Adults in the Room: My Battle with the European and American Deep Establishment - Yanis Varoufakis (Book)

Title: Adults in the Room: My Battle with the European and American Deep Establishment

Author: Yanis Varoufakis

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Publication Date: October 3, 2017

Adults in the Room is a candid and compelling memoir by Yanis Varoufakis, chronicling his tenure as Greece’s Finance Minister during the height of the country’s financial crisis in 2015. In this account, Varoufakis provides an insider’s perspective on the intense negotiations with the “Troika”—the European Commission, the European Central Bank, and the International Monetary Fund—as he sought to renegotiate Greece’s debt obligations and challenge the austerity measures imposed upon the nation.

The narrative delves into Varoufakis’s interactions with prominent global figures, including Barack Obama, Emmanuel Macron, Christine Lagarde, Larry Summers, and Jeffrey Sachs, highlighting the complexities and power dynamics of international finance and politics. Despite garnering significant support from the Greek populace and presenting logical economic arguments, Varoufakis faced staunch opposition from Europe’s elite, ultimately leading to his resignation.

This memoir not only recounts the events of the Greek debt crisis but also serves as a critique of the broader economic policies adopted by the European Union and the United States, which, according to Varoufakis, have contributed to the rise of authoritarianism and populist movements across the Western world. The book has been lauded for its unflinching honesty and detailed exposition of the challenges faced by nations grappling with economic instability.

In 2019, Adults in the Room was adapted into a film directed by Costa-Gavras, further bringing Varoufakis’s experiences and insights to a wider audience.