Two Depression-era histories, two books by serving corporate bosses, a blow-by-blow assessment of the US authorities’ reaction to the financial crisis, and a manifesto for a new economic theory. The shortlist for the Financial Times and Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year Award looks eclectic. But the six books together sum up what went wrong in the crisis and may provide a route map away from the error-strewn past.

The Shortlist

Lords of Finance by Liaquat Ahamed

Good Value by Stephen Green

Imagining India by Nandan Nilekani

The Match King by Frank Partnoy

Animal Spirits by George Akerlof and Robert Shiller

In Fed We Trust by David Wessel

Do you agree with the judges? What books would you like to see on the shortlist? Have your say

The judges gathered earlier this week at Goldman’s New York headquarters to identify six finalists from a longlist of 15. Lionel Barber, editor of the FT, called the list “outstanding” and Lloyd Blankfein, Goldman’s chief executive – echoing the mission of the award – said all the books were “both compelling and enjoyable”.