45 review for Essays in Biography

1. 

   5 out of 5

   Jason Furman – Dec 27, 2015

   An often outstanding collection of biographical sketches by John Maynard Keynes, almost all of them of people he knew and worked with. The first set are shorter "Sketches of Politicians", including Churchill but also people I did not know like Bonar Law and Lord Oxford. These are interesting, occasionally particularly insightful, but also somewhat dated. But then the somewhat longer portraits of Malthus, Marshall and Edgeworth--plus some shorter pieces on Ramsey--are superlative mini biographies An often outstanding collection of biographical sketches by John Maynard Keynes, almost all of them of people he knew and worked with. The first set are shorter "Sketches of Politicians", including Churchill but also people I did not know like Bonar Law and Lord Oxford. These are interesting, occasionally particularly insightful, but also somewhat dated. But then the somewhat longer portraits of Malthus, Marshall and Edgeworth--plus some shorter pieces on Ramsey--are superlative mini biographies that give a flavor of the person's life, the substance and influence of their economics, and the role they played in creating the economics profession. In the case of Malthus, Keynes focuses on his debate with Ricardo on whether the economy is always in long-run equilibrium with fully utilized resources, one that Keynes judges Ricardo to have won for a century--to the detriment of economics. On Marshall, he focuses on his teaching, how that related to his writing, and his major contributions to economics. With Edgeworth, particularly notable was the role he played in establishing the Economic Journal and editing it for several decades until the day of this death. And Ramsey, unfortunately, does not get the full biographical treatment but his genius fully shines through in Keynes' appreciation of aspects of his work. Any of this can be read individually the economics biographies, especially, repay reading as a group and a sustained narrative of economics in England, and particularly in Cambridge.

2. 

   5 out of 5

   B – May 22, 2015

   Parts of this were interesting. The bulk of the book is given to a biographical sketch of Alfred Marshall. A large part of the problem, though, is we're not really situated. Keynes talks about these economists (mostly) the same way you and I would talk about actors or ballplayers we've followed. They're Keynes "inside baseball" comments about his peers from the previous generation. If I had more background, the insights might be more apparent. Parts of this were interesting. The bulk of the book is given to a biographical sketch of Alfred Marshall. A large part of the problem, though, is we're not really situated. Keynes talks about these economists (mostly) the same way you and I would talk about actors or ballplayers we've followed. They're Keynes "inside baseball" comments about his peers from the previous generation. If I had more background, the insights might be more apparent.

3. 

   5 out of 5

   Ryan McGuine – Sep 03, 2021

   With the caveat that all those biographized are white men, Keynes's summaries are well-done. He notes the downsides of each person's personality and professional styles, but the pieces are overwhelmingly pleasant and decent. It's a relief to be reminded that snark and meanness haven't always been the norm. With the caveat that all those biographized are white men, Keynes's summaries are well-done. He notes the downsides of each person's personality and professional styles, but the pieces are overwhelmingly pleasant and decent. It's a relief to be reminded that snark and meanness haven't always been the norm.

4. 

   4 out of 5

   Robert Alexander –

5. 

   4 out of 5

   Philippe De Donder –

6. 

   5 out of 5

   Paul Vittay –

7. 

   5 out of 5

   Mr Kenneth G Smith –

8. 

   4 out of 5

   Matthew Lobb –

9. 

   4 out of 5

   Caleb –

10. 

    4 out of 5

    James Widdicks –

11. 

    5 out of 5

    JR –

12. 

    4 out of 5

    Davis Kedrosky –

13. 

    4 out of 5

    James Henderson –

14. 

    5 out of 5

    Bradley Bordiss –

15. 

    4 out of 5

    Randy –

16. 

    4 out of 5

    Ted Baas –

17. 

    5 out of 5

    Pablo Stafforini –

18. 

    4 out of 5

    Chris McCrum –

19. 

    5 out of 5

    Jesse –

20. 

    5 out of 5

    Oliver Sacks –

21. 

    4 out of 5

    Óscar Iván Pérez H –

22. 

    4 out of 5

    Somesh –

23. 

    5 out of 5

    Tony –

24. 

    4 out of 5

    Kevin –

25. 

    4 out of 5

    Steven –

26. 

    5 out of 5

    Dave Comerford –

27. 

    4 out of 5

    Homoionym –

28. 

    5 out of 5

    Wikimedia Italia –

29. 

    4 out of 5

    Matias –

30. 

    4 out of 5

    Mariana –

31. 

    4 out of 5

    Faiz Shariff –

32. 

    4 out of 5

    Fabio Oliveira –

33. 

    4 out of 5

    Shezi –

34. 

    4 out of 5

    Michael –

35. 

    4 out of 5

    Lorenzo E. Fränkel –

36. 

    5 out of 5

    Alexia –

37. 

    4 out of 5

    Beenish Khan –

38. 

    5 out of 5

    Leslie Cooper –

39. 

    5 out of 5

    Bikem Akten –

40. 

    4 out of 5

    Kate –

41. 

    5 out of 5

    Zach –

42. 

    4 out of 5

    Razvanog –

43. 

    4 out of 5

    ficulyus –

44. 

    5 out of 5

    Tao Kai –

45. 

    4 out of 5

    Morenike –