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Big Ideas Simply Explained
The Economics Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained
What happens in a recession? How does money work? Why do we pay taxes? Economics affects every aspect of our lives, from how we get to work to where we spend our money-and big economic ideas continue to shape the world.
Written in plain English, The Economics Book is packed with short, pity explanations that cut through the jargon, step-by-step diagrams that untangle knotty theories, classic quotes that make economics memorable, and witty illustrations that enhance and play with our understanding of economics.
Whether you're a beginner, and avid student, or an armchair expert, you'll find plenty to stimulate you within this book.
--book jacket
Written in plain English, The Economics Book is packed with short, pity explanations that cut through the jargon, step-by-step diagrams that untangle knotty theories, classic quotes that make economics memorable, and witty illustrations that enhance and play with our understanding of economics.
Whether you're a beginner, and avid student, or an armchair expert, you'll find plenty to stimulate you within this book.
--book jacket
352 pages, Hardcover
First published August 20, 2012
2338 people are currently reading
9987 people want to read
About the author
Niall Kishtainy
14 books165 followersI'm a writer, economist and historian. I believe that the history of economic thinking and of real economic struggles can tell us a lot about our current situation and, for me, it’s in vivid writing that anyone can respond to where all this really comes to life. Most of all, I’m interested in the stories we tell ourselves about our economic world, and why they matter. My latest book, A Little History of Economics, is published by Yale University Press on March 7.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews
June 10, 2021
I found this book quite a challenging read. I made a note of the issues/pages that I couldn't understand at all, and there were fifteen in total, (given my past difficulties in attempting to study aspects of economics I think that is a cause for applause rather than denigration.)
The main author/consulting editor is a professor of history at The London School of Economics, and this is how it is structured - economics from an historical perspective. Each small chapter describes the schools of thought within a given segment of time. Each chapter has a box titled "In Context", where we are given the situations before and after the ideas being discussed. There is also a second box, giving a brief biography of the main economist being discussed in each chapter. I found these columns a bit redundant. I would have preferred all the space being devoted to explaining economic ideas. Having said that, if you were doing economics as a subject at school or university this extra information might be useful.
As with all Dorling Kindersley books this is generously illustrated, with bold graphics of headings, alongside accompanying pictures, plus diagrams and infographics in the chapters themselves. I found this heartening. Just when I was starting to get brain ache, there would be a nice visual place to rest. The book is also quite large, a cross between coffee table size and regular textbook. It has reasonably large text too. All this makes reading it a lot more enjoyable.
Finally there is both a glossary and an index. It was a good read, but I also think I shall have no problem using this as a reference book in the future. The way that subjects are compartmentalized would also make that particularly easy.
The main author/consulting editor is a professor of history at The London School of Economics, and this is how it is structured - economics from an historical perspective. Each small chapter describes the schools of thought within a given segment of time. Each chapter has a box titled "In Context", where we are given the situations before and after the ideas being discussed. There is also a second box, giving a brief biography of the main economist being discussed in each chapter. I found these columns a bit redundant. I would have preferred all the space being devoted to explaining economic ideas. Having said that, if you were doing economics as a subject at school or university this extra information might be useful.
As with all Dorling Kindersley books this is generously illustrated, with bold graphics of headings, alongside accompanying pictures, plus diagrams and infographics in the chapters themselves. I found this heartening. Just when I was starting to get brain ache, there would be a nice visual place to rest. The book is also quite large, a cross between coffee table size and regular textbook. It has reasonably large text too. All this makes reading it a lot more enjoyable.
Finally there is both a glossary and an index. It was a good read, but I also think I shall have no problem using this as a reference book in the future. The way that subjects are compartmentalized would also make that particularly easy.
September 1, 2016
Niall Kishtainy was a tutor of mine at the LSE and his tutorials were always enjoyable, informative, and challenging. This book has those same qualities.
An introduction to economics for the general reader, this book sets the subject out chronologically so that you get a potted history of the discipline as well as a guide to its key concepts. Also, the choice of subjects ranges rather wider than many books of its type so you get coverage of relatively obscure but important concepts such as the Diamond-Dybvig model. This might result in coverage which is a little unsatisfying for the expert reader, but it isn't really directed at them. For the layman, this book will make you sound more knowledgeable than most others of its type.
An introduction to economics for the general reader, this book sets the subject out chronologically so that you get a potted history of the discipline as well as a guide to its key concepts. Also, the choice of subjects ranges rather wider than many books of its type so you get coverage of relatively obscure but important concepts such as the Diamond-Dybvig model. This might result in coverage which is a little unsatisfying for the expert reader, but it isn't really directed at them. For the layman, this book will make you sound more knowledgeable than most others of its type.
December 10, 2017
It's like a collection of 100+ encyclopedia articles on myriad economic subjects, plus a handful of lengthier essays.
It's dry. I don't know what I was expecting. It certainly doesn't tell a story or make for gripping literature, but it's credible and readable.
It's dry. I don't know what I was expecting. It certainly doesn't tell a story or make for gripping literature, but it's credible and readable.
January 6, 2016
One of the Dorling Kindersley series dealing with science, religion, politics, philosophy, etc, aimed at a wide, interested, but non-expert audience. This volume, on economics, was for me (a retired economist!) a good, quick survey of economic thought and ideas, from early days to current thought. Possibly requires a lot of interest/persistence, for the lay reader.
But I will be reading the others in the series, with some trepidation!
But I will be reading the others in the series, with some trepidation!
