The best 68 International Economics books

1
Drive

Drive

Daniel H. Pink
The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
4.4 (629 ratings)

What's Drive about?

In Drive, Daniel Pink describes the characteristics of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation. He reveals that many companies rely on extrinsic motivation, even though this is often counterproductive. The book explains clearly how we can best motivate ourselves and others by understanding intrinsic motivation.

Who should read Drive?

  • Anyone who wants to learn about the components of human motivation
  • Anyone who wants to find out how to effectively motivate themselves and others

2
The End of the World Is Just the Beginning

The End of the World Is Just the Beginning

Peter Zeihan
Mapping the Collapse of Globalization
4.5 (128 ratings)

What's The End of the World Is Just the Beginning about?

The End of the World Is Just Beginning (2022) asks what happens if or when the United States stops policing the global order it established after the Second World War. The short answer is that the world as we know it will come to a grinding, potentially violent halt. The longer answer takes us on a thrilling ride through the politics and economics of trade, energy, and foreign policy. 

Who should read The End of the World Is Just the Beginning?

  • History buffs 
  • Politicos with an interest in foreign policy
  • Anyone trying to figure out global events

3
How the World Really Works

How the World Really Works

Vaclav Smil
The Science of Our Past, Present and Future
4.4 (476 ratings)

What's How the World Really Works about?

How the World Really Works (2022) tackles a paradox at the heart of the modern world: we’ve never had so much information at our fingertips and never known so little about how things actually work. Of course, we can’t be experts in everything. But, Vaclav Smil argues, it’s our duty as citizens to be informed about the basics – the big questions that shape our societies and their futures.

Who should read How the World Really Works?

  • History and science enthusiasts
  • Anyone interested in how their food gets made
  • Those wondering what energy actually is

4
MegaThreats

MegaThreats

Nouriel Roubini
Ten Dangerous Trends That Imperil Our Future, and How to Survive Them
3.9 (329 ratings)

What's MegaThreats about?

MegaThreats (2022) delves into the ten most pressing potential threats to humanity's future. The author examines the evidence and potential consequences for each threat, questioning whether we are doing enough to prevent or prepare for them.

Who should read MegaThreats?

  • Futurists
  • Students of economics
  • Doomsday preppers

5
Drive (New Version)

Drive (New Version)

Daniel Pink
The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
4.6 (530 ratings)

What's Drive (New Version) about?

Drive (2009) points out that many organizations still follow a “carrot and stick” approach, using external incentives to motivate people. It explains why this is a bad idea and introduces a more effective solution: sparking engagement by catering to the psychology of intrinsic motivation.

Who should read Drive (New Version)?

  • Psychology buffs interested in human behavior
  • Executives who’d like to leverage the power of intrinsic motivation
  • Anyone who wants to find out how to effectively motivate themselves

6
The AI Economy

The AI Economy

Roger Bootle
Work, Wealth and Welfare in the Robot Age
4.0 (168 ratings)

What's The AI Economy about?

The AI Economy tackles the most pressing economic questions surrounding the rise of Artificial Intelligence. How will the development and spread of smart machines’ age affect our jobs, wages and work hours? How will it impact investment, interest rates and inequality? Acclaimed economist Roger Bootle applies his knowledge of history, technology and macroeconomics to investigate how the fourth industrial revolution will transform the global economy. 

Who should read The AI Economy?

  • Business owners and investors who want to make the most of the new economy
  • Government officials and policymakers who want to help people thrive in the robot age
  • Individuals who wish to prepare themselves for the AI revolution

7
False Economy

False Economy

Alan Beattie
A Surprising Economic History of the World
4.2 (142 ratings)

What's False Economy about?

False Economy (2009) offers a fresh perspective on how and why some nations of the world have become economic powerhouses and others have ended up as financial disasters. You’ll see that nations aren’t handcuffed by fate. Rather, their economic success or failure is based on the choices they make.

Who should read False Economy?

  • Anyone interested in economics
  • Readers who want to learn about the politics of money
  • People interested in international business

8
Slouching Towards Utopia

Slouching Towards Utopia

J. Bradford DeLong
An Economic History of the Twentieth Century
3.9 (31 ratings)

What's Slouching Towards Utopia about?

Slouching Towards Utopia (2022) examines the “long century” between 1870 and 2010, during which technological progress, globalization, and the advent of social democracy opened a new horizon of human progress. Barring the horror years of World Wars I and II, humanity seemed to be on a slow, uneven crawl toward utopia. But in 2010, the tables turned. Economic progress in the Global North ground to a halt. 

Who should read Slouching Towards Utopia?

  • History buffs
  • John Maynard Keynes fans
  • Anyone wondering how the world became so unequal

9
Economic Facts and Fallacies

Economic Facts and Fallacies

Thomas Sowell
Uncovering popular fallacies in economics
3.4 (612 ratings)

What's Economic Facts and Fallacies about?

Economic Facts and Fallacies (2008) takes some common assumptions about economics and politics and reveals them as fallacies. It’s only by facing uncomfortable truths, the book argues, that we can begin to solve the problems in front of us.

Who should read Economic Facts and Fallacies?

