

#2557
Mentioned in 13 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 13 episodes
Mentioned by 

when discussing Soviet central planning and the complexity of a sophisticated economy.


Benedict Evans

1,988 snips
Why Everyone Is Wrong About AI (Including You) | Benedict Evans
Mentioned by 

when discussing Soviet industrialization and economic planning.


Casey Handmer

140 snips
Casey Handmer of Terraform Industries on solar maximalism, hard tech, and reclaiming the Salton Sea
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 

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 

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


Sean M. Carroll

205 | John Quiggin on Interest Rates and the Information Economy
Mentioned by Neil Denny as the author's latest book, discussed in the podcast.

Francis Spufford - Red Plenty
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)
Recommended by 

as a great fiction book that talks about the history of USSR.


Blaise Aguera y Arcas

21. LIFE (w/ Blaise Agüera y Arcas)
Mentioned by 

as a book about the Soviet era.


Steve Teles

553 | Steve Teles: Where Does the Abundance Agenda Go Next?
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

as a novel about Soviet history and economic planning.

Ben Burgis
PHILOSOPHY FOR THE PEOPLE EP. 78: MARX'S INFERNO


