Popular Books to Read on Economics and Financial Markets

Title: The Origin of Wealth

In theOrigin of Wealth, Eric Beinhocker offers a thorough and convincing new way to think about economic growth and business management. Beinhocker (a senior advisor to McKinsey & Company, a management consulting firm) has written this work in order to introduce a broad audience to what he believes is a revolutionary new paradigm in economics and its implications for our understanding of the creation of wealth.

Author(s): Eric D. Beinhocker

ISBN 13: 9781578517770
Pages: 527

Title: Capitalism and Freedom

How can we benefit from the promise of government while avoiding the threat it poses to individual freedom? In this classic book, Milton Friedman provides the definitive statement of his immensely influential economic philosophy—one in which competitive capitalism serves as both a device for achieving economic freedom and a necessary condition for political freedom. The result is an accessible text that has sold well over half a million copies in English, has been translated into eighteen languages, and shows every sign of becoming more and more influential as time goes on.

Author(s): Milton Friedman;Rose D. Friedman

ISBN 13: 9780226264219
Pages: 208

Title: The Financial Crisis and the Free Market Cure: Why Pure Capitalism is the World Economyu0092s Only Hope

It’s time for America to accept the truth: the government can’t fix the economy because the government wrecked the economy. This book gives us the tools, the inspiration—and the cure. “Required reading. . .

Author(s): John A. Allison

ISBN 13: 9780071806770
Pages: 320

Title: Misbehavior of Markets

Mathematical superstar and inventor of fractal geometry, Benoit Mandelbrot, has spent the past forty years studying the underlying mathematics of space and natural patterns. What many of his followers don't realize is that he has also been watching patterns of market change. In The (Mis)Behavior of Markets, Mandelbrot joins with science journalist and former Wall Street Journal editor Richard L. Hudson to reveal what a fractal view of the world of finance looks like. The result is a revolutionary reevaluation of the standard tools and models of modern financial theory. Markets, we learn, are far riskier than we have wanted to believe. From the gyrations of IBM's stock price and the Dow, to cotton trading, and the dollar-Euro exchange rate--Mandelbrot shows that the world of finance can be understood in more accurate, and volatile, terms than the tired theories of yesteryear.The ability to simplify the complex has made Mandelbrot one of the century's most influential mathematicians. With The (Mis)Behavior of Markets, he puts the tools of higher mathematics into the hands of every person involved with markets, from financial analysts to economists to 401(k) holders. Markets will never be seen as "safe bets" again.

Author(s): Benoit B. Mandelbrot;Richard L. Hudson

ISBN 13: 9780465043576
Pages: 328

This book is in (2) other book lists, learn more.

Title: How an Economy Grows and Why It Crashes

How an Economy Grows and Why it Crashes uses illustration, humor, and accessible storytelling to explain complex topics of economic growth and monetary systems. In it, economic expert and bestselling author of Crash Proof, Peter Schiff teams up with his brother Andrew to apply their signature "take no prisoners" logic to expose the glaring fallacies that have become so ingrained in our country?s economic conversation. Inspired by How an Economy Grows and Why It Doesn?t?a previously published book by the Schiffs? father Irwin, a widely published economist and activist?How an Economy Grows and Why It Crashes incorporates the spirit of the original while tackling the latest economic issues.With wit and humor, the Schiffs explain the roots of economic growth, the uses of capital, the destructive nature of consumer credit, the source of inflation, the importance of trade, savings, and risk, and many other topical principles of economics..

Author(s): Peter D. Schiff;Andrew J. Schiff

ISBN 13: 9780470526705
Pages: 256

Title: The Economist Guide to Financial Markets (6th Ed)

Extensively revised and updated following the fallout from the global financial crisis, the 6th edition of this highly regarded book brings the reader right up to speed with the latest financial market developments, and provides a clear and ...

Author(s): The Economist;Marc Levinson

ISBN 13: 9781610393898
Pages: 304

This book is in (2) other book lists, learn more.

Title: Economics of Good and Evil

Tomas Sedlacek has shaken the study of economics as few ever have. Named one of the "Young Guns" and one of the "five hot minds in economics" by the Yale Economic Review, he serves on the National Economic Council in Prague, where his provocative writing has achieved bestseller status. How has he done it? By arguing a simple, almost heretical proposition: economics is ultimately about good and evil.

