Books › Tulipomania
Tulipomania
the story of the world's most coveted flower and the extraordinary passions it aroused
389 pages
A fascinating historical journey into the heart of a 17th-century economic obsession over a single, beautiful flower.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like stepping into a bustling 17th-century European market where fortunes are made and lost on a single petal. The narrative unfolds at a steady, engaging pace, tracing the journey of a coveted commodity from its Central Asian origins to the height of a legendary economic frenzy. The tone is informative yet deeply fascinated by human folly, focusing on the colorful characters swept up in extraordinary passions. It offers a curious, immersive atmosphere that blends the meticulous details of economic history with the vibrant allure of the flower trade. This is a perfect read for those who devour narrative micro-histories and are captivated by the strange, obsessive ways human beings assign value to the world around them.
- Mood
- curious
- bustling
- intrigued
- Tone
- informative
- engaging
- observational
- fascinated
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- the nature of obsession · economic frenzy · historical commodities · human folly
- The writing
- Clear and narrative-driven, weaving economic history with character-focused storytelling.
- The arc
- Moves from a sense of geographical discovery to the dizzying heights of economic obsession and historical fascination.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love narrative micro-histories that explore how a single object can spark widespread human obsession.
About the book
A history of the tulip, from its origins in central Asia, to its place as the most coveted commodity in Europe; telling the story of the flower and some of the colorful characters whose lives were entwined with it.
Description from Open Library.
Books like Tulipomania
See why they match
The ascent of moneyNiall FergusonAn expansive, eye-opening journey that reveals the invisible financial scaffolding holding up human history.
Reinventing the BazaarJohn McMillanA globe-trotting, jargon-free tour through the invisible architecture of human exchange that makes the modern world tick.
This time is differentCarmen M. ReinhartA sweeping, data-rich reality check that proves financial hubris is humanity's oldest repeating loop.
La tulipe noireAlexandre DumasA thrilling, romantic adventure where the brutal machinations of state politics collide with the delicate, obsessive pursuit of a single perfect flower.
MoneyJacob Goldstein (Cohost of Planet Money podcast)A witty, globe-trotting tour through the collective hallucination that makes the modern world go round.
CapitalismJames FulcherA concise, globe-trotting exploration of the economic engine that drives the modern world and the alternatives that challenge it.