"Jürgen Kocka is one of the most distinguished European historians of his generation and his books are always significant events. This compact book has all of his virtues: it's extremely clear and conceptually tight as well as very succinct."
—Geoff Eley, University of MichiganFor anyone interested in a scholarly overview of the history of capitalism, Jurgen Kocka's short history is a terrific starting point.---Christopher McKenna, World History Connected
A brief and lively overview which is likely to attract a wide readership. . . . Entertaining and informative, it will prove useful and reassuring to many who are troubled by the onset of the capitalist crisis in 2008 but who are still wedded to the system.---Henry Heller, Labour-Le Travail
Jürgen Kocka is one of the most well known experts in the field of European History and like his previous books this compact book has all of his virtues: it's extremely clear and conceptually tight as well as very succinct.---Stephen Darori, Israel Book Review
‘Capitalism' is a commonly used term that resists simple definition or straightforward history. Kocka adds lucidity and erudition in this excellent overview. . . . [B]road in its intellectual sweep, covering a range of social science disciplines; and well informed by the literature in both economic and social history. . . . [Capitalism] provides a paradigm of what a short history of an important concept should accomplish.
One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2016
"Capitalism is a terrifically valuable book, distinguished by its breadth of learning, clarity, and concision. Its description and analysis are combined with a surety of judgment based on Kocka's long contemplation of the subject."—Jerry Z. Muller, Catholic University of America
Excellent. . . . The book is clearly the outcome of great intellectual investment and application of a vast range of in-depth knowledge. Kocka's short history of capitalism presents a life's work of dedicated scholarship.---Werner Bonefeld, History of Economic Thought and Policy
Praise for the previous edition: "Capitalism: A Short History . . . Is aptly named. In just 169 pages, it tells the story of capitalism from its origins in the ancient long-distance trade routes of Mesopotamia to the 2008 financial crisis."
"Capitalism makes a lifetime of research brilliantly accessible to a large readership. It deserves to become a bestseller."—Patrick O'Brien, London School of Economics
"The dramatic collapse of state socialism, the revolutionary advance of once-stagnant economies, and, yes, recent financial crisis have all conspired to make capitalism an urgent topic of contemporary research. Jürgen Kocka has distilled his vast command of social history into a gem-like narrative of global capitalism that provides the long-term perspective needed for current debate."—Charles S. Maier, author of Leviathan 2.0: Inventing Modern Statehood