March 4, 2021
This series is legendary. I would prefer to read these and not Wikipedia to get a general overview of the field. The reason is that the book is filled with beautiful algorithmic diagrams which helps you simply explain complicated ideas. These ideas can be grasped with little to no effort and in a minimal time frame. Certainly, you will not become an economist after reading this book alone, but you will get a general idea of the field and will be able to make some sense of this world.
I always thought that economics is a simple subject where we maintain an equilibrium between supply and demand but this book changed my view, as I learned that such equilibrium can exist only in ideal cases. Another concept which blew my mind is that making your economy completely free might not be the best course for society. Many such concepts are fun to read and will help you understand economics news.
I always thought that economics is a simple subject where we maintain an equilibrium between supply and demand but this book changed my view, as I learned that such equilibrium can exist only in ideal cases. Another concept which blew my mind is that making your economy completely free might not be the best course for society. Many such concepts are fun to read and will help you understand economics news.
April 16, 2014
You can see that it was written by a socialist. It is really a poor work when you say that USA is a bottomless pit of capitalism and on the next page you talk about how Nixon terminated the gold parity and the dollar is completely government controlled. It misrepresent theories from adam smith and omit other pro capitalism theories. The book subscribe to the theory that the 1929 crises happened because we had an excess of free market. I would give one star but the book has some cultural depth.
February 28, 2021
As I'd never taken an economics course in school, I always felt a little lacking in this area. I was able to drill down and really learn the difference between the approaches of Keynes (more government involvement, to micro condense) and Friedman (free markets, to micro condense), with some historical context to boot. Also, I learned what 'the money supply' even is, and of course how politics and culture affect economics. Lots of history of economics, which is fascinating, like how scientists tried to quantify the economy of various European principalities and kingdoms way back when, and how they did it. There was a bunch of stuff I won't remember, but the book was clearly written and well done, in my opinion. I appreciated that the format is easy to skim and read, there was no dumbing down of the content.
August 9, 2016
I didn't actually read this book from cover to cover, as I consider it more a reference book, yet I can highly recommend it. It draws clear, concise portraits and timelines of economic concepts, both current and past.
June 21, 2019
Good reference book for economics, has some good further reading recommendations for those interested enough to look a little deeper.
January 5, 2018
Not as detailed as a textbook, but if you’re looking for a good summary of economic ideas, this is perfect.
August 6, 2020
Fantastic introduction to economics! Whilst this book may look a bit juvenile for adults, I cannot recommend it enough. A great overview of the big names in econ' ...
May 18, 2023
"Bez konkurencie je telefonovanie drahšie."
Musím povedať, že prečítať túto knihu mi trvalo dlhšie. Najmä preto, že ja a ekonómia nejdeme dokopy.
Ako všetky knihy v sérii Veľké myšlienky, aj táto obsahuje prehľadné rozdelenie hneď v úvode. Vďaka tomu sme sa vedeli lepšie orientovať v histórii a postupnom vývoji ekonómie. A poviem vám, že pre človeka ako ja, čo sa vyhýba hocakým zmienkam o ekonomike, bola táto kniha vskutku nápomocná. Dozvedela som sa z nej veľa nového či už o trhovej ekonomike alebo celkových princípoch makroekonómie.
Na tejto sérii obdivujem to, ako krásne je spracovaná. Miestami to síce bolo len strohé vymenovávanie faktov a informácii, ale ak ste niekto, kto sa chce aspoň trošku dostať do obrazu a problematiky, istotne nebudete sklamaní.
January 27, 2025
While I love the concept of this book, it’s a bit like “pop educational content” you find on Youtube promising to teach you a field of study in 5 minute increments, saturated with cartoon B-roll, fart jokes & wacky morning DJ-esque soundbytes. You’d think, though, along the lines of other flashy ADHD content meant to massage our tender egos into feeling “smart” and “productive” by digesting it, there’d be an element of fun. Yet, neither fun nor accuracy was to be had, since this hopelessly shallow material beleagueres its readers with wild leaps of conjecture and fallacious flowcharts. If the argument isn’t proven or adequately defended, but still asserted as a fundamental tenet of accepted economic theory, that’s a distractingly large issue with any such book. Specifically, the book never states outright that the economics covered herein leans heavily on a modern capitalist / Keynesian model, and yet that seems quite self-evident after just a few pages.
I’m not even personally opposed to the idea that, for instance, private property is best in most situations, but this author’s treatment of the matter was so smugly binary in the opening pages, he came off as utterly unprepared to dispute the alternative cases or any reasons why public property might be, at certain times, preferable (for instance, public schools vs the full privatization of education). No one’s handing out chic red armbands here, but a little devil’s advocacy in a book of theory never hurts. No mention whatsoever of public programs / properties which have been hugely beneficial in the advancement of society, such as, ahem, libraries. (Which is where you should pick this up, incidentally, if I haven’t yet deterred you.)
This has really been sticking in my craw, and I hesitated to review at all, initially, because one of the only other 2 star ratings complained the book was flagrantly socialist. I thought, maybe we’re all just a little broken by zeal and can’t see past our respective red tinted glasses, but nay, I think not. For one, I don’t think I’m all that polar one way or the other in terms of economic models so much as taxed by the excessively right wing tone of so many modern economists. At least most of them make more of an effort to seem balanced when not actively hired as lobbyists.
I intend to forge on a little further just in case this turns around, but so far, I’ve disagreed with the approach or conclusion every few pages, and it’s a bit like being stuck in the car with someone convinced they’re an authority on a subject you never expected to be more versed in. I came to this expecting to be blown away by my own ignorance & fed the sweet mana of knowledge, but so far it’s been a dude in a trench coat behind the dumpster at AM/PM asking if I want one of his Twinkies.
