Having re-read this book for the second time,I have to confess that I still have severe doubts about the validity of the underlying assessments. The fundamental problem of the book is its pre-occuptation with the anglo-saxon shorttermist mentality which leads to ultimately misleading conclusions regarding monetary policy. Ultimately a firm orientation of monetary policy towards the medium-term objective of price stability - in the context of an 'ordnungspolitische' well-based broader economic and social framework - it the best guarantor of the financial and economic stability which is essential to reap the full fruits of economic progress. The experience of Germany over the last 30 years - which, in contrast to the poor record of the anglo-saxon economies, is characterised by a solid track record of price stability combined with the absence of notable financial fragility - is powerful evidence of the enduring truth of this proposition. While this view may not be en vogue with many financial commentators - especially those in the anglo-saxon presse - I am convinced that this will change radically in the near future, as events unfold in the US and reveal the inherent weakness of monetary policies orientated to cyclical fine-tuning and the support of stock marktes.