Book · 2010 · Politics and government
Red Plenty
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There's a fabulous book called "Red Plenty" by Francis Spufford that is kind of a fictionalized account of this.
John Collison · Cheeky Pint · Oct 2025 Listen at 32:25 The best things said about it
That in novels and movies there's too much intent and not enough invisible hand oh I would actually say red plenty I would say red plenty by Francis buffard is a wonderful novel about economics.
Spuffford wrote this incredible book called Red Plenty, which really I and Abe took as one of our models for how do you write a complicate a book about complicated structures.
Where and when it comes up
Most mentions, by podcast
Why people recommend it
Red Plenty by Francis Spufford is a celebrated novel that offers a fictionalized account of Soviet economic history and industrial planning during the Khrushchev era. The book has been recommended and discussed by several commentators interested in economic structures and technological progress. On Cheeky Pint, John Collison mentioned Francis Spufford's book while exploring Soviet industrialization and comparing historical economic growth to Western models. Brad DeLong also recommended the title during an appearance on Conversations with Tyler, praising the text as a wonderful novel about economics that successfully captures complex systems rather than relying on heavy-handed narrative intent. Furthermore, Henry Farrell referenced Red Plenty on The Ezra Klein Show, noting that he and a colleague used Spufford's work as a primary structural model for writing about complicated institutional systems. Across these podcast appearances, speakers praised the book for its unique ability to blend compelling storytelling with deep explorations of economic history, making abstract theories accessible through vivid historical fiction.
Every mention
Brad DeLong that in novels and movies there's too much intent and not enough invisible hand oh I would actually say red… 1
“that in novels and movies there's too much intent and not enough invisible hand oh I would actually say red plenty I would say red plenty by Francis buffard is a wonderful novel about economics”
John Collison There's a fabulous book called "Red Plenty" by Francis Spufford that is kind of a fictionalized account of… 1
“There's a fabulous book called "Red Plenty" by Francis Spufford that is kind of a fictionalized account of this.”
Henry Farrell Spuffford wrote this incredible book called Red Plenty, which really I and Abe took as one of our models fo… 1
“Spuffford wrote this incredible book called Red Plenty, which really I and Abe took as one of our models for how do you write a complicate a book about complicated structures”