Capitalism in America: A History

This book explores how the U.S. economy was shaped and why America became one of the world’s leading centers of innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth.

The authors trace the country’s journey from a collection of small colonies to a global economic powerhouse, highlighting the people, ideas, and decisions that made this transformation possible. Along the way, they examine both remarkable achievements and some of the most difficult chapters in American history—from the role of slavery and the Great Depression to the New Deal and today’s economic challenges.

Rather than being a traditional economics textbook, the book offers a thoughtful exploration of how capitalism, competition, and innovation work, why some ideas change the world while others don’t, and which lessons from history remain relevant today.

The discussion will be led by Book Business Club’s long-standing host, Yegor Ryasov, together with Richard Woonacott, an American diplomat with more than 20 years of experience in government and public policy. He currently serves at the U.S. Embassy in Vilnius and previously held senior positions in the California state government, where he was involved in developing legislation and shaping public policy.

If you’re interested in economics, history, business, and the forces that shape society, we’d love to have you join the discussion.