The Economic Transformation of America: 1600 to the Present, 4th Edition

by Robert L. Heilbroner, Alan Singer

This extraordinary text offers a proven combination of scholarship from an insightful economist and a renowned American historian. It recounts the development of capitalism and the age of machines through the voices of business leaders, working people, inventors, and an unusual cast of presidents, generals, and patriots. Unlike other books in the field of economic history, this text tells a story. While not ignoring statistics and percentages, this narrative focuses on the fact that America's economic transformation is an extraordinary drama--a drama that continues today.

Genres: Economics, History, Nonfiction, School

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Robert L. Heilbroner (March 24, 1919 – January 4, 2005) was an American economist and historian of economic thought. The author of some twenty books, Heilbroner was best known for The Worldly Philosophers, a survey of the lives and contributions of famous economists, notably Adam Smith, Karl Marx, and John Maynard Keynes.

Written in 1953, The Worldly Philosophers has sold nearly four million copies—the second-best-selling economics text of all time. The seventh edition of the book, published in 1999, included a new final chapter entitled "The End of Worldly Philosophy?", which included both a grim view on the current state of economics as well as a hopeful vision for a "reborn worldly philosophy" that incorporated social aspects of capitalism.

Although a highly unconventional economist, who regarded himself as more of a social theorist and "worldly philosopher" (philosopher pre-occupied with "worldly" affairs, such as economic structures), and who tended to integrate the disciplines of history, economics and philosophy, Heilbroner was nevertheless recognized by his peers as a prominent economist. He was elected Vice President of the American Economic Association in 1972.

He also came up with a way of classifying economies, as either Traditional (primarily agriculturally-based, perhaps subsistence economy), Command (centrally planned economy, often involving the state), Market (capitalism), or Mixed.

He was a trustee of the Economists for Peace and Security.

Heilbroner died on January 4, 2005 in New York, NY at the age of 85.

Reviews

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good overview of the economic systems that were present and their transformation of life in America as well as how the systems evolved themselves. Written as a college overview text that provides a starting point for further study but yet ties together the economic and industrial life and pressures that were part of the formation of American experience. This reader found the final chapter out of place for a history being that it was a discussion of possible futures based on some limited selection of present information. I suggest that one just not bother with the final chapter for one reason in the discussion of US car quality being poor was blamed on labor with no mention of poor design, lack of investment in tooling, and management lack of understanding of quality. Maybe the current 4th edition has improved this chapter. To conclude on a positive note, the book includes an extensive listing of further readings for each chapter.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for basic understanding of the economic history of america. It helped put events and dates into clear context.

[Ayu Tari · Rating 4 out of 5]

good book