#9734
Mentioned in 10 episodes
Red Plenty
Book • 2010
Francis Spufford's "Red Plenty" is a work of historical fiction that explores the Soviet Union's ambitious quest for economic abundance during the Khrushchev era.
The narrative weaves together fictional characters with real historical figures, offering a nuanced portrayal of the era's complexities.
Spufford masterfully blends factual events with imaginative storytelling, creating a compelling narrative that challenges traditional historical accounts.
The book delves into the Soviet Union's attempts to implement cybernetics and mathematical planning to improve economic efficiency, highlighting the inherent challenges of a centrally planned economy.
Ultimately, "Red Plenty" offers a thought-provoking exploration of the Soviet dream and its ultimate failure.
The narrative weaves together fictional characters with real historical figures, offering a nuanced portrayal of the era's complexities.
Spufford masterfully blends factual events with imaginative storytelling, creating a compelling narrative that challenges traditional historical accounts.
The book delves into the Soviet Union's attempts to implement cybernetics and mathematical planning to improve economic efficiency, highlighting the inherent challenges of a centrally planned economy.
Ultimately, "Red Plenty" offers a thought-provoking exploration of the Soviet dream and its ultimate failure.
Mentioned by
Mentioned in 10 episodes
Mentioned by Henry Farrell as a novel illustrating the dangers of simplistic optimization in complex systems.
32 snips
Talking to Political Scientist Henry Farrell with Max Read
Mentioned by Erik Torenberg while discussing central planning and resource allocation in the context of the Soviet Union.
E75: The Future of AI-Enabled Companies with Omar Shams, CEO of Mutable AI
Mentioned by Henry Farrell as a novel illustrating the dangers of simplistic optimization in complex systems.
The Silicon Valley canon and malformed publics
Recommended by 
Mike Munger as a fantastic story about the difficulty of solving production problems without price information.
Mike Munger as a fantastic story about the difficulty of solving production problems without price information.
FA Hayek: Price Whisperer
Mentioned by Neil Denny as the author's latest book, discussed in the podcast.
Francis Spufford - Red Plenty
Recommended by 
Marshall Poe as a captivating book about the Soviet Union, offering a unique perspective through historical fiction.
Marshall Poe as a captivating book about the Soviet Union, offering a unique perspective through historical fiction.
Francis Spufford, “Red Plenty: Industry! Progress! Abundance! Inside the Fifties Soviet Dream” (Greywolf Press, 2012)
