Inside the Economist's Mind

by Paul A. Samuelson (Editor), William A. Barnett (Editor)

By focusing on the human side as well as the intellectual dimensions of how economists work and think, this collection of interviews with top economists of the 20th century becomes a startling and lively introduction to the modern world of macroeconomics. A fun read!
For more information, frequent updates, and to comment on the forthcoming book, visit William A. Barnett's weblog at

Acclaim for Inside the Economist's Mind
"In candid interviews, these great economists prove to be fabulous story tellers of their lives and times. Unendingly gripping for insiders, this book should also help non-specialists understand how economists think."
Professor Julio Rotemberg, Harvard University Business School, and Editor, Review of Economics and Statistics.
"Economics used to be called the 'dismal science'. It will be impossible for anybody to hold that view anymore ... This is science with flesh and blood, and a lot of fascinating stories that you will find nowhere else."
Dr. Jean-Pascal Bénassy, Paris-Jourdan Sciences Économiques, Paris, France
"This book provides a rare and intriguing view of the personal and professional lives of leading economists ... It is like A Beautiful Mind , scaled by a factor of 16 [the number of interviews in the book]."
Professor Lee Ohanian, University of California at Los Angeles
" ... if you want an insider view of how economics has been developing in the last decades, this is the (only) book for you."
Professor Giancarlo Gandolfo, University of Rome ‘La Sapienza,’ Rome

"Here we see the HUMAN side of path-breaking research, the personalities and pitfalls, the DRAMA behind the science."
Professor Francis X. Diebold, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

Genres: Economics, Nonfiction

456 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Paul Anthony Samuelson (May 15, 1915 – December 13, 2009) was an American economist. The first American to win the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, the Swedish Royal Academies stated, when awarding the prize in 1970, that he "has done more than any other contemporary economist to raise the level of scientific analysis in economic theory". Economic historian Randall E. Parker has called him the "Father of Modern Economics", and The New York Times considered him to be the "foremost academic economist of the 20th century"

Reviews

[Mohannad · Rating 5 out of 5]

The interview format of the book made it an enjoyable read. The discussions are both on the personal lives of the economists and more importantly the development of their idea. I especially liked the interviews with Milton Friedman an Paul Samuelson.

[Diego · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historias sobre como algunos de los mas importantes economistas del siglo XX se volvieron economistas y sus mas grandes aportaciones ala ciencia, las de Franco Moldigliani y Paul Samuelson son en mi opinión personal las mejores.

[Wendelle]

interviews/dialogues with the top economists of the past century that reveal their achievements, educational progress, beliefs, preferences, recommendations for the future of economics.