Have you read a good economics book recently?

vivatifosi

Spurred on by one of kabayiri's posts a couple of days ago, I wanted to start a thread to get recommendations for good economics/geopolitics/business books that are relevant to this board.

I've read a couple this year, with differing degrees of interest.

By far the best was Prisoners of Geography, by Tim Marshall. It talks about the relative geographic positions of countries and why they take the world views that they do, or why they are at such an advantage/disadvantage economically.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Prisoners-Geography-Everything-Global-Politics/dp/1783962437

Another book I have read this year is the Dark Net, about the illegal markets for all sorts of things from drugs, to weapons. Not an economics book as such, but an insight into an illegal part of the economy.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Net-Jamie-Bartlett/dp/0099592029

One book I didn't enjoy at all was Nick Clegg's autobiography. I was hoping for an interesting insight into the decisions made by the coalition government. Instead it was a whole lot of carping about how hard done by he is and how people tell him he will be seen in a better light in the future. I gave up after 50 pages.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Politics-Between-Extremes-Nick-Clegg/dp/1847924050

There are a couple on my bookshelf that I haven't read yet. One is Digital gold, the untold story of Bitcoin. I ordered that after reading about it here. Bitcoin is mentioned a fair bit in the Dark Net too.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Digital-Gold-Untold-Story-Bitcoin/dp/0241180996

The other, which has only just been published, is Brexit, what the hell happens now, by Ian Dunt. I saw him on TV the other day and he seemed to be good at getting to the crux of things. Hopefully I won't be disappointed.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brexit-Happens-Everything-Britains-Divorce/dp/0995497826/

Thanks again for the thread idea Kab. Has anyone else got book suggestions that I or others would like?

Thanks!

Ruby789

Thanks for these suggestions. Always need book recommendations.

kabayiri

Thanks Viva for the thread

I'm afraid I don't have any economic books I can recommend. I must make amends and read some that are suggested.

I like to take ideas from a book in one field, and imagine if it is applied or transposed in to another field.

One book left a big impression on me :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maverick_(book)

It's an autobiography on the surface, but it's really about a lot of things.

A primary one is the belief that you can trust your workers to organize themselves and deliver better outcomes than a top down approach.

In these days of globalization, it can leave people feeling a bit disenfranchised and isolated. Restoring the regions of the UK starts for me by instilling a belief that the people in those regions can actually impact their own lives for the good.

Thrugelmir

vivatifosi wrote: »

By far the best was Prisoners of Geography, by Tim Marshall. It talks about the relative geographic positions of countries and why they take the world views that they do, or why they are at such an advantage/disadvantage economically.

Excellent book. Heard him lecture last year at a book festival. Very interesting topic.

One of my personal favourites is this book. Takes a complex topic and brings down to a simple understandable level.

How an Economy Grows and Why It Crashes: Two Tales of the Economy

https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Economy-Grows-Why-Crashes/dp/047052670X

If you would like something off centre. Then this is another thought provoking read. Based on the Austrian school of economics. Having been to a lecture by Christian Felber. I can say he argues his case and ideas extremely well.

Change Everything: Creating an Economy for the Common Good

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Change-Everything-Creating-Economy-Common/dp/1783604727

bugslet

vivatifosi wrote: »

By far the best was Prisoners of Geography, by Tim Marshall.
One book I didn't enjoy at all was Nick Clegg's autobiography. I was hoping for an interesting insight into the decisions made by the coalition government. Instead it was a whole lot of carping about how hard done by he is and how people tell him he will be seen in a better light in the future. I gave up after 50 pages.


The other, which has only just been published, is Brexit, what the hell happens now, by Ian Dunt. I saw him on TV the other day and he seemed to be good at getting to the crux of things. Hopefully I won't be disappointed.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brexit-Happens-Everything-Britains-Divorce/dp/0995497826/

I read Prisoners of Geography, thought it excellent.

I nearly bought Nick Cleggs, but heard from someone else that it was a bit whiny.

Brexit, what the hell happens now, looks interesting, I shall have a look at that.

kabayiri wrote: »

One book left a big impression on me :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maverick_(book)

It's an autobiography on the surface, but it's really about a lot of things.

A primary one is the belief that you can trust your workers to organize themselves and deliver better outcomes than a top down approach.
.

Yes, I liked that book, read it some years ago. One of the biggest complaints from drivers is the level of micro management these days. I'm a real hands off boss, and the majority of the time it works out well; the employees are happier and more involved and frankly I can deal with the decision making ( and have less work to do).

I have just started Utopia for Realists: The Case for a Universal Basic Income, Open Borders, and a 15 hour work week.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Utopia-Realists-Universal-Borders-Workweek/dp/9082520303/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

It's got good reviews, and that was good enough for me to base buying it on.

wotsthat

I read 'Capital in the 21st Century' by Thomas Piketty earlier this year.

I found it really quite dull and only got a few dozen pages in. Might give it another go sometime.

One of my favourite books is Robert Peel: A Biography by Douglas Hurd. Well written and Hurd comments on the politics of the time really well and makes the issues of the day seem really quite fresh. Really interesting how politics has changed but, at the same time, has stayed exactly the same.

Masomnia

I got Capital in the 21st Century out of the library and found it quite dull too! I had a skim through it and I can see why it would be relevant, but it was a bit much for me. I like the sound of that prisoners of geography book.

vivatifosi

kabayiri wrote: »

Thanks Viva for the thread

I'm afraid I don't have any economic books I can recommend. I must make amends and read some that are suggested.

I like to take ideas from a book in one field, and imagine if it is applied or transposed in to another field.

One book left a big impression on me :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maverick_(book)

It's an autobiography on the surface, but it's really about a lot of things.

A primary one is the belief that you can trust your workers to organize themselves and deliver better outcomes than a top down approach.

In these days of globalization, it can leave people feeling a bit disenfranchised and isolated. Restoring the regions of the UK starts for me by instilling a belief that the people in those regions can actually impact their own lives for the good.

I haven't read that for years, but agree that is excellent. Very inspirational.

StevieJ

Free lunch by the Sunday Times economic editor - David Smith is not bad for people new to Economics.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Free-Lunch-Easily-Digestible-Economics/dp/1781250111/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

vivatifosi

StevieJ wrote: »

Free lunch by the Sunday Times economic editor - David Smith is not bad for people new to Economics.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Free-Lunch-Easily-Digestible-Economics/dp/1781250111/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Thanks Stevie. I haven't read that for years. Is it worth going back to for the newer chapter on the GFC? I read the old version.

zagubov

Masomnia wrote: »

I like the sound of that prisoners of geography book.

I'd recommend it, as it's an easily digestible read that you can take in small chunks. I think it may have been viva that suggested it, back when it was a bargain ebook for a couple of quid!

It explains all sorts of interesting stuff like why (which seems obvious once its spelled out) that the US and the Soviet Union were facing each other with armies in Europe, while having a largely demilitarised mutual border (the Ice Curtain) at the Bering Straits.