One of the most powerful books in the social sciences ever written Thomas PikettyThe twentieth centurys most prophetic critic of capitalism ProspectPolanyis revolutionary work is a mustread Mariana MazzucatoKarl Polanyis landmark 1944 work is one of the earliest and most powerful critiques of unregulated markets. Tracing the history of capitalism from the great transformation of the industrial revolution onwards he shows that there has been nothing natural about the market state. Instead of reducing human relations and our environment to mere commodities the economy must always be embedded in civil society. Describing the avalanche of social dislocation of his time Polanyis hugely influential work is a passionate call to protect our common humanity.Polanyis vision for an alternative economy reembedded in politics and social relations offers a refreshing alternative GuardianPolanyi exposes the myth of the free market Joseph E. StiglitzWith a new introduction by Gareth Dale