#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.

Mentioned by

Mentioned in 10 episodes

Mentioned by
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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
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Brad DeLong
as a wonderful novel about economics.
23 snips
Brad DeLong on Intellectual and Technical Progress
Mentioned by
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Alex Tabarrok
and
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Tyler Cowen
as a fun book about the Soviet economy.
19 snips
The Economics Nobel: Predictions, Missed Opportunities, and Questionable Winners
Mentioned by
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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
Recommended by
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Ben Edwards
, as a book that resonated with him and reflects his worldview.
3347: Bitsight on the Hidden Risks Inside Global Supply Chains
Mentioned by
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Henry Farrell
as a novel illustrating the dangers of simplistic optimization in complex systems.
The Silicon Valley canon and malformed publics
Recommended by
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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
Mentioned by
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Sean M. Carroll
in relation to a discussion on central planning and market efficiency.
205 | John Quiggin on Interest Rates and the Information Economy
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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)
Mentioned by
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Ben Burgis
as a novel about Soviet history and economic planning.
PHILOSOPHY FOR THE PEOPLE EP. 78: MARX'S INFERNO
Mentioned by
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Steve Teles
as a book about the Soviet era.
553 | Steve Teles: Where Does the Abundance Agenda Go Next?

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