The Selected Letters of John Kenneth Galbraith

'John Kenneth Galbraith occupied a unique place in American economics: a scholar, a policy advocate, a public official, and a popular author on both the printed page and the television screen. We admired each other and were good friends while both at Harvard. The letters now published reveal the sharp intellect and precision of wording in nailing down personal, political, and economic presentations and exposing cant and imprecision.' Kenneth J. Arrow, Stanford University, California, and Winner of the 1972 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences

'John Kenneth Galbraith's remarkable life is mirrored in these letters. Witty, always thoughtful, wise, they reflect a humaneness from which our harried age will benefit.' Henry A. Kissinger, former US Secretary of State

'John Kenneth Galbraith prided himself on the quality of his writings and that is apparent in the precision and wit of these letters. Even more than in his published writings, he used irony and humor to skewer the conventional wisdom. What is also striking is the quality of the advice he gave his correspondents - both the powerful and the obscure - and how seldom he was wrong. John Kenneth Galbraith will be remembered for his intellectual and diplomatic achievements but these letters also record extraordinary friendships.' Ambassador Peter W. Galbraith, former US Ambassador to Croatia

'Letter writing is fast becoming a lost art, killed by social media. And that is why Ric Holt's volume is especially welcome and important, preserving the wonderful elegant voice of John Kenneth Galbraith: economist, public intellectual, diplomat, and Harvard professor. After reading this book, all readers will learn, laugh, and emerge more educated.' Henry Rosovsky, Harvard University, Massachusetts

'Economist, public intellectual, adviser to presidents, ambassador to India, liberal activist, Harvard professor, keen observer of politics, John Kenneth Galbraith led a grand and important life. It is fully captured in Ric Holt's superb collection. Herein lie the ideas, passions and recollections of a brilliant man in letters that capture some of the most compelling events and personalities of the twentieth century.' Ellen Fitzpatrick, University of New Hampshire and author of Letters to Jackie: Remembering President Kennedy

'John Kenneth Galbraith towered over the twentieth century, literally and intellectually. He gave voice and reason to those wishing to comfort the afflicted and to responsibly afflict the comfortable. These letters give an unparalleled glimpse into an unparalleled life.' Robert B. Reich, University of California, Berkeley

'To receive a letter from Ken Galbraith was a delicious treat, even if it came wrapped in stinging nettles. To read this collection of Galbraith's letters is to replay the political and intellectual history of the United States during the twentieth century. Few Americans knew so many people involved with the country's great curr...

Richard P. F. Holt is a Professor of Economics at Southern Oregon University. He has authored and edited many books, two of which were named a Choice Outstanding Academic Title. He has also published more than sixty articles and book reviews in a variety of academic journals, and has served on various editorial boards.

Introduction; 1. 1930s: Berkeley and Harvard; 2. 1940s: war and price czar; 3. 1950s: liberal democrats and The Affluent Society; 4. 1960s: triumph and tragedy; 5. 1970s: the shooting star of American liberalism; 6. 1980s: the rise of American conservatism; 7. 1990s: political and economic moderation; 8. 2000s: a goodbye: economics, peace and laughter; About the editor.