- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
What are some good books about economics?
Posted on 6/2/11 at 8:35 am
Posted on 6/2/11 at 8:35 am
i acquired a kindle for free yesterday, so i'm going to start using it leisurely in trying to advance my being
i downloaded "principles of economics" by marshall, and it's supposed to be a big cornerstone, but it's very boring and very long (that's what i get for going with the cheap option)
so i'm wondering if there are any other good books on economics. does friedman have a good book that doesn't require a basic understanding of economics to get into? i have almost no formal education in econ
i downloaded "principles of economics" by marshall, and it's supposed to be a big cornerstone, but it's very boring and very long (that's what i get for going with the cheap option)
so i'm wondering if there are any other good books on economics. does friedman have a good book that doesn't require a basic understanding of economics to get into? i have almost no formal education in econ
Posted on 6/2/11 at 8:50 am to SlowFlowPro
Posted on 6/2/11 at 8:50 am to RedStickBR
Posted on 6/2/11 at 9:01 am to RedStickBR
I still haven't read Freakonomics and I teach dat shite.
Posted on 6/2/11 at 9:16 am to SlowFlowPro
This was the first econ book I read when I had no idea what the field of economics covered.
Posted on 6/2/11 at 9:28 am to SlowFlowPro
The Big Short is more about Finance, but it's worth reading.
Posted on 6/2/11 at 9:36 am to SlowFlowPro
Freakinomics was dumb. Just a lot of correlation and causation stuff.
I don't know of any leisurely Econ books you could go after, but I would make sure you go with macro topics. Micro is a lot of sociological rationality, which helps someone to be a more rational consumer, but not talk about global economics.
The commonly accepted theory in the world is Keynes theory, so that is a good start. Maybe something about economic growth after that.
I don't know of any leisurely Econ books you could go after, but I would make sure you go with macro topics. Micro is a lot of sociological rationality, which helps someone to be a more rational consumer, but not talk about global economics.
The commonly accepted theory in the world is Keynes theory, so that is a good start. Maybe something about economic growth after that.
Posted on 6/2/11 at 9:37 am to TheHiddenFlask
What are you trying to get out of the book?
That would help us pick one.
That would help us pick one.
Posted on 6/2/11 at 9:43 am to TheHiddenFlask
Good question.
I would start with Wealth of Nations.
I would start with Wealth of Nations.
Posted on 6/2/11 at 9:53 am to SlowFlowPro
You're much better off reading a few acclaimed econ essays than reading a book on economics IMO.
Posted on 6/2/11 at 10:07 am to SlowFlowPro
Free to Choose by Friedman would be a solid starting point IMO.
Basic Economics by Sowell is about 600 pages of boring material, I would be pretty impressed if you finished it. Sowell has some shorter books that might be better, I read "Economic Facts and Fallacies" and it was a decent read.
Basic Economics by Sowell is about 600 pages of boring material, I would be pretty impressed if you finished it. Sowell has some shorter books that might be better, I read "Economic Facts and Fallacies" and it was a decent read.
Posted on 6/2/11 at 12:22 pm to Broke
quote:
Good question.
I would start with Wealth of Nations.
Everybody says this, but unless you want to subject yourself to a detailed exegesis of the varying price of corn (by which he means wheat) in various Scottish villages throughout the 18th century I think there are better choices. No doubt Wealth of Nations is a Great Book (tm) but it is not what I would recommend as an introductory text to someone looking for a basic intro to economics.
Seriously, I'd recommend buying an econ 101 textbook - if you buy used, and are willing to accept last year's edition, you can get it for under $10. Mankiw's text is the gold standard.
Posted on 6/2/11 at 12:57 pm to Cold Cous Cous
quote:
Seriously, I'd recommend buying an econ 101 textbook - if you buy used, and are willing to accept last year's edition, you can get it for under $10. Mankiw's text is the gold standard.
That's what I was going to say. Find out what LSU is using for Macro (I don't know the number, I think it used to be 2030) and download it. Literally introductory econ. I think Shiller's books are good too, but like THF said, it depends on what your goal is.
Posted on 6/2/11 at 2:05 pm to SlowFlowPro
I'm actually slowly working my way through Posner's textbook right now. Are you more interested in behavioral economics or monetary/fiscal policy issues?
Posted on 6/2/11 at 2:08 pm to Cold Cous Cous
behavioral, but i figure if i want to speak of the subjects, i need to get a base-level across the board
Posted on 6/2/11 at 2:31 pm to Cold Cous Cous
no. can a person who hates baseball make it through moneyball?
i tend to enjoy lewis's writing style
i tend to enjoy lewis's writing style
Posted on 6/2/11 at 2:39 pm to SlowFlowPro
I don't know. It helps to at least be familiar with the game. But it's a great real world example of practical application of a lot of basic economic principles like scarcity, low hanging fruit, information imbalances.
Posted on 6/2/11 at 4:03 pm to Cold Cous Cous
Shiller is the king of behavioral econ/fin. In terms of "speaking about the subject," running through an econ 101 textbook isn't going to get you there, unless you're talking about talking to people who don't know what they are talking about.
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News