Book Review: ‘Thought Economics’ by Vikas Shah

“Since 2007, entrepreneur and philanthropist Vikas Shah has been on a mission to interview the people shaping our century. Including conversations with Nobel prizewinners, business leaders, politicians, artists and Olympians, he has been in the privileged position of questioning the minds that matter on the big issues that concern us all. We often talk of war and conflict, the economy, culture, technology and revolutions as if they are something other than us. But all these things are a product of us – of our ideas, our dreams and our fears. We live in fast-moving and extraordinary times, and the changes we’re experiencing now, in these first decades of the twenty-first century, feel particularly poignant as decisions are made that will inform our existence for years to come. What started out as a personal interest in the mechanisms that inform our views of the world, and a passion for understanding, has grown into a phenomenal compilation of once-in-a-lifetime conversations. In this incredible collection, Shah shares some of his most emotive and insightful interviews to date.” 

Thank you to Love Book Tours and the publisher for my copy of this book and my spot on this blog tour.

Review of Thought Economics by Vikas Shah

My rating: 4/5

Thought Economics is an insightful collection of interviews with some of the greatest minds – from entrepreneurs and artists to athletes and renowned scientists. 

For nearly fifteen years, Vikas Shah has been interviewing people shaping our world on a wide range of topics, such as identity, social responsibility, humanity, war, peace and justice. Not all interviewers respond in the same manner to similar questions, but what they all have in common, is curiosity – of themselves, people and the world in general. 

It’s definitely been interesting to see so many insights and comments from such a variety of important figures in our century. They don’t always agree with each other, but I think in such a manner, Thought Economics, makes a reader think and analyse the opinions and insights given. This isn’t a book imposing on the reader its general stance, but rather an opening, the doors to looking at the world differently and taking into account some important points brought up by artists, writers, scientists, businessmen and more. 

It’s been particularly interesting to read Thought Economics in the middle of another lockdown caused by the pandemic. The book at large emphasised the collaboration and the shared experience something significant in all aspects of our life, and I think that’s something particularly important especially now.

Thought Economics is full of quotes that will stay in my mind for long, such as “Art is an open space where hope and fear, future and past, come together; where the self – making sense of individual experience – becomes collective” (Sir Antony Gormley).

Who is the book for: I would recommend Thought Economics to anyone looking for an insightful read on a wide range of important topics. You can get your copy here.

For those interested in knowing more about the author:

Vikas Shah MBE is a serial entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is Visiting Professor of Entrepreneurship at MIT Sloan (The Lisbon MBA), Honorary Professor of Business at The Alliance Business School, University of Manchester and an Honorary Industry Fellow at the University of Salford Business School. Vikas started his first technology business aged just fourteen, and is currently CEO of Swiscot Group (a diversified international trading business). He is a venture investor in fast-growing technology businesses internationally and is a non-executive director and advisor to numerous organizations. Vikas was awarded an MBE for Services to Business and the Economy in Her Majesty the Queen’s 2017 New Year’s Honours List.The Thought Economics website includes interviews on a diverse range of topics including: business and economics, culture, society and the arts, politics and policy, science and technology.

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