My inner Molly the Mare is dying to give this 3 stars minimum, because of the pretty graphics. But can’t quite stomach it at this point, if the entirety of content is truly so unreliable as I suspect it is - at this juncture - the attractive aesthetic makes it almost worse. Like the sweetness of antifreeze.
I’m not even personally opposed to the idea that, for instance, private property is best in most situations, but this author’s treatment of the matter was so smugly binary in the opening pages, he came off as utterly unprepared to dispute the alternative cases or any reasons why public property might be, at certain times, preferable (for instance, public schools vs the full privatization of education). No one’s handing out chic red armbands here, but a little devil’s advocacy in a book of theory never hurts. No mention whatsoever of public programs / properties which have been hugely beneficial in the advancement of society, such as, ahem, libraries. (Which is where you should pick this up, incidentally, if I haven’t yet deterred you.)
This has really been sticking in my craw, and I hesitated to review at all, initially, because one of the only other 2 star ratings complained the book was flagrantly socialist. I thought, maybe we’re all just a little broken by zeal and can’t see past our respective red tinted glasses, but nay, I think not. For one, I don’t think I’m all that polar one way or the other in terms of economic models so much as taxed by the excessively right wing tone of so many modern economists. At least most of them make more of an effort to seem balanced when not actively hired as lobbyists.
I intend to forge on a little further just in case this turns around, but so far, I’ve disagreed with the approach or conclusion every few pages, and it’s a bit like being stuck in the car with someone convinced they’re an authority on a subject you never expected to be more versed in. I came to this expecting to be blown away by my own ignorance & fed the sweet mana of knowledge, but so far it’s been a dude in a trench coat behind the dumpster at AM/PM asking if I want one of his Twinkies.
My inner Molly the Mare is dying to give this 3 stars minimum, because of the pretty graphics. But can’t quite stomach it at this point, if the entirety of content is truly so unreliable as I suspect it is - at this juncture - the attractive aesthetic makes it almost worse. Like the sweetness of antifreeze.
August 22, 2013
"The Economics Book" by DK Publishing is a decent resource. After having completed several introductory financial and classical economics courses, I came to realize that much of the material I had studied had a built-in presumption that the tenets should be taken at face-value. I knew this was problematic because my first foray into economics required reading through the principal works of various big league economists in order to establish the general evolution of economic thought--turned policy--turned implications; throughout the 20th century (thesis-based research). From there, I read several contemporary books on political economy where modern economists reflected on these works, the times those economists lived in, and the exceptions to each rule they came up with based on the resulting implications. Thus, by the time I got to the more formal textbook study of classical economics, I felt it was important to find a resource that provided additional context to gain a more fundamental understanding of the discipline as a whole. "The Economics Book" helped me achieve this. The authors describe, chronologically, where economic ideas have come from, the limitations of each (in addition to their usefulness for analysis), and what real-world drawbacks and benefits tend to unfold.
One reason I picked up The Economics Book specifically was because of the format. I wanted a bedside book that delved into each concept in bite-sized pieces so I could digest 2-to-3 a night. It served this purpose well but as I got going and the depth of the content improved, I started reading it in earnest, and finished it far in advance of what I had originally intended.
The only drawback of this book is that it is designed for someone with no economics background. Because of this, the beginning is mind-numbingly dry but once you get about half-way it picks up and challenges much conventional thinking (based on my analysis of financial and news media, and other contemporary works). For example, even if people have studied economics they may have studied it at a time when a certain school of thought dominated without being able to see the implications that have arisen since that time (based on faulty assumptions or changing circumstances). Or, people may have been taught it through a certain discipline that picks and chooses what it wants to emphasize to confirm a self-interested bias. This book is decent for calling all assumptions to account in that respect.
3 stars for DK Publishing!
One reason I picked up The Economics Book specifically was because of the format. I wanted a bedside book that delved into each concept in bite-sized pieces so I could digest 2-to-3 a night. It served this purpose well but as I got going and the depth of the content improved, I started reading it in earnest, and finished it far in advance of what I had originally intended.
The only drawback of this book is that it is designed for someone with no economics background. Because of this, the beginning is mind-numbingly dry but once you get about half-way it picks up and challenges much conventional thinking (based on my analysis of financial and news media, and other contemporary works). For example, even if people have studied economics they may have studied it at a time when a certain school of thought dominated without being able to see the implications that have arisen since that time (based on faulty assumptions or changing circumstances). Or, people may have been taught it through a certain discipline that picks and chooses what it wants to emphasize to confirm a self-interested bias. This book is decent for calling all assumptions to account in that respect.
3 stars for DK Publishing!
February 18, 2020
I must admit that I read this book all wrong. It’s supposed to be a reference book. A bit of a primer to bring you up to speed on any area of economic theory before you take a deeper dive. I didn’t use it like that at all, I read it from cover to cover in a mad burst. So, if I’m using the book incorrectly, I can hardly complain if it doesn’t work as well as it should.
I’m sure, as a primer, this book would be a handy reference. The writing is clear and concise, the design and layout is handsome and if you spend the right amount of time with it (that is, read a section quite slowly, perhaps more than once) then it is very informative. The only reason that it became a bit of a wash, is that I read it too quickly.
My only other complaint (and it’s not really a complaint so much as a caution) is that it might be time for a bit of an update, it closes just at the 2008 GFC, without having had the time to contextualise that event and understand it any more clearly. Also, if the current book I’m reading is anything to go by, it’s historic slant may be a little right wing.