  • Those interested in politics and economics
  • Anyone looking for a contrary perspective
  • Libertarians and conservatives

10
Economics: The User’s Guide

Economics: The User’s Guide

Ha-Joon Chang
Everything you need to know about economics.
4.3 (138 ratings)

What's Economics: The User’s Guide about?

Economics: The User’s Guide lays out the foundational concepts of economics in an easily relatable and compelling way. Examining the history of economics as well as some critical changes to global economic institutions, this book will teach you everything you need to know about how economics works today.

Who should read Economics: The User’s Guide?

  • Anyone interested in the history of economics
  • Anyone interested in the intersection of politics and economics
  • Anyone who dozed through Economics 101 in college

11
The Accidental Superpower

The Accidental Superpower

Peter Zeihan
The Next Generation of American Preeminence and the Coming Global Disorder
3.8 (131 ratings)

What's The Accidental Superpower about?

Today, the United States has a stronghold as the global superpower, but the world is changing at a historically unprecedented rate. These blinks to The Accidental Superpower (2014) outline the reasons the United States came to politically and economically dominate the planet, and what we can expect in the coming decades, both in the United States and the world at large.

Who should read The Accidental Superpower?

  • Students of politics and economics
  • Anyone interested in ancient history
  • Anyone curious about the future

12
The Undercover Economist

The Undercover Economist

Tim Harford
The economics behind everyday decisions
3.9 (120 ratings)

What's The Undercover Economist about?

The Undercover Economist explains how economics defines our lives. From the price of a cappuccino to the amount of smog in the air, everything is tied to economics. The book shows us how economists understand the world and how we can benefit from a better understanding of economic systems.

Who should read The Undercover Economist?

  • Students of economics
  • Anyone who wants to reduce their daily shopping bills
  • Anyone interested in how economics affects our everyday lives

13
Doughnut Economics

Doughnut Economics

Kate Raworth
Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st-Century Economist
4.1 (147 ratings)

What's Doughnut Economics about?

Doughnut Economics (2017) is a call to arms for a fresh approach to economics. As inequality soars and environmental crisis looms, the book’s central question has never seemed more relevant. How can we build a just economic system that allows us to thrive while preserving the planet? A good place to start, Kate Raworth suggests, is to do away with the old myths that have shaped economic thinking for so long. Zeroing in on the doughnut-shaped “sweet spot” in which our needs can be sustainably met, this is a thought-provoking read which might just help save the world.

Who should read Doughnut Economics?

  • Anyone losing sleep over the Earth’s future as climate change kicks in
  • Economic innovators in search of new models for a new century
  • Fans of fresh thinking on big topics

14
The Silk Roads

The Silk Roads

Peter Frankopan
A New History of the World
4.6 (176 ratings)

What's The Silk Roads about?

The Silk Roads (2015) is a comprehensive history of the world, written with an eye to the networks of trade that shaped it. The networks of trade first established in ancient Persia and later linked with Chinese trade routes created a great network between the East and the West. But these Silk Roads are not relics of the past. They have morphed and changed, and their impact can be felt today, right down to America’s fateful engagement in the region where it all began.

Who should read The Silk Roads?

  • Economists looking for historical parallels
  • Intrigued followers of world events who want to learn about trade
  • Historians of all stripes

15
The New Silk Roads

The New Silk Roads

Peter Frankopan
The Present and Future of the World
4.0 (136 ratings)

What's The New Silk Roads about?

The New Silk Roads (2018) explores current affairs and political trends from an Eastern perspective. Using up-to-date examples and staggering statistics, the blinks explain the complicated global relationships and alliances at play in international relations today.

Who should read The New Silk Roads?

  • Current affairs enthusiasts looking for fresh insights
  • History buffs wanting a new perspective
  • Business leaders wanting to prepare for the world of tomorrow

16
Small is Beautiful

Small is Beautiful

E. F. Schumacher
A Study of Economics as if People Mattered
4.0 (52 ratings)

What's Small is Beautiful about?

Small is Beautiful (1973) is a collection of essays by renowned British economist E. F. Schumacher outlining his critique of the Western economic system. First published in 1973, this classic collection, which is now considered to be one of the most influential books published since World War II, is as relevant today as it was in the ‘70s.

Who should read Small is Beautiful?

  • People interested in politics and economics
  • Mindful citizens who want to understand how our economic system affects the earth

17
The Only Game In Town

The Only Game In Town

Mohamed A. El-Erian
Central Banks, Instability, And Avoiding The Next Collapse
4.2 (57 ratings)

What's The Only Game In Town about?

The 2008 financial crisis dramatically changed the global economic landscape. Central banks now play a very different role than they did previously, and we now face a set of new economic risks and problems. The Only Game in Town (2016) outlines the roots of these risks and problems, and what we can do to start overcoming them.

Who should read The Only Game In Town?

  • Economists, analysts and bankers
  • Anyone curious about the future of global politics

18
Bullshit Jobs

Bullshit Jobs

David Graeber
A Theory
4.3 (173 ratings)

What's Bullshit Jobs about?

Bullshit Jobs (2018) takes an unwavering look at a dismal fact: millions of people – from corporate lawyers to university administrative assistants – are stuck in jobs that they know, deep down, are pointless and unnecessary. Despite technological advances that could allow us to work less and enjoy life more, our cultural values mean we’ve come to prioritize work, even if it’s bullshit. 

