In this week's Newsnight Review, Kirsty Wark and the panel will be discussing the books we're turning to for inspiration and guidance in the recession; plus they'll be watching Michael Sheen play Brian Clough on screen; and taking in a theatrical interpretation of a 19th century Russian short story.
We look at two books that outline very different visions of economic crisis.
Ayn Rand has long been an inspiration to free market thinkers.
Her 1957 novel Atlas Shrugged
has been described as the most influential book in America after the Bible.
Alan Greenspan, Angelina Jolie and Rush Limbaugh are all fans.
And now it has emerged that online sales of Atlas Shrugged
have surged in recent months, peaking, interestingly, after the nationalisation of Northern Rock
and the huge US bailout package.
In the novel, influential leaders of industry disappear one by one, apparently in protest at the decline of civilization.
The resulting story lays out Rand's philosophy of Objectivism, one which argues the need for laissez-faire capitalism.
Vince Cable's book The Storm
is one of many pieces of non-fiction about to be published which attempt to explain the roots of this economic crisis.
The Lib Dem Treasury spokesman has been called the "sage" of the credit crunch.
He warned years ago about the over-heating housing market, and advocated the nationalisation of Northern Rock
months before the government did it.
The Storm
is his take on how we got here, and how we can get out of it.
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand is published by Penguin Classics, and The Storm by Vince Cable is published by Atlantic Books on Wednesday, 1 April, 2009.
Directed by Tom Hooper, the man behind the much lauded TV mini-series John Adams
, the film stars Michael Sheen as Clough, whose rivalry with Don Revie, his predecessor, makes it hard for him to form a bond with his players.
Central to the film is the depiction of the complex relationship between the outspoken, flamboyant Clough, and his loyal coach, Peter Taylor (played by Timothy Spall).
The Damned United
was adapted for the screen by Peter Morgan from David Peace's critically acclaimed, best-selling novel.
Former footballer Pat Nevin will be joining the panel to discuss the film.
Read his biography here.
The Damned United, certificate TBC, is released on Friday, 27 March, 2009.
Using a very visual form of physical theatre and little dialogue, the Gecko Theatre company present their new interpretation of Nikolai Gogol's 1842 short story, The Overcoat.
Watch the panel's verdict on The Overcoat
The production follows Akkaki, a lowly clerk who is infatuated with fellow worker Natalie.
He watches his colleagues progress up the career ladder, while he is stuck in a low level job, with only a threadbare coat to his name.
In order to win over Natalie and the others, he decides to work harder to impress the boss and get a brand new overcoat.
The ensuing struggle lays bare the temptations and frustrations of being at the bottom of the pile.
The Overcoat is at the Lyric Hammersmith, London until Saturday 11 April, 2009, and then at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth from Thursday 23 - Saturday 25 April, 2009.
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Author Vince Cable and Yaron Brook of the Ayn Rand institute talk about the books and read from them
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