Anyway, this book is great as a primer, looks good on a shelf, and would probably make a great place to put a coffee cup. But don’t try and read it in one go. Three stars.
I’m sure, as a primer, this book would be a handy reference. The writing is clear and concise, the design and layout is handsome and if you spend the right amount of time with it (that is, read a section quite slowly, perhaps more than once) then it is very informative. The only reason that it became a bit of a wash, is that I read it too quickly.
My only other complaint (and it’s not really a complaint so much as a caution) is that it might be time for a bit of an update, it closes just at the 2008 GFC, without having had the time to contextualise that event and understand it any more clearly. Also, if the current book I’m reading is anything to go by, it’s historic slant may be a little right wing.
Anyway, this book is great as a primer, looks good on a shelf, and would probably make a great place to put a coffee cup. But don’t try and read it in one go. Three stars.
March 11, 2018
Earlier this year, I reviewed a book that I had hoped would be a primer on economics. Unfortunately, what I read ended up being a biased diatribe against Democratic/liberal policies versus Republican/conservative rather than a dispassionate layman’s lesson on economics in general.
Luckily, this book has none of those problems. I don’t know if I’ll necessarily retain it all, but reading this book — which offers economics through time from ancient times to 2012 — was more the economics lesson I was looking for. If nothing else, I’ve gained a deeper appreciation for the complexities of monitoring and navigating the world of economic policy in the U.S. and abroad.
Luckily, this book has none of those problems. I don’t know if I’ll necessarily retain it all, but reading this book — which offers economics through time from ancient times to 2012 — was more the economics lesson I was looking for. If nothing else, I’ve gained a deeper appreciation for the complexities of monitoring and navigating the world of economic policy in the U.S. and abroad.
May 26, 2019
(The English review is placed beneath Russian one)
Наивно думать, что с наступлением эры интернета написание книг никак не изменилось. Если раньше информация поступала к потребителям, в основном, через журналы и книги, то с появлением интернета мы получили в дополнении к вышеназванным ещё и видеоролики на YouTube, статьи на различных сайтах и полноценные документальные фильмы. Возможно одним из главных нововведений, которое непосредственно касается создания нехудожественной литературы, является Википедия. И да, я думаю что, в конце концов, именно она забила последний гвоздь в гроб привычных бумажных энциклопедий (разумеется, специалисты продолжают пользоваться ими, но я скорее говорю о большинстве). Короче говоря, где-то уже пройдя середину книги, я понял, что дальше читать смысла нет, и что оценку я ей никак не могу поставить положительную.
Помимо фактора Википедии, тут скрывается ещё несколько менее важных, но начнём по порядку.
Как я уже сказал, появление Википедии положило конец популярности энциклопедий, а данную книгу я бы отнёс именно что к энциклопедиям. Вся книга пропитана самим духом энциклопедии: даты смерти и жизни заметных фигур мира экономики, ключевые их работы, ключевые персонажи и так далее. И плюс, разумеется, сухой и скучный текст. Такой же, как в энциклопедиях. Да, до середины, возможно ввиду простоты и замыленности темы, читается довольно легко и относительно интересно, однако ближе к середине, темы становятся какими-то короткими, которые как будто внезапно обрываются. Возможно для формата книги, это нормально, но читать это не очень удобно (и в особенности слушать). Но даже допустим это. Но ведь количество тем настолько велико, что мозг просто не справляется с попыткой за два-три дня охватить всю книгу. И если бы темы ещё были строго связанны между собой, но всё обстоит как раз наоборот. Можно возразить, сказав, что это такой формат, а-ля 1000 ответов на 1000 вопросов. Ну и? Судим мы книги не по формату, а по интересности, т.е. насколько книга захватывает. Так что, пусть это и формат, но читать это скучно. Да и какой смысл в таком формате, если сейчас проще простого зайти в интернет и прочитать статью о кейнсианстве, о плановой экономике, о профсоюзах и так далее? Так что нет, книга просто не выдержала смену эпохи, и устарела, ещё только появившись из печати.
И ещё. Если книга предлагает такое количество рассматриваемых тем, то ясно же, что всё это довольно поверхностно, что даже Википедия предлагает более глубокий взгляд. Так что?
В общем, лично я буду любому человеку рекомендовать: Один-два очень хороших учебника по экономике, которые разбирают вопрос максимально понятно, делают это интересно и предлагают для этого толстую книгу страниц так на 400-800. Моими любимыми книгами призванными познакомить читателя с экономикой является книга «Экономика» Игоря Липсица и какой-нибудь зарубежный кирпич. Я не читал знаменитый учебник Мэнкью, а вместо него прочитал здоровенную книгу «Экономикс» Брю, Кэмпбелл, Макконнелл. В качестве дополнительного материала рекомендую узкоспециализированные книги типа «Великолепный обмен», а также англоязычные ролики на YouTube. Что касается данной книги, то советую пропустить её.
It is naive to think that with the advent of the Internet era, the writing of books has not changed in any way. If earlier the information was received by consumers, mainly through magazines and books, then with the advent of the Internet, we received in addition to the above mentioned also videos on YouTube, articles on various sites and full-fledged documentaries. Perhaps one of the main innovations, which directly concerns the creation of non-fiction literature, is Wikipedia. I think it was this one that put the last nail in the coffin of the usual paper encyclopedias (of course, experts continue to use them, but I'm talking about the majority). In short, somewhere in the middle of the book, I realized that there is no point in reading anymore, and that I can't give her a positive assessment.
Apart from the Wikipedia factor, there are a few less important ones here, but let's start in order.
