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Artwork for The Library of Mistakes

The Library of Mistakes

Library of Mistakes
Credit Suisse
Money
Irish Banking Strike
Financial History
Economics
Financial Markets
Carry Trades
US Financial History
Central Banking
Financial Education
Edinburgh
Local Currency
Check Payment Systems
Adam Smith
Library Of Mistakes
Debt
The Bankers' New Clothes
Great Depression
Volatility Suppression
Archegos Capital

Based in Edinburgh, the Library of Mistakes is a free public library designed to improve understanding of finance, one mistake at a time. In this podcast series the Library's Keeper, Professor Russell Napier, speaks to leading financial history authors around the world, with Fraser Allen & Leila Johnston presenting an additional thread of episodes called Shelf Life.Series produced by Fraser Allen.... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes61Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
InvestingHistoryBusiness

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Artwork for The Library of Mistakes

Latest Episodes

We have a real treat for you this time as we speak to financial crime expert Anja Shortland. After books on art theft and kidnapping, Anja has now turned her attention to ransomware, with her latest title We Know You Can Pay a Million – and offers fa... more

Blue Blood tells the story of Cazenove & Co., the prestigious stockbroking firm founded in 1823. Former CEO Robert Pickering reveals what happened in 2000 when the firm decided to abandon its traditional partnership structure, raise external capital ... more

There are plenty of books suggesting ways in which wealthy people can invest their money, but very few for people who lack the investment funds in the first place. After suffering his own financial challenges, US academic Joseph S. Moore dipped into ... more

Join us in Montreal as we speak with François Boutin-Dufresne who, together with Karl Gauvin, is co-founder of the Observatoire des Erreurs – Canada's very own version of the Library of Mistakes. Inspired by a trip to Edinburgh, the Observatoire embr... more

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Recent Guests

Joseph S. Moore
Author of How to Get Rich the American Way, journalist/academic focusing on financial history
Author/Historian
Episode: EP 59: How to Get Rich the American Way (with Joseph S. Moore)
François Boutin-Dufresne
Founder of Observatoire des Erreurs (Observatory of Mistakes) in Montreal
Observatoire des Erreurs
Episode: EP 58: Observatoire des Erreurs (with François Boutin-Dufresne) Shelf Life #15
Jemma McLean
Communications Coordinator at Future Asset
Future Asset
Episode: EP 57: The Future Asset Takeover! (with Grace London) Shelf Life #14
Jenna Donnelly
Finance analyst apprentice at M&G
M&G
Episode: EP 57: The Future Asset Takeover! (with Grace London) Shelf Life #14
Mandy Rawlinson
Head of UK and EMEA at Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Episode: EP 57: The Future Asset Takeover! (with Grace London) Shelf Life #14
Barry Eichengreen
Economic historian and author
University of California, Berkeley
Episode: EP 56: Money Beyond Borders (with Barry Eichengreen)
Costa Vayenas
Author of The Swiss Franc, 1798 to 2055
Author
Episode: EP 55: The Swiss Franc, 1798 to 2055 (with Costa Vayenas)
Mary Duffy
Trustee of Didasko and chair of Library of Mistakes Steering Committee
Didasko
Episode: EP 54: The Weekend Of Mistakes (with Leila Johnston) Shelf Life #13
Anya Shortland
Professor of political economy researching Mafia and queer nightlife
University of Sussex
Episode: EP 54: The Weekend Of Mistakes (with Leila Johnston) Shelf Life #13

Hosts

Professor Russell Napier
Keeper of The Library of Mistakes, host of The Library Of Mistakes; specializes in financial history and monetary policy.
Leila Johnston
Co-host and producer involved in Shelf Life and broader festival programming; contributes communications and public engagement expertise.
Fraser Allen
Co-host and producer, leads Shelf Life segments and Festival programming; ties historical finance content to live events.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 161 ratings
  • Fantastic

    Leila is an especially excellent. Encore!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Roo Reynolds
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • learn to avoid financial mistakes by studying the mistakes made in the past. know your history.

