George Goodman American economist, writer and economic commentator Date of Birth: 10.08.1930 Country: USA

1. Biography of George Goodman
2. Education and Early Career
3. Writing Career
4. Hollywood and Editorial Career
5. Television Career
6. Global Travels and Interviews

Biography of George Goodman

George Jerome Waldo Goodman, known by his pen name George Goodman, was born on August 10, 1930, in St. Louis, Missouri. He was an American economist, writer, and economic commentator, best known for his work under the pseudonym Adam Smith, which undoubtedly evokes associations with the 18th-century Scottish economist of the same name. Besides his alias, Goodman was also recognized as a fiction author. His distinctive style of illuminating economic events and presenting economic facts has been described as witty and polite, making it ideal for an observer of human nature. Indeed, it can be said that Goodman was a pioneer in presenting financial documents in a way that made concepts and business language, typical for Wall Street financiers, understandable and accessible to ordinary investors.

Education and Early Career

Goodman received a scholarship to study at Harvard University, where he held the position of editor at The Harvard Crimson, a student newspaper founded in 1873. Thanks to a Rhodes Scholarship, he continued his studies at the University of Oxford, focusing on political economy.

Writing Career

Goodman's first book, unrelated to fiction, titled "The Money Game," was published in 1968 and instantly became a bestseller, occupying the top spot on the lists of most successful economics books for an entire year. "The Money Game," filled with gentle humor and written in language understandable even to non-professionals, revolutionized the style of writing financial works. Goodman authored many books on economic topics, but the most famous among them are "Supermoney: A Guide to Investment and Market Cycles," "Paper Money," "Powers of Mind," and "The Roaring Eighties."

Hollywood and Editorial Career

During his time in Hollywood, Goodman wrote several screenplays, including one for the comedy film "The Wheeler Dealers" (1963) starring James Garner and Lee Remick, which was adapted from his novel of the same name. Goodman was a member of the editorial board of The New York Times, served as an editor at Esquire magazine, and was one of the founders of New York Magazine. He nurtured talented writers such as Tom Wolfe, Jimmy Breslin, and Gloria Steinem.

Television Career

In 1984, Goodman entered television as a host and chief editor of the program "Adam Smith's Money World," which aired on the American channel Public Broadcasting. The show became one of the most respected programs in its field, winning eight Emmy Award nominations and four coveted statues, as well as the Overseas Press Club award. Under the pseudonym Adam Smith, George Goodman also created and hosted the program "Adam Smith's Money Game," which aired in more than forty countries and became the first American business show to be broadcast in the Soviet Union.

Global Travels and Interviews

Starting in 2000, Goodman embarked on annual trips around the world, focusing on countries and regions with rapidly growing or developing economies, such as China, Russia, the Pacific Rim, Latin America, India, and Israel. He also conducted numerous interviews with political and economic leaders of the world, from Warren Buffett to Mikhail Gorbachev.