Who should read Bullshit Jobs?

  • Anyone who thinks their job is bullshit
  • People with an interest in modern-day employment
  • People seeking inspiration for a new work-life balance

19
Us vs. Them

Us vs. Them

Ian Bremmer
The Failure of Globalism
4.4 (58 ratings)

What's Us vs. Them about?

Us vs. Them (2018) explores how globalism has created both winners and losers and explains how the losers are now looking to set things right. In countries from the United States to China, from Venezuela to Turkey, unhappy citizens are making new demands of their governments, and populist politicians are promising easy answers. Us vs. Them offers a lucid take on the forces disrupting societies around the world and suggests potential solutions for the future.

Who should read Us vs. Them?

  • Anyone interested in understanding populist forces and their origins
  • People concerned about the impact of robots on the workforce and society
  • Readers interested in foreign affairs and political science

20
India After Gandhi

India After Gandhi

Ramachandra Guha
The History of the World’s Largest Democracy
4.5 (114 ratings)

What's India After Gandhi about?

India after Gandhi (2007) chronicles the story of post-independence India. For centuries, the country was ruled by colonial overlords, but that changed in 1947. After a long struggle for independence, Indians gained self-rule. Since then, the journey hasn’t been easy, but India remains a persevering and determined democracy – and the largest the world has ever seen.

Who should read India After Gandhi?

  • Students of history interested in the region of south Asia
  • Indians looking to learn more about their contemporary history
  • Political junkies looking to clue into a new region

21
The Promise of Bitcoin

The Promise of Bitcoin

Bobby C. Lee
The Future of Money and How It Can Work for You
4.2 (324 ratings)

What's The Promise of Bitcoin about?

The Promise of Bitcoin (2021) is an introduction to the financial revolution that began in 2009 – the year an anonymous coder who called himself Satoshi Nakamoto launched Bitcoin. Rooted in the conviction that old monetary systems have failed us, this digital currency promises a more trustworthy, decentralized, and democratic alternative. How does it work? Few people can explain that better than Bobby Lee, a Bitcoin pioneer who’s been on the barricades since the revolution’s earliest days. 

Who should read The Promise of Bitcoin?

  • Investors looking for new opportunities
  • Critics of the banking system 
  • Technophobes wondering what all the Bitcoin fuss is about

22
PostCapitalism

PostCapitalism

Paul Mason
A Guide to Our Future
4.0 (100 ratings)

What's PostCapitalism about?

Postcapitalism (2015) offers a close examination of the failures of current economic systems. The 2008 financial crisis showed us that neoliberal capitalism is falling apart, and these blinks outline the reasons why we’re at the start of capitalism’s downfall, while giving an idea of what our transition into postcapitalism will be like.

Who should read PostCapitalism?

  • Capitalists and anti-capitalists
  • Students of sociology or politics
  • Anyone interested in what the future holds for modern-day societies

23
23 Things They Don’t Tell You About Capitalism

23 Things They Don’t Tell You About Capitalism

Ha-Joon Chang
Why capitalism is not what you think it is.
4.0 (140 ratings)

What's 23 Things They Don’t Tell You About Capitalism about?

In 23 Things They Don’t Tell You About Capitalism Ha-Joon Chang destroys the biggest myths of our current economic approach. He explains how, despite what most economists believe, there are many things wrong with free market capitalism. As well as explaining the problems, Chang also offers possible solutions which could help us build a better, fairer world.

Who should read 23 Things They Don’t Tell You About Capitalism?

  • Students of economics who are fed up with mainstream teaching
  • Anyone who takes an interest in the financial crisis and why nobody saw it coming
  • Anyone wondering why levels of inequality are so high

24
The Evolution of Money

The Evolution of Money

David Orrell and Roman Chlupatý
From ancient Greece to the digital era
4.1 (70 ratings)

What's The Evolution of Money about?

The Evolution of Money (2016) offers an insightful look at the history of currency in civilized society, from shells and coins to the digital ones and zeroes of an online bank account. Find out how monetary systems have always functioned much like religion – without faith and belief, they’d collapse – and learn what the future may have in store.

Who should read The Evolution of Money?

  • Students of politics and economics
  • Businesspeople
  • Anyone curious about the financial crisis of 2007

25
China's Second Continent

China's Second Continent

Howard French
How a Million Migrants are Building a New Empire in Africa
3.9 (85 ratings)

What's China's Second Continent about?

China's Second Continent (2014) is about the mass wave of Chinese migrants who have relocated to Africa in the last few decades. These blinks trace the origins of this migration and outline the profound impact it has on both regions, Chinese-African relations and the world at large.

Who should read China's Second Continent?

  • Students of Chinese or African politics
  • Anyone interested in international relations
  • Anyone curious about the long-term influence of mass migration

26
Dealing with China

Dealing with China

Henry M. Paulson
An Insider Unmasks the New Economic Superpower
4.1 (43 ratings)

What's Dealing with China about?

Dealing With China reveals China’s journey to becoming the economic superpower it is today. These blinks explain the advantages and disadvantages of this rapid growth, and offer insights into how the US and China should work together to face today’s global challenges.

Who should read Dealing with China?

