“A vivid portrait of an exceptional woman and a lively history of the economic and financial crises that helped make the treasury secretary and former Fed chair who she is today.” — Sylvia Nasar, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Beautiful Mind: The Life of Mathematical Genius and Nobel Laureate John Nash

“This book provides an in-depth portrait of the person Janet Yellen and teaches us how one can be effective while maintaining a moral compass in an often bitterly contentious and rapacious political landscape. It explores economic ideas and convictions, including hers and those of her husband George Akerlof and their son Robert Akerlof. Together they are an amazing family. They make this not just a biography, but an elucidation by example of the human side of our nation's economic experience." — Robert Shiller, Nobel Prize-winning economist and New York Times bestselling author of Irrational Exuberance

 “A captivating examination of the unusual intellectual partnership between Janet Yellen, one of the most consequential economic policy makers of the past quarter century, and her husband, George Akerlof, a path-breaking Nobel prize-winning economic thinker. Part biography, part history of ideas, the book provides a fascinating window into the ways thinking on economic policy has evolved in the last 25 years, as it charts how Janet Yellen navigated the economy through uncharted waters as it was being buffeted by a series of unprecedented shocks and boom-bust cycles. A must-read for anyone seeking to understand the current economic challenges we face.” — Liaquat Ahamed, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World

“My friend George Akerlof is certainly one of the most innovative thinkers in economics today, just as Janet Yellen is unbeatable as a leader of economic policymaking. Their extraordinary contributions have been individual, but their combined vision has helped America understand itself. I am fortunate also to be close with their son, the economist Robert Akerlof, a sparkling intellectual in his own right. This is an extraordinary book, full of illuminating anecdotes and perceptive insights. A true delight to read.” — Amartya Sen, Nobel Prize-winning economist, philosopher, and author of Home in the World

“A fantastic biography … I loved the book--and I suspect that people who come to it with less background might get even more out of this insightful window into the interplay of policymaking and economic ideas … I strongly recommend.”  — Jason Furman, Aetna Professor of the Practice of Economic Policy, Harvard Kennedy School

“Hilsenrath’s new book on Yellen and Akerlof is a gem. It’s equal parts love story and economics book … Everyone should read it.”  — Austen Goolsbee, Professor of Economics, University of Chicago, Booth School of Business. 

“This well-researched portrait of a talented woman unfolds into a slice of American economic history.” — Booklist (starred review)

"A perceptive dual biography of Janet Yellen and her husband, Nobel laureate George Akerlof. Hilsenrath draws on personal interviews and abundant published material to clearly elucidate economic theories, recount Yellen’s challenges in steering the nation through economic upheaval, and convey the warmth of the family’s life. A lucid, informative portrait." — Kirkus Reviews

"Meticulous...an oft-powerful study of a key player in American economics." — Publishers Weekly

"Yellen...is an elegant and erudite depiction of [Yellen and Akerlof's] intellectual voyages in pursuit of the idea that markets can fail and that sensible government action can improve people’s lives." — The Economist

Jon Hilsenrath is a senior writer for the Wall Street Journal, where he has been since 1997, reporting from Hong Kong, New York, and Washington, DC. He was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2014 for his coverage of the Federal Reserve; part of a team of 2009 Pulitzer finalists for coverage of the global financial crisis; and contributed on-the-scene reporting from the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, which helped the WSJ win a Pulitzer in 2002. His 9/11 coverage also was featured in the book September Twelfth, by Dean Rotbart. Hilsenrath’s colleagues twice voted him among the nation’s most influential financial journalists. A nonpartisan, he has been a contributor to Fox News, Fox Business, CNBC, ABC, CBS, PBS, NPR, MSNBC, and C-SPAN. He graduated from Duke University and was a Knight-Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University.