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Was the recent collapse of the multinational banking system in the cards? Will the current economic downturn ultimately be seen as a positive turn of events? To celebrate the launch of his latest book, Filthy Lucre: Economics For People Who Hate Capitalism (HarperCollins Canada), acclaimed author and academic Joseph Heath will discuss such hot button topics with noted business columnist David Olive.

A This Is Not A Reading Series event presented by Pages Books & Magazines, HarperCollins Canada, Gladstone Hotel, NOW Magazine, and Take Five On CIUT. Gladstone Hotel Ballroom, 1214 Queen St West, Toronto Tues May 5; 7:30pm (Doors 7pm) $5 (Free with Book Purchase)

FILTHY LUCRE A dozen times every day, individuals and organizations use economic claims to support social and political points of view. Those on the left tend to distrust economists, seeing them as friends of the right. There is something to this skepticism, since professional economists are almost all keen supporters of the free market. Yet while factions on the right naturally embrace economists, they also tend to overestimate the effect of their support on free-market policies. The result is widespread confusion. In fact, virtually all commonly held beliefs about economics–whether espoused by political activists, politicians, journalists or taxpayers–are just plain wrong.

Joseph Heath, co-author of the international bestseller The Rebel Sell, wants to improve our economic literacy and empower us with new ideas. In Filthy Lucre, he draws on everyday examples to skewer the six favourite economic fallacies of the right, before impaling the six favourite fallacies of the left. Heath leaves no sacred cows untipped as he breaks down complex arguments and shows how the monetary world really works. The popularity of such books as Freakonomics and Predictably Irrational demonstrates that people want a better understanding of the financial forces that affect them. Highly readable, flawlessly argued and certain to raise ire along all points of the socio-political spectrum, Filthy Lucre is a must-read for anyone wanting to engage in clear debate on social and political issues.

JOSEPH HEATH is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Toronto. He is the author of two books: The Efficient Society–a national bestseller and a Globe and Mail Best Book of 2001–and Communicative Action and Rational Choice. Heath co-authored the widely acclaimed worldwide bestseller, Rebel Sell: Why The Culture Can’t Be Jammed, with Andrew Potter. He lives in Toronto.

DAVID OLIVE is a business and current affairs columnist at the Toronto Star, where he also writes a blog called The Great Recession. He has been a staff writer at the Globe and Mail, the Financial Post and the National Post. He is a former editor-in-chief of the Globe’s Report on Business Magazine. He has written eleven books, the most recent of which is An American Story: The Speeches of Barack Obama, A Primer.

MEDIA CONTACTS
Joseph Heath: Emma Ingram, Emma.Ingram@HarperCollins.com, (416) 975-9334
This Is Not A Reading Series: Chris Reed, tinars@pagesbooks.ca, (416) 598-1447, ext 221