  • Anyone interested in the rise of China on the international stage
  • Politics buffs keen to learn more about US foreign policy

27
The Anarchy

The Anarchy

William Dalrymple
The East India Company, Corporate Violence, and the Pillage of an Empire
4.5 (119 ratings)

What's The Anarchy about?

The Anarchy (2019) details how the East India Company, an English joint-stock corporation, came to rule the British economy – and the fates of 200 million South Asians. From its founding in 1599 by privateers and pirates to its time as master of the largest standing army in South Asia, the Company fanned the flames of anarchy, then used the resulting chaos as an opportunity to loot an empire.  

Who should read The Anarchy?

  • History hounds so appalled by colonialism that they can’t look away
  • Those interested in how corporations came to rule our lives
  • Travel junkies looking to contextualize their time in India

28
The Raging 2020s

The Raging 2020s

Alec Ross
Companies, Countries, People – and the Fight for Our Future
3.9 (88 ratings)

What's The Raging 2020s about?

The Raging 2020s (2021) is an autopsy of the American social contract, which once kept companies, governments, and individuals in stable harmony but has since broken down. In particular, it describes how the power of corporations has expanded in recent years while federal might has waned –⁠ and how the result is that companies have more control over people’s lives than ever before. We must work to restore the balance and write a new social contract for the modern age.

Who should read The Raging 2020s?

  • Citizens concerned about the increasing power of corporations
  • Current or aspiring politicians and activists
  • Anyone who sees the value in capitalism but thinks it can be improved

29
The Origin of Wealth

The Origin of Wealth

Eric D. Beinhocker
The Radical Remaking of Economics and What It Means for Business And Society
4.0 (55 ratings)

What's The Origin of Wealth about?

The Origin of Wealth shows us the inadequacies of the economic theories that underpin our understanding of economics. The book argues that economic actors shouldn’t be seen as rational consumers that act on their self-interest. Rather, economics is best understood as a complex system of adaptation, similar to evolution, where products, ideas, and ideology compete for survival.

Who should read The Origin of Wealth?

  • Students and scholars of economic science
  • Anyone interested in economics, social sciences or business   
  • Business leaders, economists and politicians

30
The End of Poverty

The End of Poverty

Jeffrey Sachs
Economic Possibilities for Our Time
4.3 (59 ratings)

What's The End of Poverty about?

The End of Poverty (2005) is a guide to ending extreme poverty once and for all. These blinks explain how little investment is actually required to transform the lives of millions. That is, as long as it’s spent wisely.

Who should read The End of Poverty?

  • Anybody who wants to end global poverty
  • Everyone with an interest in politics or international relations
  • Every charitable person

31
Earth for All

Earth for All

Sandrine Dixson-Decleve
A Survival Guide for Humanity
4.4 (29 ratings)

What's Earth for All about?

Earth for All (2022) is more than a book – it’s a survival guide. After centuries of industrialization, population growth, and rising inequality, our planet is now at a tipping point. We are already learning to live with pandemics, war, wildfires, and more. This guide offers timely, practical solutions for the urgent problems facing humankind.

Who should read Earth for All?

  • People concerned about climate change
  • Activists seeking a better future
  • Residents of planet Earth – in other words, all of us!

32
Shutdown

Shutdown

Adam Tooze
How Covid Shook the World's Economy
3.3 (91 ratings)

What's Shutdown about?

Shutdown (2021) explores the unprecedented shock COVID-19 dealt the world economy. The story begins with the revelation of the disease in January 2020 by Chinese President Xi Jinping and ends precisely a year later with the inauguration of US President Joe Biden, and through this history, Shutdown shows how markets and governments reeled from the blow, how they regained their footing, and what we might learn for the next worldwide crisis. 

Who should read Shutdown?

  • News junkies and history buffs alike
  • Those who know that economic policy matters
  • Anyone seeking perspective on our tumultuous times

33
Edge of Chaos

Edge of Chaos

Dambisa Moyo
Why Democracy is Failing to Deliver Economic Growth – and How to Fix It
3.8 (54 ratings)

What's Edge of Chaos about?

Edge of Chaos (2018) examines the key challenges that liberal democracies around the world are facing today. Aging populations, limited resources and increasing debt are all threats to these countries’ economic well-being – but so too are the “remedies” of short-term policies and protectionism. Author Dambisa Moyo examines that misguided agenda and presents a radical blueprint for economic growth in the twenty-first century.

Who should read Edge of Chaos?

  • Citizens concerned about Brexit and Donald Trump
  • Policymakers interested in rebuilding their political systems
  • Curious readers hoping to get a grip on global economic systems

34
The Value of Everything

The Value of Everything

Mariana Mazzucato
Making and Taking in the Global Economy
4.4 (123 ratings)

What's The Value of Everything about?

The Value of Everything (2018) presents an argument for redefining value in the economy so that we can better understand who really creates value, and who extracts it.

Who should read The Value of Everything?

  • Economists eager for new ideas
  • Fans of politics in search of change
  • Lovers of radical ideas and ambitious visions

35
On Saudi Arabia

On Saudi Arabia

Karen Elliott House
Its People, Past, Religion, Fault Lines – and Future
3.9 (54 ratings)

What's On Saudi Arabia about?

