Why did the price of gold hit record highs in 2008? Take a look at the headlines - government bailouts of failed banks, mortgage and credit crises, rising inflation, slowing growth and global insecurity. In order to protect themselves from treacherous financial markets and depreciated paper currencies investors worldwide are turning to gold.Gold has long been used as money and as a store of wealth, but what's the source of its value? Why does that value sometimes rise so high and at other times fall so low? And what do we know about gold's complex and often tumultuous past that may yield clues about how it may behave in the future?Gold is a side show on a world financial stage dominated by the dollar. The tail can't wag the dog -gold prices are affected by changes in prospects for the dollar and not vice versa. With uncertain outcomes for the American and global economies, gold's stateless money franchise makes this book compelling reading."John Katz is a clear eyed independent strategist and analyst with an extraordinary ability to get to grips with subjects ranging from biotechnology via alternative energy to commodities and gold. Uniquely for a commentator on gold he has no dogmas.

为什么金价在2008年创下历史新高？看看头条新闻——政府救助破产银行、抵押贷款和信贷危机、通胀上升、增长放缓和全球不安全。为了保护自己不受金融市场和纸币贬值的影响，全世界的投资者都转向黄金。黄金长期以来一直被用作货币和财富储备，但它的价值来源是什么？为什么这个值有时升得这么高，有时又降得这么低？我们对黄金复杂且经常动荡的过去了解多少？这些过去可能会为黄金未来的走势提供线索？黄金是美元主导的世界金融舞台上的一场旁敲侧击。尾巴摇不动狗-黄金价格受美元前景变化的影响，反之亦然。由于美国和全球经济的不确定结果，黄金的无状态货币特权使这本书引人注目的阅读。“约翰·卡茨是一位眼光清晰的独立战略家和分析师，拥有非凡的能力，能够处理从生物技术、替代能源到大宗商品和黄金等各种问题。作为一个黄金评论家，他没有教条。