Is it more efficient to rent a car or take taxis while on vacation? How do coupons change demand? AN INTUITIVE APPROACH WITH CALCULUS explains the economic theory underlying day-to-day choices. The A sections of each chapter introduce concepts using intuition, a conversational writing style, everyday examples, and graphs. The B sections cover the same concepts with accessible mathematical analyses. Each copy includes access to online LiveGraphs -- a suite of interactive, animated graphs that allows you to view dimensional graphs and functions illustrated in the book, as well as some additional graphs that are not in the printed text.LiveGraphs and the Study Guide are accessible through the access code that is included with the purchase of a new text.
This book is written in a very personal and engaging style. While it’s often difficult to make academic content feel relatable, the author succeeds by using examples drawn from his own life, including his relationship with his wife. One example I found particularly compelling was the discussion of risk appetite and insurance premiums, illustrated through a hypothetical scenario involving his own death and his wife's financial decisions. It added a human touch to the theory and made working through advanced microeconomics feel much less daunting.