Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science
by Charles Wheelan
|
|
Sign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science.
discuss this book
friend reviews (0)
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
lists with this book
Where's the love? Add this book to your favorite list.
other reviews (showing 1-20 of 577)
Read in July, 2007
recommends it for:
people who want to feel smarter
"Charles Wheelan Tells It Like It Is" would be an equally appropriate title for this fucking awesome overview on all things economic in this world. As someone who's read more than a few of the popular economics books currently glutting the market, and as a economics major in college, I was skeptical that this book could teach me anything I didn't already know or entertain me with wry anecdotes. What surprised me was actually that: the wry anecdotes and useful explanations such as what ...more
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Read in June, 2007
Why did the chicken cross the road? To maximize his utility!
If you like this joke as much as I do, congratulations! You're an uber-nerd, and this is the perfect book for you. If you don't like the joke, stay away from my parties. Either way, this book is a very thorough, very clear explanation of a good foundation of economic principles, written with the non-Economists among us in mind. Why are tariffs bad? In what ways are sweatshops good? Why does everyone care so much about interest rates...more
If you like this joke as much as I do, congratulations! You're an uber-nerd, and this is the perfect book for you. If you don't like the joke, stay away from my parties. Either way, this book is a very thorough, very clear explanation of a good foundation of economic principles, written with the non-Economists among us in mind. Why are tariffs bad? In what ways are sweatshops good? Why does everyone care so much about interest rates...more
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Read in October, 2005
The best way to introduce this book is to address the underlying theme: incentives. The way in which Charles Wheelan approached his examination of incentive and utility are sometimes cynical, usually funny, and always fascinating. He takes the most outlandish examples and analogies, uses them to support his reasoning, and explains them in such a way that they fit perfectly and faultlessly. His ways of going about it engross the reader and make the complex science much more understandable and dow...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2008
Great primer on the often dull world of economics. No charts, calculus, or arcane math, lots of good examples of problems and issues that we all are affected by but don't have much understanding of. Things like the Fed, interest rates, trade balances, taxes, etc are covered and made easy to process. My biggest problem is the lack of discussion of things like outsourcing, debt, and currency issues and how they are actually affecting our economy. I'd like to see a book that is not so theoretic...more
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Read in December, 2006
It's completely accessible without being simplistic. Wheelan just breaks it down. By the end of the book he has gone through a lot of very complicated issues: trade, globalization, poverty, governments, subsidies, personal incentives, student loans, and many more. And it's not boring -- he illustrates points about economics using examples like the economic reasons why Michael Jordan doesn't change his own oil and writes of spitting up his Starbucks in outrage as he learns about the suffering of...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
This is a fantastic description of basic economics. And don't worry! There's not even that many numbers. Economics is basically the science of why we do what we do. And also cause and effect, I suppose. So many times intention turns into action and then action leads to an outcome completely unrelated the the original intent. Why? Ask an economist. or two. They're just as bad as doctors too; you can't pin them down half the time.
But this book is highly educational and entertaining. A...more
But this book is highly educational and entertaining. A...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Reading this was a nice introduction to a lot of concepts in economics I think it would probably be better if more people understood.
For me it was mostly an entertaining trip though more approachable examples of those ideas in action rather than any sort of new insight, but I guess that's what happens if you read this book only after studying econ.
One thing that I liked a lot though, is that when I emailed the author some questions and requests for clarification, he got back to me qu...more
For me it was mostly an entertaining trip though more approachable examples of those ideas in action rather than any sort of new insight, but I guess that's what happens if you read this book only after studying econ.
One thing that I liked a lot though, is that when I emailed the author some questions and requests for clarification, he got back to me qu...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in June, 2007
The best part about reading books by journalists is the readability. In a book on economics, which I neglected to study in college, this is the most important factor. Wheelan breezes through developmental economics, monetary policy and the various aspects of the stock market in about 8 hours of reading. My understanding of economics has been greatly enhanced by this quick read, great in clips of about 60 pages at a time. I've wanted to read a book like this for about 3 years and have truly benef...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
I had to read this book as supplemental material for my Econ 110 class at BYU, and ended up really loving it. It explains the basic concepts of economics without making people's eyes roll back into their heads and even got a laugh out of me more than once. I gave it to my sister - who has been known to read a rather embarrassing amount of Gossip Girl - and she devoured it. True, her interest may have mostly been in being able to argue with her Libertarian boyfriend about the economy, but I th...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in February, 2008
This is a very readable book on basic economics (no charts or graphs!). The chapters address topics such as the power of markets, incentives, the government, the economics of information, productivity, the power of organized interests, the federal reserve, trade, globalization, & developing nations striving to overcome extreme poverty. As someone who took Economics 101 about a dozen years ago, it was an easy way to bring back some of those concepts (especially relevant during an election y...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in November, 2007
Most of my complaints and questions were answered by the end of this book. Primarily, trade is not a magic wand and it cannot easily overcome poor policy or corruption. I do wish Wheelan had spent more time with productivity's relationship to natural resources beyond wealth; more about the dependence of modern economies on fossil fuels beyond gas prices.