Author(s): Tomas Sedlacek

ISBN 13: 9780199322183
Pages: 368

Title: Economix

Stimulus plans: good or bad? Free markets: How free are they? Jobs: Can we afford them? Occupy Wall Street . . . worldwide! Everybody's talking about the economy, but how can we, the people, understand what Wall Street or Washington knows--or say they know? Read Economix. With clear, witty writing and quirky, accessible art, this important and timely graphic novel transforms "the dismal science" of economics into a fun, fact-filled story about human nature and our attempts to make the most of what we've got . . . and sometimes what our neighbors have got. Economix explains it all, from the beginning of Western economic thought, to markets free and otherwise, to economic failures, successes, limitations, and future possibilities. It's the essential, accessible guide to understanding the economy and economic practices. A must-read for every citizen and every voter.

Author(s): Michael Goodwin

ISBN 13: 9780810988392
Pages: 304

Title: Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies, New Edition

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, Guns, Germs, and Steel is a brilliant work answering the question of why the peoples of certain continents succeeded in invading other continents and conquering or displacing their peoples. This edition includes a new chapter on Japan and all-new illustrations drawn from the television series. Until around 11,000 BC, all peoples were still Stone Age hunter/gatherers. At that point, a great divide occurred in the rates that human societies evolved. In Eurasia, parts of the Americas, and Africa, farming became the prevailing mode of existence when indigenous wild plants and animals were domesticated by prehistoric planters and herders. As Jared Diamond vividly reveals, the very people who gained a head start in producing food would collide with preliterate cultures, shaping the modern world through conquest, displacement, and genocide.

Author(s): Jared Diamond

ISBN 13: 9780393061314
Pages: 528

This book is in (2) other book lists, learn more.

Title: Economics 101

A Crash Course in the Study of Production and Consumption! Too often, textbooks turn the noteworthy details of economics into tedious discourse that would put even Joseph Stiglitz to sleep. Economics 101 cuts out the boring explanations, and instead provides a hands-on lesson that keeps you engaged as you explore how societies allocate their resources for maximum benefit. From quantitative easing to marginal utility, this primer is packed with hundreds of entertaining tidbits and concepts that you won't be able to get anywhere else. So whether you're looking to master the major principles of finance, or just want to learn more about why money matters, Economics 101 has all the answers--even the ones you didn't know you were looking for.

Author(s): David A. Mayer;Melanie Fox;Alfred Mill

ISBN 13: 9781440593406
Pages: 288

Title: The Mystery of Capital

A distinguished Third World economist takes a close-up look at why capitalism succeeds in some countries and fails in others, arguing that the key to its success is related to the legal structure of property and property rights.

Author(s): Hernando de Soto

ISBN 13: 9780465016150
Pages: 275

Title: Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty

An award-winning professor of economics at MIT and a Harvard University political scientist and economist evaluate the reasons that some nations are poor while others succeed, outlining provocative perspectives that support theories about ...

Author(s): Daron Acemoglu;James A. Robinson

ISBN 13: 9780307719218
Pages: 529

This book is in (2) other book lists, learn more.

Title: Capital in the Twenty-First Century

What are the grand dynamics that drive the accumulation and distribution of capital? Questions about the long-term evolution of inequality, the concentration of wealth, and the prospects for economic growth lie at the heart of political economy. But satisfactory answers have been hard to find for lack of adequate data and clear guiding theories. In Capital in the Twenty-First Century, Thomas Piketty analyzes a unique collection of data from twenty countries, ranging as far back as the eighteenth century, to uncover key economic and social patterns. His findings will transform debate and set the agenda for the next generation of thought about wealth and inequality.

Author(s): Thomas Piketty

ISBN 13: 9780674430006
Pages: 695

This book is in (2) other book lists, learn more.

Title: When Genius Failed

When Genius Failed is the cautionary financial tale of our time, the gripping saga ofwhat happened when an elite group of investors believed they could actually deconstruct risk and use virtually limitless leverage to create limitless ...

Author(s): Roger Lowenstein

ISBN 13: 9780375758256
Pages: 264

This book is in (4) other book lists, learn more.

