Library of Mistakes – Details, episodes & analysis

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Library of Mistakes

The Library of Mistakes

Business

Frequency: 1 episode/33d. Total Eps: 38

Based in Edinburgh, with branches in Switzerland and India, the Library of Mistakes is a free public library designed to improve understanding of finance (and life in general), one mistake at a time. In this podcast series the Library's Keeper, Professor Russell Napier, speaks to authors of some of the most interesting books in the ever-expanding collection exploring insights into finance, business, society and human nature. Fascinating, educational and often rather funny.
Produced and edited by Fraser Allen (www.allencomms.co.uk)
Voiceover by Mary Duffy.

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Data updated on 04/07/2026

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Apple Podcasts

🇬🇧 Great Britain - Business
19/05/2025
#80
🇬🇧 Great Britain - Business
18/05/2025
#87
🇬🇧 Great Britain - Business
17/05/2025
#68
🇬🇧 Great Britain - Business
16/05/2025
#99

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https://www.haycastletrust.org/p-3525-weekend-of-mistakes-at-hay-castle.aspx
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https://www.kilkenomics.com
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Score global : 49%

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EP 38: Meltdown – Scandal, Sleaze And The Collapse of Credit Suisse (with Duncan Mavin)

Tuesday, May 13, 2025 • Duration 51:43

Russell Napier invites Duncan Mavin back for a second appearance on the podcast – this time to discuss his recent book on Credit Suisse. Their fascinating discussion explores how decades of a rotten corporate culture dating back to WWII developed into the scandals and reputational disasters that eventually brought the Swiss bank down.

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EP 37: Shelf Life #3

Friday, May 2, 2025 • Duration 53:42

Fraser Allen and Leila Johnston take you behind the scenes at the Library of Mistakes once more. This month we hear from the brilliant behavioural finance expert Herman Brodie, discover the colourful back story of Didasko CEO David Clarke, and find out more about the library itself with Lauren Hotson and Helen Williams.
If you have any queries about hiring the Library as a venue, simply email Lauren at facilities@libraryofmistakes.com or visit www.libraryofmistakes.com – where you can also find out about our Practical History of Financial Markets course.
And to provide any feedback regarding the podcast, ask questions or make suggestions, please email fraser@libraryofmistakes.com or Leila@libraryofmistakes.com.

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EP 36: Shelf Life #2

Monday, March 31, 2025 • Duration 57:11

Leila Johnston and Fraser Allen are back to take you behind the scenes at the Library of Mistakes. And in this packed episode we...
•Hear from theatre director and actor Liam Rees about his show The Land That Never Was. It's based on the adventures of 19th century Scottish conman Gregor MacGregor, who sold bonds on behalf of a South American country that was a figment of his imagination!
•Explore what happened at the Weekend of Mistakes in Hay-on-Wye (including clips from speakers).
•Chat to the team behind Leavers' Money Skills, helping Scottish school-leavers to cope with the life of finance ahead of them.
•And our Librarian Helen Williams discusses our books on Russia, Putin and Trump!

If you have any feedback, ideas or can name the song briefly alluded to at the end of this episode (and the band that originally sung it) – you could win a Library of Mistakes mug! – simply email fraser@libraryofmistakes.com or leila@libraryofmistakes.com

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EP 35: Lending To The Borrower From Hell (with Mauricio Drelichman)

Thursday, March 6, 2025 • Duration 43:58

Russell Napier enjoys a fascinating chat with Mauricio Drelichman who (together with Hans Joachim-Voth) is the author of Lending to the Borrower from Hell: Debt, Taxes, and Default in the Age of Philip II. Together, they explore how this account of the freely-defaulting 16th century King of Spain changes our perceptions of financial history.

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EP 34: Shelf Life #1

Thursday, February 27, 2025 • Duration 01:04:08

In the first of a new thread of monthly episodes, we take you behind the scenes at the Library of Mistakes. Join us as we turn the tables on our resident interrogator Professor Russell Napier by putting the questions to him. We also interview David Clarke of Didasko, Helen Bradley of Future Asset and our librarian Helen Williams. And fear not, Russell's regular interviews with financial historians will also continue here as normal.
Shelf Life is presented by Leila Johnston & Fraser Allen – please do contact us with any feedback, ideas or questions at fraser@libraryofmistakes.com or leila@libraryofmistakes.com.

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EP 33: Money – The Unauthorised Biography (with Felix Martin)

Thursday, February 13, 2025 • Duration 41:31

Russell Napier quizzes Felix Martin about his book, Money – The Unauthorised Biography. A fascinating listen for anyone interested in the true nature of money, illuminated through entertaining examples such as the Irish Bank Strike of 1970, the Argentinian Crédito and the Bristol Pound.

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EP 32: Gambling Man (with Lionel Barber)

Thursday, November 28, 2024 • Duration 38:12

Lionel Barber, the former editor of the Financial Times, discusses his fascinating biography of Masayoshi Son, one of the world's least-known but most consequential investors. Regarding himself as an 'empire builder' rather than a CEO, Son was briefly the world's richest man and has ruffled many feathers on his rise from a Korean slum in Japan to the modern-day temples of power. Russell Napier asks the questions.

•The Library of Mistakes runs an outstanding course called the Practical History of Financial Markets. To find out more, go to: www.libraryofmistakes.com/course

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EP 31: Money & Promises (Paolo Zannoni)

Thursday, November 7, 2024 • Duration 44:52

Money & Promises (Seven Deals That Changed World) is Paolo Zannoni's first book and one of Russell Napier's favourite books of the year. For as well as being President of the luxury Italian fashion group Prada, Paolo is a highly experienced banker who has combined his professional expertise with a passion for exploring ledger archives to create a ground-breaking work of financial history.

•The Library of Mistakes runs an outstanding course called the Practical History of Financial Markets. To find out more, go to: www.libraryofmistakes.com/course

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EP 30: Money – A Story of Humanity (with David McWilliams)

Tuesday, October 8, 2024 • Duration 33:55

"Despite being a fully paid-up member of the economist tribe for many years, I’ve concluded that most economists don’t really understand money," says David McWilliams, co-founder of Kilkenomics, (the world's first economics and comedy festival). David's new book, Money: A Story of Humanity, explains why he takes this entertainingly provocative position – and backs it up with powerful arguments. The book has received many plaudits. Professor Brian Cox describes it as: "A breathtaking, expansive and imaginative ride through the history and future of money from an author who truly understands it." And this free-ranging discussion with Russell Napier – embracing Karl Marx, Van Morrison and James Joyce – is just as fascinating.

•To discover more about Kilkenomics, go to: https://www.kilkenomics.com

•The Library of Mistakes runs an outstanding course called the Practical History of Financial Markets. To find out more, go to: www.libraryofmistakes.com/course

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EP 29: The Bankers' New Clothes (with Anat Admati)

Thursday, September 19, 2024 • Duration 40:38

In this lively episode, Anat Admati (Professor of Finance and Economics at Stanford) explains what she believes to be wrong about banking, and how it should be changed. Anat is co-author (with Martin Hellwig) of The Bankers' New Clothes, originally published in 2013, then expanded and re-published this year to encompass the era of increased regulation. Interviewer Russell Napier challenges Anat on some of her opinions, and Anat challenges Russell back, making for a fascinating listen.

•The Library of Mistakes runs an outstanding course called the Practical History of Financial Markets. To find out more, go to: www.libraryofmistakes.com/course

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Library of Mistakes – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

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Apple Podcasts

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Library of Mistakes – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Other2

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Other2