Rebecca Lowe – författare

SHORTLISTED FOR THE EDWARD STANFORD TRAVEL WRITING AWARDS TRAVEL BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023In 2015, as the Syrian War raged and the refugee crisis reached its peak, Rebecca Lowe set off on her bicycle across the Middle East. Driven by a desire to learn more about this troubled region and its relationship with the West, Lowe's 11,000-kilometre journey took her through Europe to Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Sudan, the Gulf and finally to Iran.It was an odyssey through landscapes and history that captured her heart, but also a deeply challenging cycle across mountains, deserts and repressive police states that nearly defeated her. Plagued by punctures and battling temperatures ranging from -6 to 48C, Lowe was rescued frequently by farmers and refugees, villagers and urbanites alike, and relied almost entirely on the kindness and hospitality of locals to complete this living portrait of the modern Middle East.This is her evocative, deeply researched and often very funny account of her travels ― and the people, politics and culture she encountered.'Terrifically compelling... bursting with humour, adventure and insight into the rich landscapes and history of the Middle East. Lowe recounts the beauty, kindnesses and complexities of the lands she travels through with an illuminating insight. A wonderful new travel writer' Sir Ranulph Fiennes

SHORTLISTED FOR THE EDWARD STANFORD TRAVEL WRITING AWARDS TRAVEL BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023In 2015, as the Syrian War raged and the refugee crisis reached its peak, Rebecca Lowe set off on her bicycle across the Middle East. Driven by a desire to learn more about this troubled region and its relationship with the West, Lowe's 11,000-kilometre journey took her through Europe to Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Sudan, the Gulf and finally to Iran.It was an odyssey through landscapes and history that captured her heart, but also a deeply challenging cycle across mountains, deserts and repressive police states that nearly defeated her. Plagued by punctures and battling temperatures ranging from -6 to 48C, Lowe was rescued frequently by farmers and refugees, villagers and urbanites alike, and relied almost entirely on the kindness and hospitality of locals to complete this living portrait of the modern Middle East.This is her evocative, deeply researched and often very funny account of her travels ― and the people, politics and culture she encountered.'Terrifically compelling... bursting with humour, adventure and insight into the rich landscapes and history of the Middle East. Lowe recounts the beauty, kindnesses and complexities of the lands she travels through with an illuminating insight. A wonderful new travel writer' Sir Ranulph Fiennes

In the 16th century, the financial advisor to Queen Elizabeth I, Sir Thomas Gresham, observed a peculiar human behavior that would forever bear his name. When the government began minting new coins that were debased-containing less pure silver than the older coins of the same face value-the old, pure coins completely vanished from circulation. This is Gresham's Law: "e;Bad money drives out good."e; The logic is flawless. If a citizen holds two coins legally worth one dollar, but one is made of pure silver and the other of cheap copper, they will hoard or melt down the silver and use the copper to pay their taxes. This principle extends far beyond Renaissance coinage; it explains modern capital flight, the hoarding of hard assets during hyperinflation, and the psychological defense mechanisms of citizens trapped in failing fiat systems. This book traces the impact of Gresham's Law across centuries of economic crises. You will learn how currency debasement caused the fall of the Roman economy, how identical mechanics drive modern crypto-currency hoarding, and how governments continually fail to legislate away basic human self-interest. Protect your purchasing power by understanding historical precedent. By mastering Gresham's Law, you can recognize the early signs of monetary decay and position your assets accordingly.