Title: Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets

This outstanding reference has already taught thousands of traders the concepts of technical analysis and their application in the futures and stock markets. Covering the latest developments in computer technology, technical tools, and indicators, the second edition features new material on candlestick charting, intermarket relationships, stocks and stock rotation, plus state-of-the-art examples and figures. From how to read charts to understanding indicators and the crucial role technical analysis plays in investing, readers gain a thorough and accessible overview of the field of technical analysis, with a special emphasis on futures markets. Revised and expanded for the demands of today's financial world, this book is essential reading for anyone interested in tracking and analyzing market behavior.

Author(s): John J. Murphy

ISBN 13: 9780735200661
Pages: 542

Title: Global Strategy (Global Dimensions of Business Series)

This comprehensive volume from Wiley's Global Dimensions of Business series explores the topic of international strategic management at an MBA or Executive Education level. Authored by an accomplished teacher who possesses a strong understanding of the market, this text offers clear frameworks coupled with lively, international case studies. Written by an experienced teacher possessing a strong research profile and a clear understanding of the market. Emphasizes organizational competences and provides a direct bridge to the strategy frameworks and concepts essential to MBA and Executive Education programs. Focuses on capabilities, capability-building and knowledge, and highlights the distinction between input and leveraging in terms of capabilities. Reviews additional opportunities for making performance gains in the international environment and the additional complexity involved in managing in a global – rather than domestic – environment. All chapters include sections on essential reading, student questions, summaries, case examples, and ‘key terms.’

Author(s): Stephen Tallman

ISBN 13: 9781405136105
Pages: 240

Title: The Wealth of Nations

It is symbolic that Adam Smith’s masterpiece of economic analysis, The Wealth of Nations, was first published in 1776, the same year as the Declaration of Independence. In his book, Smith fervently extolled the simple yet enlightened notion that individuals are fully capable of setting and regulating prices for their own goods and services. He argued passionately in favor of free trade, yet stood up for the little guy. The Wealth of Nations provided the first--and still the most eloquent--integrated description of the workings of a market economy.

Author(s): Adam Smith

ISBN 13: 9780553585971
Pages: 1231

This book is in (4) other book lists, learn more.

Title: Capitalism and Freedom

How can we benefit from the promise of government while avoiding the threat it poses to individual freedom? In this classic book, Milton Friedman provides the definitive statement of his immensely influential economic philosophy—one in which competitive capitalism serves as both a device for achieving economic freedom and a necessary condition for political freedom. The result is an accessible text that has sold well over half a million copies in English, has been translated into eighteen languages, and shows every sign of becoming more and more influential as time goes on.

Author(s): Milton Friedman;Rose D. Friedman

ISBN 13: 9780226264219
Pages: 208

Title: Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything

More Than 4 Million Copies Sold Worldwide Published in 35 Languages

Which is more dangerous, a gun or a swimming pool?
What do schoolteachers and sumo wrestlers have in common?
How much do parents really matter?

These may not sound like typical questions for an economist to ask. But Steven D. Levitt is not a typical economist. He studies the riddles of everyday life—from cheating and crime to parenting and sports—and reaches conclusions that turn conventional wisdom on its head. Freakonomics is a groundbreaking collaboration between Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, an award-winning author and journalist. They set out to explore the inner workings of a crack gang, the truth about real estate agents, the secrets of the Ku Klux Klan, and much more. Through forceful storytelling and wry insight, they show that economics is, at root, the study of incentives—how people get what they want or need, especially when other people want or need the same thing.

Author(s): Steven D. Levitt

ISBN 13: 9780060731335
Pages: 352

This book is in (6) other book lists, learn more.

Title: Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science (Fully Revised and Updated)

Finally! A book about economics that won’t put you to sleep. In fact, you won’t be able to put this bestseller down. In our challenging economic climate, this perennial favorite of students and general readers is more than a good read, it’s a necessary investment―with a blessedly sure rate of return. Demystifying buzzwords, laying bare the truths behind oft-quoted numbers, and answering the questions you were always too embarrassed to ask, the breezy Naked Economics gives readers the tools they need to engage with pleasure and confidence in the deeply relevant, not so dismal science. This revised and updated edition adds commentary on hot topics, including the current economic crisis, globalization, the economics of information, the intersection of economics and politics, and the history―and future―of the Federal Reserve.

Author(s): Charles Wheelan

ISBN 13: 9780393337648
Pages: 354

This book is in (3) other book lists, learn more.