On Saudi Arabia (2012) gives a fascinating overview of a country rife with contradictions. Despite being immensely wealthy, Saudi Arabia is filled with people who live in abject poverty. And although on its way to being counted among the world’s most powerful countries, it has an education system that’s received execrable rankings. Add to this a liberal dose of religious fanaticism and a complex royal family and you’ll begin to see why Saudi Arabia has struggled to come to terms with itself.

Who should read On Saudi Arabia?

  • Readers wanting to know more about life in Saudi Arabia
  • Economists interested in a rich yet struggling nation
  • Travelers considering a visit to Saudi Arabia

36
Treasure Islands

Treasure Islands

Nicholas Shaxson
Tax Havens and the Men Who Stole the World
4.5 (28 ratings)

What's Treasure Islands about?

Treasure Islands offers insight into one of the darkest parts of the financial world: tax havens. It explains how wealthy people and corporations are able to avoid paying taxes by relocating their assets offshore. Tax havens are highly damaging to all but the tiny percentage of people who can afford to use them, and they contribute to the growing gap between rich and poor.

Who should read Treasure Islands?

  • Anyone interested in tax havens
  • Anyone interested in economics
  • Anyone interested in global power dynamics

37
Economics for the Common Good

Economics for the Common Good

Jean Tirole
Delve into economics with a Nobel Prize winner
4.0 (51 ratings)

What's Economics for the Common Good about?

Jean Tirole’s Economics for the Common Good (2017) is a wide-ranging look at the contemporary economy, packed with plenty of insights into the theory and practice of modern-day economics. Deconstructing the supposed opposition of state and market, Tirole explores their many interconnections in fields ranging from climate change to property rights and the new digital economy.

Who should read Economics for the Common Good?

  • Anyone interested in the how, what and why of economics
  • Proponents of free markets and advocates of state regulation
  • Anyone who’s ever wondered why climate change is so hard to tackle

38
How Asia Works

How Asia Works

Joe Studwell
Success and Failure in the World’s Most Dynamic Region
4.0 (49 ratings)

What's How Asia Works about?

How Asia Works examines the economic development of nine Asian countries and, in the process, sketches a blueprint for other developing nations seeking to achieve sustainable economic growth. Joe Studwell explains why some Asian economies have boomed while others have fallen behind, revealing what history has proved works – and what doesn’t.

Who should read How Asia Works?

  • Anyone interested in developing economies and international economics
  • Asian history enthusiasts

39
Adults in The Room

Adults in The Room

Yanis Varoufakis
My Battle With Europe’s Deep Establishment
4.1 (61 ratings)

What's Adults in The Room about?

Adults in the Room (2017) is a fascinating behind-the-scenes account of what it’s like to deal with the European Union establishment, as experienced by the former Minister of Finance of Greece. This scathing exposé shows that, when it comes to global politics, the best interests of weaker nations aren’t always of the utmost importance to those in charge.

Who should read Adults in The Room?

  • European citizens
  • Anyone interested in European politics
  • Students of economics and world affairs

40
Every Nation For Itself

Every Nation For Itself

Ian Bremmer
Winners and Losers in a G-Zero World
4.3 (36 ratings)

What's Every Nation For Itself about?

Every Nation For Itself (2012) discusses the consequences of the lack of international leadership we face today. With no nation economically fit enough, or even willing, to head the response to global challenges, we live in what could be called a G-Zero world; these blinks reveal how we got here, and what comes next.

Who should read Every Nation For Itself?

  • Anyone with an interest in world politics and ongoing global crises
  • People curious about the economic and political forces that shape important political decisions
  • Anyone interested in understanding how global problems are interrelated

41
Empire of Cotton

Empire of Cotton

Sven Beckert
A Global History
4.5 (39 ratings)

What's Empire of Cotton about?

Empire of Cotton (2014) chronicles the long and complex history of that fluffy plant – cotton. These blinks detail how the cotton industry connected the world from Manchester, England, to rural India, while describing the incredible impact that cotton production has had on the development of economic systems.

Who should read Empire of Cotton?

  • Historians, economists and political scientists
  • People interested in the history of capitalism and globalization
  • Anyone curious about the history of their jeans and T-shirts

42
America’s Bank

America’s Bank

Roger Lowenstein
The Epic Struggle to Create the Federal Reserve Act
4.3 (28 ratings)

What's America’s Bank about?

In America’s Bank (2015), you’ll discover the gripping story of the US Federal Reserve, or “Fed.” These blinks trace the history behind the development and unification of the American banking system and show the complex web of interests and players that continue to shape the system today.

Who should read America’s Bank?

  • Students interested in economics or politics
  • People interested in American history

43
Brazillionaires

Brazillionaires

Alex Cuadros
Wealth, Power, Decadence, and Hope in an American Country
3.9 (25 ratings)

What's Brazillionaires about?

Brazillionaires (2016) exposes the true story behind Brazil’s tumultuous economy. By tracing the rise and fall of billionaires like Eike Batista, these blinks take you through the country’s history of inequality and corruption, and explain how the nation’s politics and business have become inseparable.

Who should read Brazillionaires?