As I said, the advent of Wikipedia put an end to the popularity of encyclopedias, and I would take this book to the encyclopedias. The whole book is imbued with the very spirit of the encyclopedia: the dates of death and life of prominent figures of the economy, their key works, key characters, and so on. And plus, of course, a dry and boring text. The same as in encyclopedias. Yes, up to the middle it is quite easy and relatively interesting to read, but closer to the middle, the themes become short, which seem to suddenly come to an end. Perhaps for the format of the book, this is normal, but reading it is not very convenient (and especially listening). Let's say . But the number of topics is so great that the brain simply cannot cope with the attempt to cover the entire book in two or three days. And if the topics were still strictly connected with each other, but everything is just the opposite. It is possible to object to me, having told that it is such format, a la 1000 answers to 1000 questions. Well? We judge books not by their format, but by their interest, i.e. how fascinating the book is. So, even if it is a format, it is boring to read. And what's the point of this format if it's easy to go online and read an article about Keynesianism, planned economics, trade unions and so on? So, no, the book simply couldn't stand the change of the era, and became outdated, having just appeared out of print.
And also. If the book offers so many topics, it is clear that all this is quite superficial, that even Wikipedia offers a deeper view.
In general, personally, I will recommend to any person: One or two very good textbooks on economics, which deal with the issue as clearly as possible, do it interestingly and offer for this purpose a thick book of pages so on 400-800. My favorite books designed to introduce the reader to the economy is the book "Economics" by Igor Lipsitz and some foreign brick. I didn't read the famous textbook by N. Gregory Mankiw, but instead read a huge book "Economics" by Campbell R. McConnell, Stanley L. Brue. As additional material I recommend highly specialized books like "A Splendid Exchange" by William J. Bernstein, as well as videos on YouTube. As for this book, I suggest you skip it.
Наивно думать, что с наступлением эры интернета написание книг никак не изменилось. Если раньше информация поступала к потребителям, в основном, через журналы и книги, то с появлением интернета мы получили в дополнении к вышеназванным ещё и видеоролики на YouTube, статьи на различных сайтах и полноценные документальные фильмы. Возможно одним из главных нововведений, которое непосредственно касается создания нехудожественной литературы, является Википедия. И да, я думаю что, в конце концов, именно она забила последний гвоздь в гроб привычных бумажных энциклопедий (разумеется, специалисты продолжают пользоваться ими, но я скорее говорю о большинстве). Короче говоря, где-то уже пройдя середину книги, я понял, что дальше читать смысла нет, и что оценку я ей никак не могу поставить положительную.
Помимо фактора Википедии, тут скрывается ещё несколько менее важных, но начнём по порядку.
Как я уже сказал, появление Википедии положило конец популярности энциклопедий, а данную книгу я бы отнёс именно что к энциклопедиям. Вся книга пропитана самим духом энциклопедии: даты смерти и жизни заметных фигур мира экономики, ключевые их работы, ключевые персонажи и так далее. И плюс, разумеется, сухой и скучный текст. Такой же, как в энциклопедиях. Да, до середины, возможно ввиду простоты и замыленности темы, читается довольно легко и относительно интересно, однако ближе к середине, темы становятся какими-то короткими, которые как будто внезапно обрываются. Возможно для формата книги, это нормально, но читать это не очень удобно (и в особенности слушать). Но даже допустим это. Но ведь количество тем настолько велико, что мозг просто не справляется с попыткой за два-три дня охватить всю книгу. И если бы темы ещё были строго связанны между собой, но всё обстоит как раз наоборот. Можно возразить, сказав, что это такой формат, а-ля 1000 ответов на 1000 вопросов. Ну и? Судим мы книги не по формату, а по интересности, т.е. насколько книга захватывает. Так что, пусть это и формат, но читать это скучно. Да и какой смысл в таком формате, если сейчас проще простого зайти в интернет и прочитать статью о кейнсианстве, о плановой экономике, о профсоюзах и так далее? Так что нет, книга просто не выдержала смену эпохи, и устарела, ещё только появившись из печати.
И ещё. Если книга предлагает такое количество рассматриваемых тем, то ясно же, что всё это довольно поверхностно, что даже Википедия предлагает более глубокий взгляд. Так что?
В общем, лично я буду любому человеку рекомендовать: Один-два очень хороших учебника по экономике, которые разбирают вопрос максимально понятно, делают это интересно и предлагают для этого толстую книгу страниц так на 400-800. Моими любимыми книгами призванными познакомить читателя с экономикой является книга «Экономика» Игоря Липсица и какой-нибудь зарубежный кирпич. Я не читал знаменитый учебник Мэнкью, а вместо него прочитал здоровенную книгу «Экономикс» Брю, Кэмпбелл, Макконнелл. В качестве дополнительного материала рекомендую узкоспециализированные книги типа «Великолепный обмен», а также англоязычные ролики на YouTube. Что касается данной книги, то советую пропустить её.
It is naive to think that with the advent of the Internet era, the writing of books has not changed in any way. If earlier the information was received by consumers, mainly through magazines and books, then with the advent of the Internet, we received in addition to the above mentioned also videos on YouTube, articles on various sites and full-fledged documentaries. Perhaps one of the main innovations, which directly concerns the creation of non-fiction literature, is Wikipedia. I think it was this one that put the last nail in the coffin of the usual paper encyclopedias (of course, experts continue to use them, but I'm talking about the majority). In short, somewhere in the middle of the book, I realized that there is no point in reading anymore, and that I can't give her a positive assessment.
Apart from the Wikipedia factor, there are a few less important ones here, but let's start in order.
