Product Description

How should we create wealth in societies, and why is it necessary to do so? What improves the lives of the largest number of people? And how do we, living in a globalised world caught in an age of financial and ecological turbulence, respond to the differing needs of individuals and institutions? Stephen Green, Chairman of HSBC, reflects on how the human desires for exploration and exchange have led us into a globalised, urban world, and considers why it is that capitalism is the best system by which to improve material human wealth. As the world's financial order is in a state of flux, how do we align these drives, and capitalism, with our spiritual and psychological needs? And how should the financial sector respond not only to the current crisis but to the wider needs of the people it serves. Do businesses - and banks in particular - have a duty to society that goes beyond the creation of profit? Does open market capitalism remain our best hope for creating wealth that benefits all of society? Encompassing history, politics, religion and economics, Good Value offers new perspectives on how we can live in a richer, more dynamic world.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8702 in Books
• Published on: 2009-07-02
• Binding: Hardcover
• 224 pages

Review
'There could hardly be a better moment for this book to be published.' --Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury

Review
'A remarkable book...Stephen Green weaves together his reflections on economics, geopolitics, history, philosophy, literature and religion against the background of the current crisis. Deeply challenging as he confronts the most vexed questions of our age.'

Review
'In this very personal book Stephen Green offers a moral reading of the recent economic crisis, setting it in a 2,000 year sweep of scripture and economics, history and literature that runs from Isaiah to Faust.'

Customer Reviews

A Broad Comprehensive Sweep Across The Financial Universe
This is an overview that is broad in scope that could probably not have been written by any other major Bank Chaiman/CEO because of the broad international reach of the HSBC. It is easily read and doesn't fudge issues and is generally a delight to experience. It seems to have been dictated, which explains its flowing narrative, but which also throws up flaws in the editing, particularly in the early chapters. Nevertheless this is an excellent book and its publication is very timely.

Highly recommended
I highly recommend this really, really good book. It says it is "reflections on money, morality and an uncertain world" - and it is all these things and more. Stephen Green has been the CEO and then Chairman of HSBC - one of the biggest banks in the world and one of the ones least affected by the credit crunch - for nearly 10 years. He is also an extremely knowledgeable, well educated and sensible man - he knows lots more than me about lots of things. He explains his own worldview, which includes explaining his faith, in a convincing and non confrontational manner manner.
Almost in passing he puts the credit crisis in a historical context - it ain't no big deal

Good Value
Good Value is exactly what it says. Good messages that we would all do well to reflect upon.