Also, for a book that promises nakedness, I don't recall any nudity accept a reference to the Emperor's New Clothes. What the hell?
Also, for a book that promises nakedness, I don't recall any nudity accept a reference to the Emperor's New Clothes. What the hell?
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in September, 2007
Although we may not all seek money, we all must find reward in our endeavors; otherwise, humans will not be motivated to do what others would like us to do. Naked Economics applies economic concepts;, so, instead of formulas, graphs and charts, the author gives real world examples to teach economic concepts. As I write this, I am giving up an opportunity to do something else. This book is particularly logical and makes sense out of a topic that glazes the eyes of many, if not most.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2004
When browsing in a bookstore one day, I picked this up because of the cover art, but I bought it because of the introduction. I can't say the last time I bought a book without checking the reviews on Amazon first, but the intro was so compelling that I gambled on it. It is a fascinating and easy-to-read explanation of complex economic concepts put into context using familiar examples like Alex Rodriguez, car insurance, and ice cream. A great read.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in February, 2008
I was looking for a primer on economics and Nate recommended this one. Clear, concise, and entertaining writing. Like "Freakonomics," in some of the storytelling, but without the large leaps to connect phenomena through economic analysis. Also, much more about the nuts and bolts of economics than "Freakonomics." This book made me excited to learn more about economics. So much so that I am thinking of taking a Microeconomics class this summer.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in March, 2008
While this book really had nothing that is fundamentally new to me, Wheelan has done a phenomenal job of describing various processes of economics. I found that this book can be very valuable in adding to my discussions with my students, as he uses some pretty brilliant and engaging examples.
I found myself particularly interested in his discussions of the Fed, and his particularly eloquent defenses of free trade and globalization.
I found myself particularly interested in his discussions of the Fed, and his particularly eloquent defenses of free trade and globalization.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
this is the devil's book...
that is, um, how rational capitalism is... how alienating and insidious and seductive its destructive powers...
i bit off more than i can chew...
a very clear and easy-to-swallow explanation of the lens of capitalism, how to see the world through it... i was left a little devastated, as if the world was smaller and uglier...
equal in sexiness to milton's satan.
who was pretty sexy.
that is, um, how rational capitalism is... how alienating and insidious and seductive its destructive powers...
i bit off more than i can chew...
a very clear and easy-to-swallow explanation of the lens of capitalism, how to see the world through it... i was left a little devastated, as if the world was smaller and uglier...
equal in sexiness to milton's satan.
who was pretty sexy.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in August, 2007
"Naked Economics" is one of those trendy books out now trying to make the dismal science more accessible to the layman. It's actually pretty good, as it explains and clarifies economic concepts based on real-world examples and explanations. The organization of the book wasn't clear to me, and there were times I detected a political bias, but for the most part, it does a very fine job of making economics relevant for everyone.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in December, 2007
An easy overview of main economic principles and a discussion of their relevance to everyday life. I expected to disagree with a majority of this book. While I still found numerous faults with this author's arguments (chiefly those surrounding wealth distribution), the book on the whole really helped me clarify what parts of Economics I have disagreements with, and what parts are useful as a social science.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Fantasic book. Perfect mix of economic concepts and interesting stories. I've seen it used successfully in econ classrooms and I will be attempting to do the same. Interesting from page one. I'm an unashamed fan of the author's Yahoo! Finance column; even though I don't agree with everything he posts there, it always, always gives me stuff to think about.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in August, 2007
Who knew that school reading lists and economics could be so enjoyable? This book taught me that economics isn't as boring and scary as I had always imagined, and that I might even enjoy my upcoming econ classes. Interesting read if you want to know more about how the world of economics works in a practical and easy to understand way.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
