In Economics: The User's Guide, Ha-Joon Chang wants us to know enough background to be able to understand economic news, what it means, and when it might be trying to fool us. So he provides nearly 400 pages of history, theory and real world numbers. Some of the numbers might be out of date by now, but Chang gives advice on where to find newer information. I say information, because there is more to econ than numbers.

After a short prologue explaining why we should be interested, there is a half page guide to reading the book, depending on whether we want to spend ten minutes, maybe two hours, half a day, or are willing to go through the whole thing.

That's the kind of author Chang is, wanting to tell us what he knows and believes, but aware that we won't all be willing to follow through completely. What he does, works for me. I've tried to read about economics before, but have always bogged down and lost interest. This time it was different. I learned how econ is much more than markets and businesses, more than capitalism. Chang gives a quick history of how we, the whole world, developed the field of economics and how different countries got the kind of changing economies they have now, and how much of economics is really politics.

He writes about nine different "schools" of economics, explaining their points of view, how they grew, what they can explain well, and how they all have failings but also strengths. Maybe the best part of the book is a four page table in chapter four summarizing each school.

Of course, I can't remember it all, but the structure of the book makes sense, and the index is helpful. A kindle edition, which I also own, is searchable and in some ways even more useful. This is a keeper, a good reference book. ( )

I did not read this book page-by-page, but per the author's suggestion for ten minutes and two hours (chapter titles, first page of each chapter, Chapters 1 and 2 in their entirety, Epilogue). I also stopped at random sections that caught my eye. That said, the language of this book is very approachable and friendly without being patronizing, and humorous without cheap jokes. It's a good overview of economic principles, theorists, and history, as well as summaries of existing modern systems. I came away feeling better acquainted with economic concepts. Further Reading suggestions at the end of each chapter. ( )

4.5/5 - it gets somewhat tedious and/or dense in spot.

Other that that small ding, this is an excellent book. Unlike most economics books, which focus on the author's pet system/theory, Chang addresses what he considers the 9 major ones. He gives their strengths and limitations and then goes on to show why economics is not a science in the sense of physics or chemistry, but rather in the sense of sociology or history - or politics.

No one of them is universally applicable, and at different times - both in an absolute since and the relative time of the development of a country's economy - different policy will be better than others.

It's a refreshing approach and one that, to me, makes a lot more sense than the one size (currently neo-classical) fits all approach to what economies of very different countries, with different cultures and forms of government and at different stages of development.

If you read only one economics book this year (or in your entire life), read this one.


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http://pro-libertate.net/20160704/299-read-economics-users-guide ( )

Seemed like a clear and comprehensive intro to economics with a slightly left of center political perspective. ( )