

#2644
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 ![undefined]()

as a novel illustrating the dangers of simplistic optimization in complex systems.

Henry Farrell

32 snips
Talking to Political Scientist Henry Farrell with Max Read
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

as a wonderful novel about economics.

Brad DeLong

23 snips
Brad DeLong on Intellectual and Technical Progress
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

and 

as a fun book about the Soviet economy.

Alex Tabarrok


Tyler Cowen

19 snips
The Economics Nobel: Predictions, Missed Opportunities, and Questionable Winners
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

while discussing central planning and resource allocation in the context of the Soviet Union.

Erik Torenberg

E75: The Future of AI-Enabled Companies with Omar Shams, CEO of Mutable AI
Recommended by ![undefined]()

, as a book that resonated with him and reflects his worldview.

Ben Edwards

3347: Bitsight on the Hidden Risks Inside Global Supply Chains
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

as a novel illustrating the dangers of simplistic optimization in complex systems.

Henry Farrell

The Silicon Valley canon and malformed publics
Recommended by 

as a fantastic story about the difficulty of solving production problems without price information.


Mike Munger

FA Hayek: Price Whisperer
Mentioned by Neil Denny as the author's latest book, discussed in the podcast.

Francis Spufford - Red Plenty
Mentioned by 

in relation to a discussion on central planning and market efficiency.


Sean M. Carroll

205 | John Quiggin on Interest Rates and the Information Economy
Recommended by 

as a captivating book about the Soviet Union, offering a unique perspective through historical fiction.


Marshall Poe

Francis Spufford, “Red Plenty: Industry! Progress! Abundance! Inside the Fifties Soviet Dream” (Greywolf Press, 2012)
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

as a novel about Soviet history and economic planning.

Ben Burgis

PHILOSOPHY FOR THE PEOPLE EP. 78: MARX'S INFERNO
Mentioned by 

as a book about the Soviet era.


Steve Teles

553 | Steve Teles: Where Does the Abundance Agenda Go Next?