# Recommend a good INTERESTING book about the history of economics

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-interesting-book-about-the-history-of-economics/500958>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [June 25, 2009, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-interesting-book-about-the-history-of-economics/500958 "2009-06-25T16:51:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\
**Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-interesting-book-about-the-history-of-economics/500958/1 "2009-06-25T16:51:09Z")

</div>

I just listened to the This American Life segment about [Keynes](http://www.thisamericanlife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?sched=1281)and it was pretty interesting to me. Plus I figure in these times understanding economics is pretty important.

So where should a noob like me, with practically no knowledge of the subject, start when it comes to reading up on the history of economics. I’m after something that is actually readable and entertaining for a non-economist (if thats not to much to ask of a book about economics), and something that has no axe to grind politically (again a big ask).

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\
**Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-interesting-book-about-the-history-of-economics/500958/2 "2009-06-25T17:14:40Z")

</div>

Try Ronald Heilbroner’s “The Worldly Philosophers”.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)\
**Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-interesting-book-about-the-history-of-economics/500958/3 "2009-06-25T20:16:53Z")

</div>

_The Commanding Heights_ is pretty good for modern economics. It’s available on DVD or as a book.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\
**Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-interesting-book-about-the-history-of-economics/500958/4 "2009-06-25T20:50:21Z")

</div>

> [@Captain\_Amazing](#):
>
> Try Ronald Heilbroner’s “The Worldly Philosophers”.

Or the even better book by [Robert L. Heilbroner](http://www.amazon.com/Worldly-Philosophers-Lives-Economic-Thinkers/dp/068486214X). 🙂

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\
**Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-interesting-book-about-the-history-of-economics/500958/5 "2009-06-25T20:58:37Z")

</div>

Not quite what you’re looking for as it does not focus on the history of economics or economists, but I highly recommend [_Economics Explained,_](http://www.amazon.com/Economics-Explained-Everything-About-Economy/dp/0684846411) by Heilbroner and Thurow.