Saints and sinners -- Embracing Shylock -- Protestants, war, and capitalism -- The great experiment -- The new debt revolution -- Something old, something new -- Islam, interest, and microlending -- The consumer debt revolution -- Early interest rate tables and calculations

Biographical note: Charles R. Geisst is Ambassador Charles A. Gargano Professor of Finance at Manhattan College and the author of eighteen other books, including Collateral Damaged: The Marketing of Consumer Debt to America and Wall Street: A History.

In Beggar Thy Neighbor, financial historian Charles R. Geisst tracks the changing perceptions of usury and debt from the time of Cicero to the most recent financial crises. This comprehensive economic history looks at humanity's attempts to curb the abuse of debt while reaping the benefits of...

Cover -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- Introduction -- Chapter 1 Saints and Sinners -- Chapter 2 Embracing Shylock -- Chapter 3 Protestants, War, and Capitalism -- Chapter 4 The Great Experiment -- Chapter 5 The New Debt Revolution -- Chapter 6 Something Old, Something New -- Chapter 7...

Predatory lending: A problem rooted in the past that continues today. Looking for an investment return that could exceed 500 percent annually; maybe even twice that much? Private, unregulated lending to high-risk borrowers is the answer, or at least it was in the United States for much of the...