A Little History of Economics

Name: A Little History of Economics
Brand: Blackstone Audiobooks
Availability: InStock
Author: Niall Kishtainy
ISBN: 9781470813338

Author: Niall Kishtainy

Narrator: Steven Crossley

Unabridged: 9 hr 52 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Blackstone Publishing

Published: 03/07/2017

Categories: Nonfiction, Business & Economics

Synopsis

A lively, inviting account of the history of economics, told through events from ancient to modern times and the ideas of great thinkers in the fieldWhat causes poverty? Are economic crises inevitable under capitalism? Is government intervention in an economy a helpful approach or a disastrous idea? The answers to such basic economic questions matter to everyone; yet the unfamiliar jargon and math of economics can seem daunting. This clear, accessible, and even humorous book is ideal for young readers new to economics and to all readers who seek a better understanding of the full sweep of economic history and ideas.Economic historian Niall Kishtainy organizes short, chronological chapters that center on big ideas and events. He recounts the contributions of key thinkers including Adam Smith, Ricardo, Marx, Keynes, and others, while examining topics ranging from the invention of money and the rise of agrarianism to the Great Depression, entrepreneurship, environmental destruction, inequality, and behavioral economics. The result is a uniquely enjoyable volume that succeeds in illuminating the economic ideas and forces that shape our world.

About Niall Kishtainy

Dr. Niall Kishtainy is a fellow at the London School of Economics. In 2012 he edited The Economics Book for Dorling Kindersley. He has previously worked in international development in Africa and the Middle East and as a government economist and journalist.

About Steven Crossley

Steven Crossley, a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, has built a career on both sides of the Atlantic as an actor and audiobook narrator, for which he has won more than a dozen AudioFile Earphones Awards and been a nominee for the prestigious Audie Award. He is a member of the internationally renowned theater company Complicite and has appeared in numerous theater, television, film, and radio dramas.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Always on May 28, 2017

I want to read the writing of influential thinkers but I'm an idiot with very limited patience so it never works out well. Especially the older the writing, seriously I feel like part of me dies every time I force myself to read something complex and sophisticated that changed the way we all think.......more

Goodreads review by Scottsdale Public Library on June 13, 2023

I don't give many 5-star reviews, but 'A Little History' is truly special. My previous favorite, another summary of economics, Sylvia Nasar's "Grand Pursuit" had a leaner approach – fewer economists with a deeper dive into each, but Kishtainy creates a vastly different pallet that is very effective......more

Goodreads review by Maria on June 27, 2019

O Agora Nasce no Outrora Na História há padrões que se repetem e as soluções para as crises do Presente encontram-se múltiplas vezes no Passado. É pois pertinente encontrar o fio condutor dos eventos que nos trouxeram até Hoje, para melhor lidar com o Presente. A Economia é um Sistema complexo, onde in......more

Goodreads review by Bernard on April 23, 2017

Written in the style of maybe the greatest children's non-fiction book of all time, A Little History of the World by E.H. Gombrich, this volume tries to summarise the development of economic thinking from the Greeks right up until the present day. It does a great job of summing up the dismal science......more

Goodreads review by Ernesto on February 11, 2020

Me encantó este libro. Para mi que soy un perfecto neófito de la Economía, este libro me aclaró muchísimas cosas sobre el tema. Narrado a manera de crónica, esta historia es muy entretenida y explicativa. Toca todos los temas en capítulos cortos que te dejan reflexionando sobre la idea o el autor pr......more

Quotes

“A whistle-stop introduction to the great works and thinkers of each age, this is a clear and accessible primer.” Financial Times (London)

“A pleasurable and easy way to become familiar with important economic ideas such as comparative advantage, unemployment, aggregate demand, inflation, and income inequality.” Foreign Affairs

“A great introduction to economics for beginners. This book is punchy and fun and yet thorough in explaining what economists have contributed to our understanding of the world.” Robert Shiller, Nobel laureate in economics

“Those who refuse to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. Economics can help guide policy in a sensible direction; but the misuse of economics has also left individuals, companies, and countries in ruin. To understand what economics has got right—and to avoid repeating its mistakes—read this book.” Simon Johnson, professor at MIT Sloan and author of 13 Bankers

Awards

Audible.com Bestseller
New York Times audio bestseller