Perry Mehrling is Professor of International Political Economy at Boston University.

• Preface; Introduction; Part I. Intellectual Formation, 1910–1948; 1. Golden boy; 2. Columbia; 3. Hot money; 4. A good war; Part II. International Economist, 1948–1976; 5. Tech; 6. The dollar system; 7. Among economists; Part III. Historical Economist, 1976–2003; 8. Independence; 9. Chef d'oeuvre; 10. Leadership.

'The discipline of economics is balanced, somewhat unsteadily, between two legs, with the skill of the historian on one side and of the mathematical modeler on the other. In the second half of the 20th century, the tide flowed strongly to elevate the second leg and to diminish the first. In this delightful biography of Charlie Kindleberger, a charming and loveable man, Perry Mehrling shows how Charlie, in his chosen role, as an international monetary economist, fought against that tide, often unsuccessfully. Perry writes so beautifully that one would only need a smattering of economics to enjoy the tale; while if one is interested in the history of economic thought in international monetary economics, then this book is, of course, a must read.' Charles Goodhart, Centre for Economic Policy Research