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A great exposé of how the super-rich and corrupt politicians avoid tax and the countries who help them. Bankers, lawyers, real estate agents and the tax haven bureaucrats turn a blind eye as they take commissions on dirty transactions. The scale of offshore wealth is disturbing. Well-written & relevant to much of what‘s happening in the world today.

#TemptingTitles
Day 23. With Money
#WithMoney

The banking systems, secrecy laws, and lack of consistent international regulations that allow the super rich to hide their assets are complex. This book goes into excruciating detail of those systems. The fact that these various elements conspire to enable corrupt officials to loot their countries without consequences is obscene. I was simultaneously bored by the textbook-like dry prose, and infuriated by the subject matter.

This fascinating and depressing book examines the legal, political, and social structures that allow very bad people to steal money from their country, their employees, and all kinds of people, and get away with it. It discusses the history that put these structures into place, the often futile fights to break them, and how new structures are built. 4/5 stars, read this for a depressing and enraging look at the super wealthy.

Oliver Bullough is a journalist and writer specialising in Russian history and politics. In this well-researched, easy to follow book that left me incredulous and furious, he sets out how the international finance system (facilitated by Western bankers, accountants and lawyers) permits the rich and the crooked to hide their money while still benefitting from it. It‘s jaw dropping stuff that makes you realise that money conquers all.

Well.... I was so happy, that I didn't fall into a bookshop yesterday and saved some money for my bookish trip to Mainz at the end of the month....

And what happened today???? 😭😭😭

I was too tired to read today and instead I went book shopping and bought several bookish items... Well I think, I should have gone to the bookshop yesterday. It would have been cheaper. 😭😭😭😭

#bookishproblems #sorrynotsorry ?!?