As I said, the advent of Wikipedia put an end to the popularity of encyclopedias, and I would take this book to the encyclopedias. The whole book is imbued with the very spirit of the encyclopedia: the dates of death and life of prominent figures of the economy, their key works, key characters, and so on. And plus, of course, a dry and boring text. The same as in encyclopedias. Yes, up to the middle it is quite easy and relatively interesting to read, but closer to the middle, the themes become short, which seem to suddenly come to an end. Perhaps for the format of the book, this is normal, but reading it is not very convenient (and especially listening). Let's say . But the number of topics is so great that the brain simply cannot cope with the attempt to cover the entire book in two or three days. And if the topics were still strictly connected with each other, but everything is just the opposite. It is possible to object to me, having told that it is such format, a la 1000 answers to 1000 questions. Well? We judge books not by their format, but by their interest, i.e. how fascinating the book is. So, even if it is a format, it is boring to read. And what's the point of this format if it's easy to go online and read an article about Keynesianism, planned economics, trade unions and so on? So, no, the book simply couldn't stand the change of the era, and became outdated, having just appeared out of print.
And also. If the book offers so many topics, it is clear that all this is quite superficial, that even Wikipedia offers a deeper view.
In general, personally, I will recommend to any person: One or two very good textbooks on economics, which deal with the issue as clearly as possible, do it interestingly and offer for this purpose a thick book of pages so on 400-800. My favorite books designed to introduce the reader to the economy is the book "Economics" by Igor Lipsitz and some foreign brick. I didn't read the famous textbook by N. Gregory Mankiw, but instead read a huge book "Economics" by Campbell R. McConnell, Stanley L. Brue. As additional material I recommend highly specialized books like "A Splendid Exchange" by William J. Bernstein, as well as videos on YouTube. As for this book, I suggest you skip it.
August 3, 2017
The Economics Book looks at different economic theories and economists, with a bit of world history thrown in.
As a beginner in Economics, this book wasn't exactly what I was hoping for. It was kind of disorganized and didn't explain some concepts very well (they weren't as "simply explained" as the title claims).
If you're at university level economics it might be helpful, or maybe high school at the earliest.
I know economics is definitely a tricky topic to explain so I will give the book credit for that.
As a beginner in Economics, this book wasn't exactly what I was hoping for. It was kind of disorganized and didn't explain some concepts very well (they weren't as "simply explained" as the title claims).
If you're at university level economics it might be helpful, or maybe high school at the earliest.
I know economics is definitely a tricky topic to explain so I will give the book credit for that.
January 30, 2015
Confession: I've only skimmed through this after purchasing today, looking up specific topics and a few that caught my eye. I am a huge fan of topic overviews that are graphic-intensive summaries. I wish more intro courses were taught this way; this is the overview I never got and I feel as though it's truly connected the dots and given me a better understanding of important socio-political conversations (although I took several Econ courses in undergrad/grad).
November 13, 2017
I liked the historical approach here, since many intro economics textbooks (like Mankiw's) introduce economic theory outside of history. However, it doesn't do a great job actually explaining the ideas. I was also really turned off by the idea flow charts used to provide a shorthand for an argument but rarely made sense. Still, it's a good overview of the history of economic thought and brings together a lot of ideas.
June 5, 2016
I found the visual treatment distracting and overwhelming. Some good stuff, but gimmicky. It would be a fun companion to a more straightforward treatment, but I don't think it's a very useful introduction to the subject.
November 12, 2013
Good basic intro and really good graphic design.
April 13, 2020
Good beginners book on Economics
August 31, 2016
It was a very edifying book, with lots of theories on social conduct and economic mechanics very concisely explained and easy to grasp. I would recommend the book to anyone interested in Economics.
April 15, 2020
A lucid summary of the biggest ideas in economics. And a more enjoyable read than a college economics book!
June 14, 2020
Another $40 well spent.
May 18, 2021
Bought the hardback version of this book. Lots of interesting thoughts for people interested in economics. I wouldn't say it was for people doing an Economics degree, but more for those interested in it as a subject to understand. The format is similar to those in the book series.
Review in progress
Contents
10) Introduction
16-47) Let The Trading Begin 400 BCE - 1770 CE
20) Property should be private - Property rights
22) What is a just price? - Markets and morality
24) You don't need to barter when you have coins - The function of money
26) Make money from money - Financial services
30) Money causes inflation - The quantity theory of money
34) Protect us from foreign goods - Protectionism and trade
36) The economy can be counted - Measuring wealth
38) Let firms be traded - Public companies
39) Wealth comes from the land - Agriculture in the economy
40) Money and goods flow between producers and consumers - The circular flow of the economy
46) Private individuals never pay for street lights - Provision of public goods and services
The Age Of Reason 1770-1820
52) Man is a cold, rational calculator - Economic man
54) The invisible hand of the market brings order - Free market economics
62) The last worker
63) Why do diamonds cost more than water? - The paradox of value
64) Make taxes fair and efficient - The tax burden
66) Divide up pin production, and you get more pins - The division of labour
68) Population growth keeps us poor - Demographics and economics
70) Meetings of merchants end in conspiracies to raise prices - Cartels and collusion
74) Supply creates its own demand -Gluts in markets
76) Borrow now, tax later - Borrowing and debt
78) The economy is a yo-yo - Boom and bust
80) Trade is beneficial for all - Comparative advantage
Industrial and Economic Revolutions 1820-1929
90) How much should I produce, given the competition? - Effects of limited competition
92) Phone calls cost more without competition - Monopolies
98) Crowds breed collective insanity - Economic bubbles
100) Let the ruling classes tremble at a communist revolution - Marxist economics
106) The value of a product comes from the effort needed to make it - The Labour theory of value
108) Prices come from supply and demand - Supply and demand
114) You enjoy the last chocolate less than the first - Utility and satisfaction
116) When the price goes up, some people buy more - Spending paradoxes
118) A system of free markets is stable - Economic equilibrium
124) If you get a pay rise, buy caviar not bread - Elasticity of demand
126) Companies are price takers not price makers - The competitive market
130) Make one person better off without hurting the others - Efficiency and fairness
132) The bigger the factory, the lower the cost - Economies of scale
133) The cost of going to the movies is the fun you'd have had at an ice-rink - Opportunity cost
134) Workers must improve their lot together - Collective bargaining
136) People consume to be noticed - Conspicuous consumption
137) Make the polluter pay - External costs
138) Protestantism has made us rich - Religion and the economy
140) The poor are unlucky, not bad - The poverty problem
142) Socialism is the abolition of rational economy - Central planning
148) Capitalism destroys the old and creates the new - Creative destruction
War And Depressions (1929-1945)
154) Unemployment is not a choice -Depressions and unemployment
162) Some people love risk, others avoid it - Risk and uncertainty
164) Government spending boosts the economy by more than what is spent - The Keynesian multiplier.