  • Readers interested in South American affairs
  • Economists
  • Students of political science

44
The Hidden Wealth of Nations

The Hidden Wealth of Nations

Gabriel Zucman
The Scourge of Tax Havens
3.8 (26 ratings)

What's The Hidden Wealth of Nations about?

The Hidden Wealth of Nations (2015) reveals the truth about the decades of deceitful business practices that have added to today’s economic turmoil. Trillions of dollars worldwide go untaxed, and nations put the burden on innocent citizens, which only increases economic tensions. So what can be done to stop tax evasion and get corporations to start paying their dues?

Who should read The Hidden Wealth of Nations?

  • People curious about the Panama Papers leak
  • Students and professionals interested in global finance and economics
  • Anyone interested in the politics of money

45
Two Nations Indivisible

Two Nations Indivisible

Shannon K. O’Neil
Mexico, the United States and the Road Ahead
4.0 (17 ratings)

What's Two Nations Indivisible about?

Two Nations Indivisible (2013) tells the story of the United States’ relationship with its neighbor to the south: Mexico. These blinks explain the profound connections between the two countries as well as the misunderstandings that keep them apart, with an emphasis on political and economic relations.

Who should read Two Nations Indivisible?

  • Policy makers who want to understand more about the US-Mexico relationship
  • Educators and students interested in world politics
  • Americans and Mexicans hoping to understand each other better

46
The Haves and the Have-Nots

The Haves and the Have-Nots

Branko Milanović
A Brief and Idiosyncratic History of Global Inequality
4.2 (16 ratings)

What's The Haves and the Have-Nots about?

The Haves and the Have-Nots (2010) shows how inequality throughout history has made its mark on society at large. These blinks explore three types of inequality: inequality among individuals in a single country; inequality among countries; and global inequality, or inequality among all the world’s citizens.

Who should read The Haves and the Have-Nots?

  • Students interested in politics and global justice
  • People curious about global economics

47
The Box

The Box

Marc Levinson
How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger
4.4 (36 ratings)

What's The Box about?

The Box (2006) tells the tale of modern transportation’s poster child, the container, and how it revolutionized the shipping industry and enabled globalization. These blinks will take you on a detailed journey through this seemingly simple but revolutionary change in global systems of trade.

Who should read The Box?

  • Professionals in logistics, transportation or trading
  • People interested in globalization
  • Every economics and business student

48
Who Gets What – and Why

Who Gets What – and Why

Alvin Roth
The New Economics of Matchmaking and Market Design
3.8 (22 ratings)

What's Who Gets What – and Why about?

In Who Gets What – and Why (2015), Nobel Prize winner Alvin Roth brings his groundbreaking research on market design to a broader, nonspecialist audience, explaining how markets work, why they sometimes fail and what we can do to improve them. Using contemporary examples, Roth outlines the nonfinancial factors that shape markets and shows how we can make more informed marketplace decisions.

Who should read Who Gets What – and Why?

  • Anyone interested in how different economies function
  • Business, government and community leaders responsible for designing efficient markets
  • Anyone who wants to make better decisions in life, love and work

49
Poor Economics

Poor Economics

Abhijit V. Banerjee and Esther Duflo
A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty
4.2 (73 ratings)

What's Poor Economics about?

Poor Economics (2012) is investigating some of the biggest challenges poor people face. This book provides the reader with an understanding of why there still is so much poverty in the world, and why many of the measures usually implemented do not help. Based on these insights, the authors offer a number of concrete suggestions to demonstrate how global poverty might be overcome.

Who should read Poor Economics?

  • Anyone who wants to know why global poverty is so persistent and how we can reduce it
  • Anyone interested in development economics
  • Anyone interested in development politics

50
Open

Open

Johan Norberg
The Story of Human Progress
4.5 (65 ratings)

What's Open about?

Open (2020) traces the progress of ancient and modern human accomplishments, and reveals that behind all of our major advancements is a policy of openness, tolerance, and free trade. You’ll see how, from the Phoenicians to the Dutch East India Trading Company, the free flow of commerce and ideas has led to wealth, innovation, and problem-solving that would have never been possible otherwise.

Who should read Open?

  • History buffs
  • Those interested in the Brexit debate
  • People keen to know the secrets of innovation and progress

51
Immigrants

Immigrants

Philippe Legrain
Your Country Needs Them
3.9 (31 ratings)

What's Immigrants about?

Immigrants offers a compelling case for a total revamp of the way most people view immigration and immigrants. It provides a detailed description of the case against immigration, while providing solid evidence for the great benefits, both social and economic, that migration provides.

Who should read Immigrants?

  • Anyone concerned by migration
  • Anyone unimpressed by the notion of a more open world
  • Anyone trying to understand why anyone would want to leave their home country

52
Start-Up Nation

Start-Up Nation

Dan Senor and Saul Singer
The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle
4.1 (24 ratings)

What's Start-Up Nation about?

For a small country, Israel punches far above its weight as a global hub of innovation and tech entrepreneurship. Start-Up Nation explores the country’s history, geopolitics and culture to try and understand where this creative energy comes from, and offers stories of companies that exemplify the distinctive ways in which this drive is channelled.

Who should read Start-Up Nation?

