Reading and Listening Recommendations

Introduction to Economics

If you wish to gain a better understanding of the world around you, I recommend reading the following books.  These will give you a better understanding than three semesters of economics undergrad at a university for a much lower price.  And these aren’t just about understanding finance — you will better understand life and how we all get along.

1. The Price of Everything by Russell Roberts  (Here’s some good study questions for this book used by one econ professor).
2. Basic Economics:  The Citizens Guide to the Economy by Thomas Sowell
3. Applied Economics: Thinking Beyond Stage One by Thomas Sowell
4. The Undercover Economist by Tim Harford

Learn Something About Economics and Philosophy

Theory of Moral Sentiments by Adam Smith – There’s no need to read the book, which is a challenge.  You can get the gist while jogging on the treadmill or riding the stationary and listening to these EconTalk podcasts from Russell Roberts and Daniel Klein:

• Klein on The Theory of Moral Sentiments, Episode 1–An Overview

• Klein on The Theory of Moral Sentiments, Episode 2–A Discussion of Part I

• Klein on The Theory of Moral Sentiments, Episode 3–A Discussion of Part II

• Klein on The Theory of Moral Sentiments, Episode 4–A Discussion of Part III

More to come…

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