[sub]Placed in IMHO rather than CS since I’m asking for a book recomendation about a non-fiction book. If CS is better, please feel free to move, mods.[/sub]
I was wondering if someone can recommend a good basic economics (not personal finance) primer. I’m looking for something that is fairly simple to read, geared toward the layman and will not put me to sleep while I read it. Basically, I’m just looking for something to give me a better grasp of how the economy and basic economics works.
I am really happy with N. Gregory Mankiw’s Principles of Economics. It’s relatively well-written, full of case studies and diagrams, and is generally ideology-free. Heck, my econ class is ending in a week or so, I would be happy to lend it to you.
I didn’t know Mankiw had a Principles text, Maeglin. Having used his macro text, you could do a lot worse Zev. Bear in mind that most of what economists do (micro) is not of obvious interest to the layperson, but that understanding stuff about inflation and unemployment requires you to have a fair grasp of micro. Other suggestions: Hayne, Samuelson, Landsburg. Good luck staying awake.
For my college macro class we read Economics Today: The Macro View by Roger LeRoy Miller. I thought it was an easy read, while still teaching you the concepts.
Basic Economics by Thomas Sowell. Is geared toward the laymen and is pretty easy to understand. It is not scintillating but probably won’t put you to sleep.