  • Anyone interested in Israel
  • Anyone who wants to know what makes Israel’s start-up scene tick
  • Anyone interested in the way social structures can shape an economy

53
Restart

Restart

Mihir Sharma
The Last Chance for the Indian Economy

What's Restart about?

A few decades ago, India seemed poised to become a major player in the global economy. Today, a number of serious problems hold the country back. Restart (2015) explains what caused India’s decline and offers insights about what could be done to fix it.

Who should read Restart?

  • Students of economics, political science and sociology
  • Anyone interested in India

54
Prosperity without Growth

Prosperity without Growth

Tim Jackson
Economics for a Finite Planet
4.5 (31 ratings)

What's Prosperity without Growth about?

Prosperity Without Growth argues that our present model of economic growth is not sustainable: it strains the resources of our planet to a breaking point, and causes climate change, environmental damage and psychological harm. Jackson presents a vision for a sustainable, ecological economic model that focuses on public welfare rather than growth, and explores the ways in which this transition might be realized.

Who should read Prosperity without Growth?

  • Economists, ecologists, sociologists and students of development studies
  • Policymakers and think-tankers interested in moving towards a sustainable economy
  • Anyone interested in alternatives to the prevailing logic of limitless economic growth

55
The Spirit Level

The Spirit Level

Richard Wilkinson & Kate Pickett
Why Equality is Better for Everyone
4.2 (17 ratings)

What's The Spirit Level about?

This book provides a detailed explanation of how inequality is responsible for many of our present-day problems, including violence and mental illness. It provides detailed explanations and studies to support this and shows how inequality not only hurts the poor but everybody in a society.

Who should read The Spirit Level?

  • Anyone interested in sociology, politics or ethics
  • Anyone interested in the topics of equality and the distribution of wealth
  • Anyone who wants to learn about a new approach to solving worldwide problems

56
From the Ruins of Empire

From the Ruins of Empire

Pankaj Mishra
The Revolt Against the West and the Remaking of Asia
3.8 (29 ratings)

What's From the Ruins of Empire about?

In From the Ruins of Empire, author Pankaj Mishra examines the past 200 years from the perspective of Eastern cultures and how they responded to Western dominance. The book charts in detail the colonial histories of Persia, India, China and Japan in the nineteenth century to the rise of nation-states in the twentieth century. Select stories of cultural figures help to humanize the often violent clashes of cultures, showing the powerful influence of individuals in the course of history.

Who should read From the Ruins of Empire?

  • Anyone interested in the relations between Eastern and Western countries
  • Anyone interested in the history of global economic development
  • Anyone interested in the influence of artists and thinkers in history

57
Crisis in the Eurozone

Crisis in the Eurozone

Costas Lapavitsas and others
Understand the root of the eurozone crisis.
3.9 (15 ratings)

What's Crisis in the Eurozone about?

These blinks explain the root of the eurozone crisis in a comprehensive, methodical way. They shed light on the deep structural problems the eurozone is facing and outline scenarios that could help restore competitiveness among the southern peripheral states of the region.

Who should read Crisis in the Eurozone?

  • Anyone who wants to better understand the eurozone crisis
  • Anyone interested in macroeconomics
  • Anyone interested in fiscal policy

58
Fault Lines

Fault Lines

Raghuram G. Rajan
How Hidden Fractures Still Threaten The World Economy
4.5 (26 ratings)

What's Fault Lines about?

In Fault Lines, author Raghuram Rajan unveils the global economy’s hidden fractures that led to the 2008 financial crisis. These blinks show that greedy bankers weren’t the only ones to blame; our economic system had deep systemic flaws as well. Importantly, they outline what we can do as a society to prevent similar crises in the future.

Who should read Fault Lines?

  • Anyone who wants to understand the financial crisis of 2008
  • Anyone curious how future economic crises could be prevented
  • Anyone interested in global economics or international trade

59
The Great Degeneration

The Great Degeneration

Niall Ferguson
How Institutions Decay and Economies Die
3.8 (46 ratings)

What's The Great Degeneration about?

The Western world seems to be in crisis. It is faced with huge levels of public and private debt, and the economies of the rest of the world are fast catching up. After 500 years of total global dominance, the era of Western powers could be coming to an end.

The Great Degeneration (2014) aims to tackle why this is the case. It suggests that a decline in Western institutions is partly to blame. Only by arresting this decline through radical reform can the West recover.

Who should read The Great Degeneration?

  • Students of political and economic history
  • Anyone who wants to know why Western nations are in so much debt
  • Anyone who is interested in the future of democracy

60
Were You Born on the Wrong Continent?

Were You Born on the Wrong Continent?

Thomas Geoghegan
How the European Model Can Help You Get a Life

What's Were You Born on the Wrong Continent? about?

Were You Born on the Wrong Continent? (2010) examines the true nature of the American economy as revealed by an eye-opening investigation that compared living standards in the United States with countries in Europe. By examining differences in health benefits and employee rights, among other issues, these blinks reveal how European nations such as Germany have quietly taken the lead when it comes to economic health and prosperity.

Who should read Were You Born on the Wrong Continent??

  • Middle-class Americans wondering why they work such long hours
  • People thinking about moving to Europe
  • Readers keen to learn the inner workings of social democracy

61
The Third Pillar

The Third Pillar

Raghuram Rajan
The Revival of Community in a Polarized World
4.4 (35 ratings)

What's The Third Pillar about?

