Jeanna Smialek’s Limitless is a revealing portrait of the modern Federal Reserve, chronicling its evolution into a bold, interventionist force amid 21st-century economic upheaval.

In Limitless: The Federal Reserve Takes on a New Age of Crisis, Smialek—an experienced Fed reporter for The New York Times—traces how the central bank transformed from a cautious, behind-the-scenes institution into a proactive player shaping markets and policy. Through vivid reporting and insider interviews, she explores the Fed’s response to the 2008 financial crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and rising inequality, highlighting figures like Jerome Powell and Neel Kashkari. The book examines how the Fed’s expanding toolkit—massive asset purchases, emergency lending, and public messaging—has redefined its role, raising questions about transparency, political pressure, and long-term consequences. It’s a timely, accessible account of how one institution came to wield extraordinary influence over the global economy