Payback by Margaret Atwood

This is the print version of the Massey Lectures, aired on CBC in November. I tried to download the podcast onto my new iPod, but was unsuccessful, so I read the book. I had the constant sense of her voice in my head as I read, although I'm not sure if this because of her style, or my initial desire to listen to the broadcasts. In any case, I loved this volume. Like all the Massey Lectures, there are five chapters, corresponding to the five programs broadcast. Atwood looks at debt through the lens of the social sciences and includes her own personal stories about learning lessons of debt and money as a child. She looks at the historical attitudes to such aspects as fairness, indebtedness, redemption and reviews their appearance in a vast array of places and times, from ancient Egypt to modern Christianity, from the Bible to Shakespeare to Dickens. Her linguistic and literary knowledge make this an intriguing look at debt, especially critical in our society right now. Amazing that this was written before the global financial crisis. I did read a review that said they found this book full of 'drivel'--perhaps by an economist, who can't see anything but the numbers!! If you are interested in the more human side of debt, and its effect on our society, this is the book for you. If your only interest is in watching the stock market, you probably won't like this approach, although I would say you are one who really should read it.