Financial meltdowns could leave whole nations destitute, ruin businesses, and cause major social and political upheavals. How likely is it that such a disastrous chain of events could really play out, and what are countries, companies, organizations, and individuals doing to prevent such a scenario? Readers will dive into the complex history of past financial meltdowns, such as the Great Depression and the global financial crisis of 2008, all illustrated with color photographs, sidebars, and a glossary, to learn about all the factors that may contribute to similar disasters in the future.