Economics books recommended by Seth Godin
We still teach a lot of myths in the intro to economics course, myths that spill over to conventional wisdom.
The free market only works because it has boundaries, rules and methods of enforcement. Value is created by increasing information flow and working to have as many contributing citizens as possible.
Economics used to be stuck in town. Now, as markets and industries transcend location, useful economic stats describe the state of the people you’re working with and selling to.
If your segment is stuck, it might make sense to stick it out. It also might be worth thinking about the cost of moving to a different economy.
Presenting Digital Cash by Seth Godin
"It was the first book on digital cash ever aimed at a mass audience. And it was ahead of its time, selling (fortunately) very few copies. The examples in the book were current, but it was soon outdated" Read more
Category: Economics
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The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith
"There may be a reason to read this entire book, but if there is, it eludes me. The Cliffs Notes are sufficient." Read more
Category: Economics
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The Moral Economy of the Peasant by James C. Scott
"This book outlines the reasons why many efforts to jumpstart third-world economies fail. It's not just peasants, though. Many of your prospects feel precisely the same way." Read more
Category: Economics
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The Only Investment Guide You’ll Ever Need by Andrew Tobias
"Almost no one knows how to think about money and investing. Squadrons of people will try to confuse you and rip you off. Many will bore you. But Andrew Tobias has written a book that might just change your net worth.His advice is simple: spending less is even more valuable than earning more. He is also a gifted writer, funny and dead on correct in his analysis. Highly recommended." Read more
Category: Economics
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The Only Other Investment Guide You’ll Ever Need by Andrew Tobias
"This is the classic, of course. Buy a used copy, negotiate for a better price!" Read more
Category: Economics
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The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism by Max Weber
"Largely misunderstood, hard to read, and in some ways incorrect, it is still considered a giant achievement in sociology. Weber tries to understand the relationship between religious and commercial values, particularly as they led to the success of the United States." Read more
Category: Economics
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The Rational Optimist by Matt Ridley
"Another classic in the spirit of Guns, Germs and Steel and What Technology Wants. A fun read, it will cheer you up and help you see things in a new way. What more could you ask for?" Read more
Category: Economics
Buy on AmazonSchooling in Capitalist America by Samuel Bowles
"Thirty years old and loaded with accurate predictions about the future (and facts about our past)." Read more
Category: Economics
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End This Depression Now! by Paul Krugman
"When a Nobel-prize winner delivers a carefully thought out manifesto for change, it's not a screed, it's something to which attention must be paid.You don't have to agree, but you do have to admire his understanding of history and his passion for making things right. Must reading." Read more
Category: Economics
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From the American System to Mass Production by Daivd Hounshell
"This is a powerful book, an extraordinary insight into the change from handmade to factory, from skilled craftsmen to cogs in a system. This really happened, and it happened to our great grandparents. The shifts were mammothÑin one two year period, productivity at a Ford plant went up by more than five times." Read more
Category: Economics
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Debt by David Graeber
"The most fascinating book I've read all year is Debt" Read more
Category: Economics
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