10 Most Famous Economics Books

10 Most Famous Economics Books Read Some of The Best Books On Economics ChaptersRead Up On The Most Popular Economics BooksThe Best Economics Books by Economic IconsOther Top Economics BooksChoose The Best Economics Books For YouIt’s no secret that there have been many great economic thinkers across the ages. As a result, there have been a number of economics books released over the centuries. This is definitely not a bad thing, as it means that there are so many resources you can use to improve your understanding of economics, regardless of whether you are new to the field or an economics undergraduate at university.Although there are many viable options for learning more about economic principles, such as:blog posts;podcasts; andonline news articlesthere is also a case to be made for reading a wide selection of books by top economists. Although blog posts, for example, can be very informative, and also fun to read, sometimes reading a longer economics work can really help you understand core economic principles and theories.Available either in e-book format or in paper or hardback, the below books are some of the best and most instructive books on economics that are sure to help you in your studies.Stage two highlights how individuals do not often act in the way that economists and economic principles have generally assumed. Instead, Kahneman argues that individuals operate more in line with his prospect theory; andStage three shifts its attention to Kahneman’s work on happiness.Thinking, Fast and Slow is a wonderfully entertaining read, although it also challenges some of the core tenants of economic ideas, particularly the concept of rational man.Human ActionHuman Action: A Treatise on Economics, by Austrian economist Ludwig von Mises, argues in favour of free markets through the study of praxeology, the study of purposeful decision making by humans.Writing in 1949, Mises argues that much of the technological progress and growth in wealth over the past two hundred years has been due to free-market economic principles.In lin e with this argument, Mises argues against government regulation or interference with the economy. Although this may not be a work that fans of Keynes will naturally gravitate towards; it is still a powerful read by a highly respected and influential economist.There are so many books on economics to choose from. (Source: CC0 1.0, Homero Nunez Chapa, Public Domain Pictures)Other Top Economics BooksThe Affluent SocietyJohn Kenneth Galbraith, a Harvard economist, looked to post-war America in this 1958 work. Starting the book as he means to go on, Galbraith wrote: “wealth is not without its advantages”  and indeed, his work sets out to discuss just that.Highlighting economic inequality between the relatively wealthy private sector and the poor public sector, Galbraith’s work became a bestseller, even popularising such terms as “conventional wisdom.”If you’re interested in economic developments in the U.S.A. or need to study them as part of an economics course, then The Affl uent Society is a must-read.The Great Transformation: The Political and Economic Origins of Our TimePart economic history, part sociology work, Karl Polanyi’s book looks at the changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution, from both an economic and social perspective.A book that argues strongly against free markets, this is a great, and still relevant, read if you’re interested in learning more about economics in the context of globalisation.Capitalism, Socialism, and DemocracyWritten by Joseph Schumpeter, this work on economics and sociology has stood the test of time, and continues to be relevant decades after its release.As the title of the books suggests, Schumpeter tackles topics as broad as capitalism and socialism, whilst refusing to be drawn into taking a stance that advocates either side. Instead, Schumpeter argues against both, making this work equal parts compelling and intriguing.If you don't want to buy economics works, your library should have plenty of top e conomics books that you can borrow. (Source: CC BY-SA 2.0, Alexandre Duret-Lutz, Flickr)Choose The Best Economics Books For YouThis article covered the following economics titles:TitleAuthorFirst PublishedAn Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of NationsAdam Smith1776Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of EverythingSteven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner2005John Maynard Keynes: 1883-1946Robert Skidelsky2003Capital in the Twenty-First CenturyThomas Piketty2014The General Theory of Employment, Interest and MoneyJohn Maynard Keynes1936Thinking, Fast and SlowDaniel Kahneman2011Human ActionLudwig von Mises1949The Affluent SocietyJohn Kenneth Galbraith1958The Great Transformation: The Political and Economic Origins of Our TimeKarl Polanyi1944Capitalism, Socialism, and DemocracyJoseph Schumpeter1942Overall, the economics works that you choose to read will depend on:Which economists you support the most, whether that’s Keynes or Friedman;Whether any books form part of your fundamental course or university curriculum;What topics the book covers, for example, behavioural economics or macroeconomics; andHow easy the book is to read.Whilst any serious economist would likely invest some time reading the works of all the major economic thinkers, past to present, in order to understand each thinker's economic theory, if you’re studying economics at A-level you may not have that kind of time available to you.If that’s the case, it’s best to select the titles that most appeal to you, which can teach you something different about economics that you did not know or had not previously considered.For example, some books may serve as a great introductory work into an economics field you haven't previously studied. Equally, you may be able to better understand economics as a social science by reading a book such as Freakonomics.What’s more, if you want to learn more about a particular economic figure and their theories, for example, Adam Sm ith and the “invisible hand” then you can also reach out to a Superprof tutor for their help. Superprof has a range of experienced tutors that can help improve your knowledge of key economic figures and economic concepts.Learn about the financial crisis of 2008.Do you know what economic modelling is?