166) Economies are embedded in culture - Economics and tradition.
168) Managers go for perks, not their company's profits - Corporate governance
170) The economy is a predictable machine - Testing economic theories
171) Economics is the science of scarce resources - Definitions of economics
172) We wish to preserve a free society - Economic liberalism
178) Industrialization creates sustained growth - The emergence of modern economies
180) Different prices to different people - Price discrimination
Post War Economics 1945- 1970
186) In the wake of war and depression, nations must cooperate - International trade and Bretton Woods
188) All poor countries need is a big push - Development economics
194) People are influenced by
196) Governments
202) The more people
204) People smooth consumption
206) Institutions matter
208) People will avoid work if they can
210) Theories about market
214) There is no perfect voting system - Social choice theory
216) The aim is to maximize happiness, not income
220) Policies to correct markets can make things worse - The theory of the second best
222) Make markets fair - The social market economy
224) Over time, all countries will be rich - Economic growth theories
226) Globalization is not inevitable - Market integration
232) Socialism leads to empty shops - Shortages in planned economies
234) What does the other man think i am going to do? Game theory
242) Rich countries impoverish the poor - Dependency theory
244) You can't fool the people - Rational expectations
248) People don't care about probability when they choose - Paradoxes in decision making
250) Similar economies can benefit from a single currency - Exchange rates and currencies
256) Famine can happen in good harvests - Entitlement theory
Contemporary Economics 1970 - present
262) It is possible to invest without risk - Financial engineering
266) People are not 100 percent rational - Behavioural economics
270) Tax cuts can increase the tax take - Taxation and economic incentives
272) Prices tell you everything - Efficient markets
273) Over time, even the selfish cooperate with others - Competition and cooperation
274) Most cars traded will be lemons - Market uncertainty
276) The government's promises are incredible - Independent central banks
278) The economy is chaotic even when individuals are not - Complexity and chaos
280) Social networks are a kind of capital - Social capital
281) Education is only a signal of ability - Signalling and screening
282) The East Asian state governs the market - Asian Tiger economies
288) Beliefs can trigger currency crises - Speculation and currency devaluation
294) Auction winners pay over the odds - The winners curse
296) Stable economies contain the seeds of instability - Financial crises
302) Businesses pay more than the market wage - Incentives and wages
303) Real wages rise during recessions - Sticky wages
304) Finding a job is like finding a partner or a house - Searching and matching
306) The biggest challenge for collective action is climate change - Economics and the environment
310) GDP ignores women - Gender and economics
312) Comparative advantage is an accident - Trade and geography
313) Like steam, computers have revolutionized economies - Technological leaps
314) We can kick-start poor economies by writing off debt - International debt relief
316) Pessimism can destroy healthy banks - Bank runs
322) Saving gluts abroad fuel speculation at home - Global saving imbalances
326) More equal societies grow faster - Inequality and growth
328) Even beneficial economic reforms can fail - Resisting economic change
330) The housing market mirrors boom and bust - Housing and the economic cycle
332) Directory
340) Glossary
344) Index
351) Acknowledgments
Review in progress
Contents
10) Introduction
16-47) Let The Trading Begin 400 BCE - 1770 CE
20) Property should be private - Property rights
22) What is a just price? - Markets and morality
24) You don't need to barter when you have coins - The function of money
26) Make money from money - Financial services
30) Money causes inflation - The quantity theory of money
34) Protect us from foreign goods - Protectionism and trade
36) The economy can be counted - Measuring wealth
38) Let firms be traded - Public companies
39) Wealth comes from the land - Agriculture in the economy
40) Money and goods flow between producers and consumers - The circular flow of the economy
46) Private individuals never pay for street lights - Provision of public goods and services
The Age Of Reason 1770-1820
52) Man is a cold, rational calculator - Economic man
54) The invisible hand of the market brings order - Free market economics
62) The last worker
63) Why do diamonds cost more than water? - The paradox of value
64) Make taxes fair and efficient - The tax burden
66) Divide up pin production, and you get more pins - The division of labour
68) Population growth keeps us poor - Demographics and economics
70) Meetings of merchants end in conspiracies to raise prices - Cartels and collusion
74) Supply creates its own demand -Gluts in markets
76) Borrow now, tax later - Borrowing and debt
78) The economy is a yo-yo - Boom and bust
80) Trade is beneficial for all - Comparative advantage
Industrial and Economic Revolutions 1820-1929
90) How much should I produce, given the competition? - Effects of limited competition
92) Phone calls cost more without competition - Monopolies
98) Crowds breed collective insanity - Economic bubbles
100) Let the ruling classes tremble at a communist revolution - Marxist economics
106) The value of a product comes from the effort needed to make it - The Labour theory of value
108) Prices come from supply and demand - Supply and demand
114) You enjoy the last chocolate less than the first - Utility and satisfaction
116) When the price goes up, some people buy more - Spending paradoxes
118) A system of free markets is stable - Economic equilibrium
124) If you get a pay rise, buy caviar not bread - Elasticity of demand
126) Companies are price takers not price makers - The competitive market
130) Make one person better off without hurting the others - Efficiency and fairness
132) The bigger the factory, the lower the cost - Economies of scale
133) The cost of going to the movies is the fun you'd have had at an ice-rink - Opportunity cost
134) Workers must improve their lot together - Collective bargaining
136) People consume to be noticed - Conspicuous consumption
137) Make the polluter pay - External costs
138) Protestantism has made us rich - Religion and the economy
140) The poor are unlucky, not bad - The poverty problem
142) Socialism is the abolition of rational economy - Central planning
148) Capitalism destroys the old and creates the new - Creative destruction
War And Depressions (1929-1945)
154) Unemployment is not a choice -Depressions and unemployment
162) Some people love risk, others avoid it - Risk and uncertainty
164) Government spending boosts the economy by more than what is spent - The Keynesian multiplier.
