The Undercover Economist
Ratings18
Average rating3.6
15
Ratings18
Average rating3.6
Critically acclaimed as one of the most successful economy books of all time, and a 'must-read' for those of us in the general public who want to understand how society works, but do not want this information to be conveyed in an Oxbridge multipolysyllabic tone, Tim Harford's book gives us an insight into the relevance of the economy to our everyday lives. It begins humbly with the author's relatable bemoaning of coffee and its prices, which is cleverly analogized in the simple, but brilliant and still-relevant ideas of nineteenth-century economist David Ricardo. Organized into clear chapters which target different aspects of the economy's impacts on our life, the book later progresses onto more developed concepts such as the reasons (sub-prime mortgages!) behind the banking collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008. Written in an aware style from an economist's perspective, this book is thoroughly worthwhile reading.
Featured Series
3 primary booksThe Undercover Economist is a 4-book series with 4 primary works first released in 2005 with contributions by Tim Harford.
Reviews with the most likes.
Brilliant insights into the way the world around us works - easy to read and eye-opening.
Nicely written and clear. Lot's of discussion on how economics intersects real life.
I learned about the importance of getting the details right in auctions and how carefully limited economic changes caused an astounding change in China while maintaining a dictatorship.
