Tower of Basel by Adam LeBor Summary
Overview of Tower of Basel
Inside the secretive Bank for International Settlements, where unelected bankers shape global finance. Adam LeBor's explosive expose - translated into 12 languages - reveals Nazi gold transactions and shadowy power structures that sparked comparisons to the populist thinking behind Brexit and Trump.
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Key takeaways
The Secret Club That Controls Your Money
Imagine a circular tower in Basel, Switzerland, where eighteen unelected individuals meet every other month to make decisions that affect your daily life - from mortgage rates to job security. These central bankers control the global money supply and set interest rates that ripple through economies worldwide. Their meetings occur behind closed doors, their communications protected by diplomatic immunity, and their staff enjoy generous tax-free salaries. Welcome to the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) - arguably the world's most powerful and secretive financial institution. Founded in 1930 ostensibly to manage German war reparations, the BIS actually emerged as a sanctuary where central bankers could coordinate global finance away from political interference. Today, when these governors meet, they represent countries comprising four-fifths of global GDP - wielding more practical power than most elected officials on earth. Yet how many people even know this institution exists? What makes this story fascinating isn't just the concentration of power, but how this secretive club has survived - and thrived - through economic collapse, world war, and financial crises. The BIS has reinvented itself repeatedly, from managing Nazi gold to architecting the euro to designing the regulations that govern your bank account today.
Origins and Nazi Connections: From War Reparations to Collaboration
Wartime Operations and Post-War Transformation
Global Expansion and the Tower of Basel
Architects of Modern Finance: The Euro and Global Regulation
Power and Accountability in Global Finance
The BIS and Modern Economic Challenges
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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