    Audible
    5
    K. Barrett
    United Statesa year ago
  • study the history

    learn to avoid financial mistakes by studying the mistakes made in the past. know your history.

    Audible
    5
    K. Barrett
    United Statesa year ago
  • Brilliant

    Brilliant in conception, with deftly chosen Mistakes and guests. Key is Russell Napier’s deep grasp of the issues and concepts and ability to pull out the important . If only more podcast hosts could draw lessons from this.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Impoxtssibxo
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Iceland’s Secret

    Great episode with Prof Napier interviewing Jared Bibler about his fab book.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SteveC BTBS
    United Kingdom4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

A valuable resource for anyone exploring the history of money and financial systems.
Listeners appreciate the mix of scholarly guests and accessible storytelling.
Thoughtful, well-researched discussions with strong historical grounding.
High-quality production and insightful guest selections come through in reviews.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#237
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#151
Hong Kong/History
Apple Podcasts
#167
India/History
Apple Podcasts
#203
Singapore/History
Apple Podcasts
#220
Ireland/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

EP 59: How to Get Rich the American Way (with Joseph S. Moore)
Q: So how did you go from being an associate professor of history to doing what you do now?
The guest describes a personal pivot sparked by 2008 financial crises and a long-standing curiosity about how ordinary people actually managed money, leading to immersive historical research and a shift toward publishing and teaching about financial behavior beyond the academy.
EP 57: The Future Asset Takeover! (with Grace London) Shelf Life #14
Q: How has meeting industry experts influenced your career outlook, and do you see yourselves pursuing similar paths?
Participants described meeting mentors as transformative, providing real-world insights and boosting confidence that a career in finance is accessible. Many felt inspired to explore apprenticeships and broad finance roles beyond traditional banking.
EP 57: The Future Asset Takeover! (with Grace London) Shelf Life #14
Q: What was your favorite part of the process from initial idea to today?
Teams highlighted rehearsing and refining the pitch as the most enjoyable part because it allowed them to combine information they had researched with a presentation style they found engaging, making the experience both educational and fun.
EP 50: The Weekend Of Mistakes (with Alice Sherwood & Paul Greatbatch) Shelf Life #10
Q: What's the structure of the event like?
The event includes multiple venues for different discussions, allowing attendees to choose based on their interests and facilitates interaction between speakers and participants.
EP 50: The Weekend Of Mistakes (with Alice Sherwood & Paul Greatbatch) Shelf Life #10
Q: Can you tell us then about some of the highlights of the Weekend Of Mistakes to date?
The event has explored various themes, including history of banking, money, and crime, with engaging sessions led by experts who promote interactive discussions.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Library of Mistakes

What is The Library of Mistakes about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This series blends financial history with accessible storytelling, featuring deep-dive conversations with renowned authors, economists, and policymakers who illuminate how money, debt, and markets have shaped societies. Episodes range from historical case studies—currency systems, monetary policy, and financial crises—to contemporary programs promoting financial literacy and inclusion. A notable strength is its hybrid format: rigorous historical analysis paired with lively, reporter-style discussions and cross-disciplinary guests. The show also consistently links past missteps to modern finance, offering listeners actionable context for understanding current economic debates while highlighting programs that broaden financial education and d... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Library of Mistakes?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Library of Mistakes:

1. Hidden Forces
2. Monetary Matters with Jack Farley
3. Macro Voices
4. The Market Huddle
5. Behind the Balance Sheet

How many episodes of The Library of Mistakes are there?

The Library of Mistakes launched 4 years ago and published 61 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Library of Mistakes?

Recent guests on The Library of Mistakes include:

1. Joseph S. Moore
2. François Boutin-Dufresne
3. Jemma McLean
4. Jenna Donnelly
5. Mandy Rawlinson
6. Barry Eichengreen
7. Costa Vayenas
8. Mary Duffy

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