166) Economies are embedded in culture - Economics and tradition.
168) Managers go for perks, not their company's profits - Corporate governance
170) The economy is a predictable machine - Testing economic theories
171) Economics is the science of scarce resources - Definitions of economics
172) We wish to preserve a free society - Economic liberalism
178) Industrialization creates sustained growth - The emergence of modern economies
180) Different prices to different people - Price discrimination
Post War Economics 1945- 1970
186) In the wake of war and depression, nations must cooperate - International trade and Bretton Woods
188) All poor countries need is a big push - Development economics
194) People are influenced by
196) Governments
202) The more people
204) People smooth consumption
206) Institutions matter
208) People will avoid work if they can
210) Theories about market
214) There is no perfect voting system - Social choice theory
216) The aim is to maximize happiness, not income
220) Policies to correct markets can make things worse - The theory of the second best
222) Make markets fair - The social market economy
224) Over time, all countries will be rich - Economic growth theories
226) Globalization is not inevitable - Market integration
232) Socialism leads to empty shops - Shortages in planned economies
234) What does the other man think i am going to do? Game theory
242) Rich countries impoverish the poor - Dependency theory
244) You can't fool the people - Rational expectations
248) People don't care about probability when they choose - Paradoxes in decision making
250) Similar economies can benefit from a single currency - Exchange rates and currencies
256) Famine can happen in good harvests - Entitlement theory
Contemporary Economics 1970 - present
262) It is possible to invest without risk - Financial engineering
266) People are not 100 percent rational - Behavioural economics
270) Tax cuts can increase the tax take - Taxation and economic incentives
272) Prices tell you everything - Efficient markets
273) Over time, even the selfish cooperate with others - Competition and cooperation
274) Most cars traded will be lemons - Market uncertainty
276) The government's promises are incredible - Independent central banks
278) The economy is chaotic even when individuals are not - Complexity and chaos
280) Social networks are a kind of capital - Social capital
281) Education is only a signal of ability - Signalling and screening
282) The East Asian state governs the market - Asian Tiger economies
288) Beliefs can trigger currency crises - Speculation and currency devaluation
294) Auction winners pay over the odds - The winners curse
296) Stable economies contain the seeds of instability - Financial crises
302) Businesses pay more than the market wage - Incentives and wages
303) Real wages rise during recessions - Sticky wages
304) Finding a job is like finding a partner or a house - Searching and matching
306) The biggest challenge for collective action is climate change - Economics and the environment
310) GDP ignores women - Gender and economics
312) Comparative advantage is an accident - Trade and geography
313) Like steam, computers have revolutionized economies - Technological leaps
314) We can kick-start poor economies by writing off debt - International debt relief
316) Pessimism can destroy healthy banks - Bank runs
322) Saving gluts abroad fuel speculation at home - Global saving imbalances
326) More equal societies grow faster - Inequality and growth
328) Even beneficial economic reforms can fail - Resisting economic change
330) The housing market mirrors boom and bust - Housing and the economic cycle
332) Directory
340) Glossary
344) Index
351) Acknowledgments
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August 15, 2020Like the other 'introductory' books on economics that I've been trying to read, it's written on the wrong level for me. I know too much for introductions, and not enough to understand the finance pages of "The Economist" magazine.... I'm thinking I'll have to actually audit a few college courses to fill the gaps and deepen my understandings of the connections.
April 30, 2023
I NOW KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT ECONOMICS! Hahaha… no. The book is beautifully designed though!
All jokes aside, a well digestible form of something that is often hard to digest. Some topics were more interesting than the others but such is economics 🤷🏻♀️ Don’t expect this to be an exciting read, but if you are moderately interested in the subject, might be a good option.
All jokes aside, a well digestible form of something that is often hard to digest. Some topics were more interesting than the others but such is economics 🤷🏻♀️ Don’t expect this to be an exciting read, but if you are moderately interested in the subject, might be a good option.
May 27, 2020
This is my first book of economics where markets are discussed. It's very helpful and it provide very good plot to build. I have one complaint that so many times you're looking for explanation but there is no explanation .
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