Future Asset and Leavers' Money Skills.This episode is presented by Leila Johnston and Fraser Allen. Do drop us a line at leila@libraryofmistakes.com or fraser@libraryofmistakes.com.For more information on our guests, see: ionajbain.co.uk & www.maiawards.orgPhoto credit for image of Iona: Grace Elisewww.libraryofmistakes.com

The CEOs of Britain's largest companies wield immense power, but we know very little about them. How did they get to the top? And how have they changed over the past 100+ years? Join Russell Napier in a fascinating conversation with Michael Aldous & John Turner, authors of The CEO: The Rise and Fall of Britain's Captains of Industry.www.libraryofmistakes.com

Fraser Allen and Leila Johnston are back with a summer episode exploring life behind the scenes at the Library of Mistakes.Looking to the northern shores of Lake Geneva, Fraser interviews Boris Zhilin, the investment expert who has established a Library of Mistakes in Lausanne. Boris tells us about his career journey from growing up in the former Soviet Union to Syrcuse University, Bear Sterns and then life in Switzerland.Meanwhile, Leila asks our Edinburgh Librarian Helen Williams for summer reading recommendations, while CEO David Clarke updates us on upcoming events.Any feedback or ideas? Please do get in touch with fraser@libraryofmistakes.com or leila@libraryofmistakes.com

In conversation with Emma Horgan, Russell Napier explores the Irish Bank Strike of 1966, which resulted in shopkeepers and publicans stepping in to keep the economy ticking over as unofficial bankers. What can this extraordinary episode teach us about economics, human resilience – and how we might be able to cope in the event of a huge fintech failure? Emma is the co-author of a paper on the strike, with Dr Sean Kenny and Dr Jason Leonard. If you would like a working copy, please contact Emma at emmahorgan@ucc.ie.

In our latest, behind-the-scenes look at the Library of Mistakes, Leila Johnston joins author and journalist Ray Perman on the streets of Edinburgh, as they explore the Library of Mistakes walking tour, Money Talks, Money Walks. Join them to discover lots of fascinating nuggets about the financial history of Scotland's capital city. Meanwhile, Fraser Allen catches up with David Clarke and Helen Williams to find out what is coming up at the library – and which books make useful companions to our Practical History of Financial Markets course.Any comments, feedback or ideas? Please do get in touch:fraser@libraryofmistakes.comleila@libraryofmistakes.com

Russell Napier invites Duncan Mavin back for a second appearance on the podcast – this time to discuss his recent book on Credit Suisse. Their fascinating discussion explores how decades of a rotten corporate culture dating back to WWII developed into the scandals and reputational disasters that eventually brought the Swiss bank down.

Fraser Allen and Leila Johnston take you behind the scenes at the Library of Mistakes once more. This month we hear from the brilliant behavioural finance expert Herman Brodie, discover the colourful back story of Didasko CEO David Clarke, and find out more about the library itself with Lauren Hotson and Helen Williams.If you have any queries about hiring the Library as a venue, simply email Lauren at facilities@libraryofmistakes.com or visit www.libraryofmistakes.com – where you can also find out about our Practical History of Financial Markets course.And to provide any feedback regarding the podcast, ask questions or make suggestions, please email fraser@libraryofmistakes.com or Leila@libraryofmistakes.com.

Leila Johnston and Fraser Allen are back to take you behind the scenes at the Library of Mistakes. And in this packed episode we...•Hear from theatre director and actor Liam Rees about his show The Land That Never Was. It's based on the adventures of 19th century Scottish conman Gregor MacGregor, who sold bonds on behalf of a South American country that was a figment of his imagination!•Explore what happened at the Weekend of Mistakes in Hay-on-Wye (including clips from speakers).•Chat to the team behind Leavers' Money Skills, helping Scottish school-leavers to cope with the life of finance ahead of them.•And our Librarian Helen Williams discusses our books on Russia, Putin and Trump!If you have any feedback, ideas or can name the song briefly alluded to at the end of this episode (and the band that originally sung it) – you could win a Library of Mistakes mug! – simply email fraser@libraryofmistakes.com or leila@libraryofmistakes.com

Russell Napier enjoys a fascinating chat with Mauricio Drelichman who (together with Hans Joachim-Voth) is the author of Lending to the Borrower from Hell: Debt, Taxes, and Default in the Age of Philip II. Together, they explore how this account of the freely-defaulting 16th century King of Spain changes our perceptions of financial history.

In the first of a new thread of monthly episodes, we take you behind the scenes at the Library of Mistakes. Join us as we turn the tables on our resident interrogator Professor Russell Napier by putting the questions to him. We also interview David Clarke of Didasko, Helen Bradley of Future Asset and our librarian Helen Williams. And fear not, Russell's regular interviews with financial historians will also continue here as normal.Shelf Life is presented by Leila Johnston & Fraser Allen – please do contact us with any feedback, ideas or questions at fraser@libraryofmistakes.com or leila@libraryofmistakes.com.

Russell Napier quizzes Felix Martin about his book, Money – The Unauthorised Biography. A fascinating listen for anyone interested in the true nature of money, illuminated through entertaining examples such as the Irish Bank Strike of 1970, the Argentinian Crédito and the Bristol Pound.

Lionel Barber, the former editor of the Financial Times, discusses his fascinating biography of Masayoshi Son, one of the world's least-known but most consequential investors. Regarding himself as an 'empire builder' rather than a CEO, Son was briefly the world's richest man and has ruffled many feathers on his rise from a Korean slum in Japan to the modern-day temples of power. Russell Napier asks the questions.•The Library of Mistakes runs an outstanding course called the Practical History of Financial Markets. To find out more, go to: www.libraryofmistakes.com/course

Money & Promises (Seven Deals That Changed World) is Paolo Zannoni's first book and one of Russell Napier's favourite books of the year. For as well as being President of the luxury Italian fashion group Prada, Paolo is a highly experienced banker who has combined his professional expertise with a passion for exploring ledger archives to create a ground-breaking work of financial history.•The Library of Mistakes runs an outstanding course called the Practical History of Financial Markets. To find out more, go to: www.libraryofmistakes.com/course

"Despite being a fully paid-up member of the economist tribe for many years, I’ve concluded that most economists don’t really understand money," says David McWilliams, co-founder of Kilkenomics, (the world's first economics and comedy festival). David's new book, Money: A Story of Humanity, explains why he takes this entertainingly provocative position – and backs it up with powerful arguments. The book has received many plaudits. Professor Brian Cox describes it as: "A breathtaking, expansive and imaginative ride through the history and future of money from an author who truly understands it." And this free-ranging discussion with Russell Napier – embracing Karl Marx, Van Morrison and James Joyce – is just as fascinating.•To discover more about Kilkenomics, go to: https://www.kilkenomics.com•The Library of Mistakes runs an outstanding course called the Practical History of Financial Markets. To find out more, go to: www.libraryofmistakes.com/course