by Steve Forbes (Get the Book)Co-authors Forbes, chairman and editor in chief of Forbes Media, and Ames, a communications executive, previously collaborated on How Capitalism will Save Us and Freedom Manifesto. Here, they argue that the U.S. dollar needs to be strengthened by returning to a gold standard. The authors write that the current Federal Reserve policy based upon Keynesian economics weakens the dollar without stimulating the economy in any lasting manner. They propose to establish by law a set ratio between gold and the U.S. dollar to create a stable yardstick of value that will instill trust in the currency. Forbes and Ames argue that this will alleviate a host of ills including government overspending, inflation, high interest rates, crime, speculative trading, and a chaotic economy in general. They also include advice for investors trying to cope in the current economic environment. Clearly, this book is a partisan polemic in favor of putting the dollar back on the gold standard while discounting possible pitfalls of that action, but the authors write intelligibly for a general audience and make a persuasive case on the dangers of inflation and a weak currency. VERDICT While this work will certainly resonate with "gold bugs" and others suspicious of the Federal Reserve, it also offers thoughtful reading for anyone concerned about today's economic malaise. --Library Journal
