Billionaires by Darryl Cunningham (PB)

Who are the super-rich in our society, and how do they have such disproportionate political and cultural influence on our lives? How did they acquire their wealth, and what are their lives like?

'Like Darryl Cunningham’s previous graphic novels, Billionaires displays his brilliant faculty for communicating serious and complex information in an accessible and entertaining way—something that the comic media can excel at. Immaculately researched and clearly told, this book should be required reading—by everyone!' Bryan Talbot, writer/artist

Paperback. 240 pages, 23cm x 16cm

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Special Price £11.89 Regular Price £16.99

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The super-rich are often portrayed as self-made, as if their wealth was created entirely by their own efforts. But is this true? In his latest book of graphic analysis, celebrated author Darryl Cunningham examines the evidence, featuring graphic biographies of media baron Rupert Murdoch, oil and gas tycoons Charles and David Koch, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Have these individuals enjoyed advantages, beyond their personal ability and attributes, that have aided their success?

Cunningham makes comparisons with the ‘Gilded Age’ (1870s to 1900), the last period in America in which a few individuals gained colossal wealth. Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, JP Morgan, Cornelius Vanderbilt and others made fortunes, but also helped create the modern world of railroads, manufacturing, and finance. What essential elements have the modern equivalents brought us?

Despite the often reported disadvantages brought by the widening gulf between the poorest and the super rich, are such wealthy individuals necessary to finance technological progress? Would we be poorer without them?

Darryl Cunningham is also the author of Supercrash (Myriad, 2014), Graphic Science (Myriad, 2017) and Science Tales (Myriad, 2019).

'As a writer and illustrator, Cunningham excels and there's an irresistible symbiosis between the words and the minimalist drawings. The graphic characterisation of these betes noires are beautifully succinct, with the frame composition immaculate and the sparse use of flat colour adding clarity. This is a most timely book, particularly as rebellion against pollution of the environment ought to go hand in hand with the pollution of our minds.' Morning StarRead

'(A) tremendously well researched comic book… I am a big fan. I’m always in awe of the amount of information that Darryl manages to pack in to every one of his comic books.' Robin Ince, Book of the Day

'It can take other authors whole books to say what Darryl can say in a single illustration.' Jon Ronson

'Darryl Cunningham’s non-fiction work is undoubtedly some of the most crucially important practice to have emerged in UK comics in the last decade.'Andy Oliver, Broken Frontier

'Gripping and necessary…some of the best comics journalism I’ve ever read…made indelible by his low-key, acerbic cartooning. The drawings are remarkable, varied, and always on point.' Jeet Heer, National Affairs Correspondent, The Nation

ISBN (pbk): 9781912408221
ISBN (ebook): 9781912408610
Pages 240
Formats Paperback
Published: 7 November 2019
Dimensions: 23cm x 16cm

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