People from Ohio are not supposed to trumpet their own achievements. Ohioans have this belief that if you do the Unforgivable Sin of Self-Praise, a tornado will immediately strike and wipe out you and your entire family. “Pride goeth before a fall” is the state motto. Still, when you are labeled an “aid skeptic” and make enemies everywhere, if you don’t praise yourself, who’s going to? On top of that, I will appeal to a technicality of quoting others praising me, is that alright Ohio? If not, at least tornadoes are uncommon in downtown Manhattan in the middle of winter.
So just to note that the World Bank included my book on the PSD blog’s Top Ten Books of the Decade. No, not the White Man’s Burden, but my lesser known earlier 2001 book (paperback 2002), The Elusive Quest for Growth: Economists’ Adventures and Misadventures in the Tropics. Some insiders, not necessarily including the author, actually like the first book better than the second. And there’s nice poetic justice here, since the 2001 version of the World Bank forced me onto the exit ramp out of the Bank because of that 2001 book.
Then BOTH my books made the Top Ten Pro-Liberty Books of the Decade. Thank you liberty lovers, I love Liberty for All also, and thanks for giving me 20 percent of the whole decade liberty franchise. Good thing I didn’t waste time on a 3rd pro-liberty book.
So for those who procrastinated on Christmas gifts, or maybe celebrate Orthodox Christmas instead, it’s not too late to click on the above links and raise my Amazon rankings!
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Solzhenitsyn was first ostracized and imprisoned for his writings against Stalin, then under Khrushchev he became a national hero for the same writings. For a free thinker, both events are badges of honor.
Ha…it probably was too good to be true being in the WB list with The White Man’s Burden, uh?
Congratulations! I’m happy to have been a student in your class 
Bill,
To what extent are you cut out of research funding because of your skeptical stance? I would guess that you are pretty much frozen out of most funding, but are their notable exceptions? Is your work hindered at all by a lack of funding?
Congratulations.
Continued success in the next decade. I agree with Mr. Clemens. Squeeky wheel gets the oil, and a motley assortment of followers, also.
Very much appreciate your patience with those of us who aren’t economists, but who are eager to learn and always wanting to improve the way they go about making a difference.
All best for a successful and happy 2010.
Long live lady liberty, indeed.
Which decade are you thinking about?
The first decade of the 21st century began Jan. 1, 2001 and will end Dec. 31, 2010.
It still has one year to go….
(The year 1 A.D. was the first year A.D., so the first decade A.D. ended Dec. 31, 10 A.D., assuming a decade has ten years.
So 2001 was the first year of the current decade.)
Bill Stepp, great so I can run the same self-promotional blog post again on Dec. 31, 2010.
David, well I am not being flooded with money from the Gates Foundation like almost every other development economist, I can safely reveal that. Sour grapes? Not really, I hear they are a pain to deal with.
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