No Virginia, this is not a book on how to develop a business plan for a nudist colony. Rather this is the very best book on basic economics that I have ever read. Charles Wheelan does a superb job of making what could be a boring subject and making it interesting and entertaining. This book helps you understand how economics impacts your life and can make the difference between a wealthy and productive society or one that is poor and non-productive.

The examples given are to the point and many times counter intuitive. For example:

Coke became the leading brand of soft drinks in Germany by giving away cans of Coke to the newly liberated East Germans when the wall came down.

The wealthiest countries in the world are not necessarily the ones that are richest in natural resources. Japan and Switzerland have virtually no natural resources and yet they are among the wealthiest in the world. Conversely Saudia Arabia and Nigeria are two of the richest countries in natural resources and yet they are among the poorest in the world. How can this be? The answer is Human Capital. It makes all the difference in the world.

International trade doesn't make the US poorer. It does just the opposite, it makes the US a little richer and the poor countries we import from a lot richer. Economics is not a zero sum gain. Economics can make everyone a winner.

I could go on and on but I hope you get the point and I hope you read this book. You will not be disappointed and you might even learn a lot!