The Battle of Bretton Woods - (Council on Foreign Relations Books (Princeton University Press)) by Benn Steil

The Battle of Bretton Woods is a gripping historical tale that reveals the intricate drama, rivalry, and geopolitical agendas behind the creation of the post-war economic order.

This book offers a fresh perspective on the renowned conference in New Hampshire where representatives from 44 nations gathered to shape the global financial system.

The author, Benn Steil, upends the conventional wisdom that Bretton Woods was an amiable Anglo-American collaboration, instead revealing a more complex geopolitical agenda aimed at eliminating Britain as an economic and political rival.

At the heart of the drama are two antipodal characters: John Maynard Keynes, the renowned British economist, and Harry Dexter White, the dogged American technocrat.

Steil's epic account brings to light new and striking archival evidence, offering a compelling portrait of White - the architect of the dollar's privileged place in the Bretton Woods monetary system and a secret admirer of Soviet economic planning.

This masterfully crafted book will captivate anyone interested in history, economics, or international relations.