Niall Ferguson's book, "The Ascent of Money: A Financial History of the World," presents an insightful view on lending and the security it offers. The author argues that lending money to individuals who own property is particularly safe. The underlying reason is that in the event of a borrower defaulting on their loan, the lender has the option to repossess the property, mitigating potential losses.

This perspective illustrates the fundamental relationship between property ownership and financial risk. Even if a borrower attempts to evade responsibility, the lender maintains a tangible asset that can be reclaimed, reinforcing the idea that secured loans against real estate are a sound financial strategy.