The Library of Mistakes

Latest Episodes:

EP 39: A walk through Edinburgh's financial history (with Ray Perman) Shelf Life #4 May 30, 2025

Show notes

In our latest, behind-the-scenes look at the Library of Mistakes, Leila Johnston joins author and journalist Ray Perman on the streets of Edinburgh, as they explore the Library of Mistakes walking tour, Money Talks, Money Walks. Join them to discover lots of fascinating nuggets about the financial history of Scotland's capital city. Meanwhile, Fraser Allen catches up with David Clarke and Helen Williams to find out what is coming up at the library – and which books make useful companions to our Practical History of Financial Markets course.
Any comments, feedback or ideas? Please do get in touch:
fraser@libraryofmistakes.com
leila@libraryofmistakes.com
Produced by Fraser Allen and Leila Johnston.

EP 38: Meltdown – Scandal, Sleaze And The Collapse of Credit Suisse (with Duncan Mavin) May 13, 2025

Show notes

Russell Napier invites Duncan Mavin back for a second appearance on the podcast – this time to discuss his recent book on Credit Suisse. Their fascinating discussion explores how decades of a rotten corporate culture dating back to WWII developed into the scandals and reputational disasters that eventually brought the Swiss bank down.
Produced by Fraser Allen.
www.libraryofmistakes.com

EP 37: Behavioural Finance (with Herman Brodie) Shelf Life #3 May 02, 2025

Show notes

Fraser Allen and Leila Johnston take you behind the scenes at the Library of Mistakes once more. This month we hear from the brilliant behavioural finance expert Herman Brodie, discover the colourful back story of Didasko CEO David Clarke, and find out more about the library itself with Lauren Hotson and Helen Williams.
If you have any queries about hiring the Library as a venue, simply email Lauren at facilities@libraryofmistakes.com or visit www.libraryofmistakes.com – where you can also find out about our Practical History of Financial Markets course.
And to provide any feedback regarding the podcast, ask questions or make suggestions, please email fraser@libraryofmistakes.com or Leila@libraryofmistakes.com.
Produced by Fraser Allen and Leila Johnston.

EP 36: The Strange Tale of Gregor MacGregor (with Liam Rees) Shelf Life #2 Mar 31, 2025

Show notes

Leila Johnston and Fraser Allen are back to take you behind the scenes at the Library of Mistakes. And in this packed episode we...
•Hear from theatre director and actor Liam Rees about his show The Land That Never Was. It's based on the adventures of 19th century Scottish conman Gregor MacGregor, who sold bonds on behalf of a South American country that was a figment of his imagination!
•Explore what happened at the Weekend of Mistakes in Hay-on-Wye (including clips from speakers).
•Chat to the team behind Leavers' Money Skills, helping Scottish school-leavers to cope with the life of finance ahead of them.
•And our Librarian Helen Williams discusses our books on Russia, Putin and Trump!
If you have any feedback, ideas or can name the song briefly alluded to at the end of this episode (and the band that originally sung it) – you could win a Library of Mistakes mug! – simply email fraser@libraryofmistakes.com or leila@libraryofmistakes.com
Produced by Fraser Allen and Leila Johnston.

EP 35: Lending To The Borrower From Hell (with Mauricio Drelichman) Mar 06, 2025

Show notes

Russell Napier enjoys a fascinating chat with Mauricio Drelichman who (together with Hans Joachim-Voth) is the author of Lending to the Borrower from Hell: Debt, Taxes, and Default in the Age of Philip II. Together, they explore how this account of the freely-defaulting 16th century King of Spain changes our perceptions of financial history.
Produced by Fraser Allen.
www.libraryofmistakes.com

EP 34: Meet our Founder (with Russell Napier) Shelf Life #1 Feb 27, 2025

Show notes

In the first of a new thread of monthly episodes, we take you behind the scenes at the Library of Mistakes. Join us as we turn the tables on our resident interrogator Professor Russell Napier by putting the questions to him. We also interview David Clarke of Didasko, Helen Bradley of Future Asset and our librarian Helen Williams. And fear not, Russell's regular interviews with financial historians will also continue here as normal.
Shelf Life is presented by Leila Johnston & Fraser Allen – please do contact us with any feedback, ideas or questions at fraser@libraryofmistakes.com or leila@libraryofmistakes.com.
Produced by Fraser Allen and Leila Johnston.

EP 33: Money – The Unauthorised Biography (with Felix Martin) Feb 13, 2025

Show notes

Russell Napier quizzes Felix Martin about his book, Money – The Unauthorised Biography. A fascinating listen for anyone interested in the true nature of money, illuminated through entertaining examples such as the Irish Bank Strike of 1970, the Argentinian Crédito and the Bristol Pound.
Produced by Fraser Allen.
www.libraryofmistakes.com

EP 32: Gambling Man (with Lionel Barber) Nov 28, 2024

Show notes

Lionel Barber, the former editor of the Financial Times, discusses his fascinating biography of Masayoshi Son, one of the world's least-known but most consequential investors. Regarding himself as an 'empire builder' rather than a CEO, Son was briefly the world's richest man and has ruffled many feathers on his rise from a Korean slum in Japan to the modern-day temples of power. Russell Napier asks the questions.
Produced by Fraser Allen.
www.libraryofmistakes.com
•The Library of Mistakes runs an outstanding course called the Practical History of Financial Markets. To find out more, go to: www.libraryofmistakes.com/course

EP 31: Money & Promises (Paolo Zannoni) Nov 07, 2024

Show notes

Money & Promises (Seven Deals That Changed World) is Paolo Zannoni's first book and one of Russell Napier's favourite books of the year. For as well as being President of the luxury Italian fashion group Prada, Paolo is a highly experienced banker who has combined his professional expertise with a passion for exploring ledger archives to create a ground-breaking work of financial history.
Produced by Fraser Allen.
www.libraryofmistakes.com
•The Library of Mistakes runs an outstanding course called the Practical History of Financial Markets. To find out more, go to: www.libraryofmistakes.com/course

EP 30: Money – A Story of Humanity (with David McWilliams) Oct 08, 2024

Show notes

"Despite being a fully paid-up member of the economist tribe for many years, I’ve concluded that most economists don’t really understand money," says David McWilliams, co-founder of Kilkenomics, (the world's first economics and comedy festival). David's new book, Money: A Story of Humanity, explains why he takes this entertainingly provocative position – and backs it up with powerful arguments. The book has received many plaudits. Professor Brian Cox describes it as: "A breathtaking, expansive and imaginative ride through the history and future of money from an author who truly understands it." And this free-ranging discussion with Russell Napier – embracing Karl Marx, Van Morrison and James Joyce – is just as fascinating.
Produced by Fraser Allen.
www.libraryofmistakes.com
•To discover more about Kilkenomics, go to: https://www.kilkenomics.com
•The Library of Mistakes runs an outstanding course called the Practical History of Financial Markets. To find out more, go to: www.libraryofmistakes.com/course

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected