For an lengthy but amazing alternate-reality account of same (and much... much more), check out Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle

The audiobooks are pretty well narrated too, great for anyone who needs 160 hours of audio

Very true. Then you get to Cryptonomicon - which is set in the same universe. I think it's the best audiobook I've ever listened to.

I found that Fall; or, Dodge in Hell wraps up the whole thing very nicely!

That novel really expands the scope of the whole alternate universe dramatically. He's an amazing writer.

EDIT: nice username! Is this where you got it?

Yes - started using the username on Slashdot back on the day after reading Cryptonomicon and have used it on various places over the years... :-)

For a more rigorous treatment, try Paul Wiltmott's (a famous quant) The Money Formula

https://www.amazon.com/Money-Formula-Finance-Science-Mathema...

The David Liss historical novel 'A Conspiracy of Paper' was pretty nice. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Conspiracy_of_Paper

Thanks - I'll check it out.

Shockingly, this is free on Audible!

The first line:

> Science writer and MIT professor Levenson reminds readers that rulers throughout history have taxed citizens to pay bills.

Not really, the first goal of any state is to collect taxes and prevent other states to do that. First states were basically racqueteers, who robbed their subjects at gunpoint (tribute), and for the money hired larger squads, making a system with positive feedback. The conversion of tribes to states was unlikely to be peaceful.

I mean, the first priority of any state is to collect taxes, that are financing the taxation system and preventing others doing the same (military). Everything else must be secondary, otherwise other states with more efficient systems will come over.