The Third Pillar (2019) traces the evolving relationship between the three “pillars” of human life – the state, markets and communities – from the medieval period to our own age. Economist Raghuram Rajan argues that, throughout history, societies have struggled to find a sustainable balance between these pillars. Today is no different: caught between uncontrolled markets and a discredited state, communities everywhere are in decline. That, Rajan concludes, is jet fuel for populist movements. But a more balanced kind of social order is possible.

Who should read The Third Pillar?

  • Anyone apprehensive about the rise of intolerant political movements
  • Historians and economists
  • Community organizers and neighborhood activists

62
Rare

Rare

Keith Veronese
The High-Stakes Race to Satisfy Our Need for the Scarcest Metals on Earth
4.2 (14 ratings)

What's Rare about?

Rare (2015) sheds light on the common but elusive chemical elements beneath the earth’s surface – elements that play an increasingly important role in the development of modern technology. Get a better sense of what’s really driving the geopolitical struggles between the world’s superpowers, and what a group of rare earth metals has to do with the future of our energy sources, gadgets and military technology.

Who should read Rare?

  • Economists interested in the division of the world’s valuable mineral resources
  • Tech junkies curious about what their devices are made of
  • Concerned consumers who want to know more about what they buy

63
Logistics Clusters

Logistics Clusters

Yossi Sheffi
Delivering Value and Driving Growth
4.1 (10 ratings)

What's Logistics Clusters about?

Logistics Clusters (2012) is the textbook for logistics operations in the modern world. You’ll learn how logistics clusters develop – such as Europe’s largest logistics park in Zaragoza, Spain – and which geographic and governmental factors influence their development. Importantly, you’ll discover exactly how logistic clusters affect both the local and global economy.

Who should read Logistics Clusters?

  • People involved in supply chain management and logistics
  • Entrepreneurs, business owners and politicians concerned with local business
  • Consumers curious about how a product gets from A to B globally

64
The Bottom Billion

The Bottom Billion

Paul Collier
Why the Poorest Countries Are Failing and What Can Be Done About It
4.2 (32 ratings)

What's The Bottom Billion about?

The Bottom Billion (2007) focuses on the specific problems of the 50 poorest states in the world and the traps that keep them impoverished. These states are drastically behind even developing nations and are in serious need of help from wealthier nations if they are to ever achieve economic self-determination. Drawing on his original research, Collier points out the pitfalls of the conventional methods for dealing with this extreme poverty and offers unique policy recommendations that cater to the unique struggles faced by the world’s poorest nations.

Who should read The Bottom Billion?

  • Anyone interested in economics
  • Anyone interested in history
  • Anyone interested in social justice

65
Partners and Rivals

Partners and Rivals

Wendy Dobson
The Uneasy Future of China’s Relationship with the United States
3.9 (16 ratings)

What's Partners and Rivals about?

In Partners and Rivals, Dobson lays bare the relationship between the two biggest powers in global politics: the United States and China. She describes the consequences of China’s meteoric rise to power, and the inevitable tensions it has created. But she also offers advice that both the United States and China would do well to follow – for the good of the whole world.

Who should read Partners and Rivals?

  • Anybody interested in world politics and international relations
  • Anybody wishing to understand the state of economic affairs in China
  • All US and Chinese citizens.

66
The Blue Sweater

The Blue Sweater

Jacqueline Novogratz
Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World
4.6 (12 ratings)

What's The Blue Sweater about?

The Blue Sweater is an autobiographical look at the author’s travels in Africa and how they helped her understand the failures of traditional charity. These blinks also outline why a new type of philanthropic investing, called “patient capital,” developed by the author, may be part of the answer.

Who should read The Blue Sweater?

  • Anyone interested in social entrepreneurship   
  • Anyone who wants to work in developing countries and is wondering what to expect
  • Anyone interested in helping developing countries rise out of poverty

67
Getting Better

Getting Better

Charles Kenny
Why Global Development Is Succeeding and How We Can Improve the World Even More

What's Getting Better about?

As pessimists talk of an economic development crisis, author Charles Kenny is optimistic in his assessment that in fact, all over the world, we’ve made enormous progress in overall quality of life. Getting Better shows that the spread of technology and ideas has fostered a revolution of happiness and standard of living unprecedented in human history. Kenny provides evidence to make us enthusiastic about the progress we’ve attained so far, and offers suggestions on what is to be done if we want to keep this progress alive.

Who should read Getting Better?

  • Anyone interested in international politics and development aid
  • Anyone looking for a fresh and optimistic outlook on the world
  • Anyone interested in economics and global development

68
Factory Man

Factory Man

Beth Macy
How One Furniture Maker Battled Offshoring, Stayed Local and Helped Save an American Town

What's Factory Man about?

Factory Man unveils the dark side of globalization; that is, the horrific impact it has had on American business and the lives of factory workers. In its detailed examination of twentieth-century furniture manufacturing, it reveals how to fight against the death of the local economy and, more importantly, why this fight is worth it.

Who should read Factory Man?

  • Anyone whose industry has been impacted by globalization
  • People in the furniture business
  • Anyone interested in geopolitics and offshoring

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