The best books for seeing world history thru the lens of economics

To read this book, published in 1776, is to experience the stimulus of an energetic and original mind, It is an intense education in the economics way of thinking, pushing to the limit the exploration of often far-reaching unintended and unwanted consequences of government policies. The experience forever changes where one looks when analyzing and diagnosing the implications and dynamics of economic policies. Smith’s real insights remain timely today, such as when he states that government debts are never paid off by raising taxes. Smith ranges far and wide to bag his prey but all is fused and rendered consistent with dispassionate candor and well-considered truth. In this book, Smith left the world a body of positive wisdom and rational explanations that put world history in a whole new light.

John Kenneth Galbraith boasts a witty and melodious writing style that rivals the greatest writers of American literary history, making it worth reading just for the writing. Better still, his book, The Great Crash, written before the era of 401k retirements and multiple financial channels, is more relevant now than when it was first published. A pleasure to read and a pertinent subject, it is written by one of the greatest economists of the 20th century. His word choice is thought-stirring, Instead of calling a speculative mania a ‘bubble,’ he calls it ‘financial euphoria.’ Galbraith was as liberal as anybody can be who remained close friends with William F. Buckley Jr., but in economics an entertaining writing style covers a multitude of sins. This book deserves our heartiest admiration and endorsement. 

This book treats a rich variety of weighty topics, global in scope. It lays bare the real insights that bubble up when economic history is subpoenaed to the bar of economic thinking. The famous British Disraeli said he only read biographies because biographies were life without theory. It helps to take a break from scholars whose thoughts are pinned down by the most recent theories. To study economics without theory, it is necessary to study economic history. Economic forecasters too often have a bias toward predicting a continuation of existing trends with small adjustments. Rostov’s long sweep of history shows that these forecasts may be overridden by long-term trends. This book contains a lot of meat—a great abundance of instructive explanations, intelligent comments, and practical conclusions. 

Here is a stimulating and suggestive book, in 18 close-packed chapters, rich in fresh and illuminating insights. The scope, depth, and harmony of this book, strengthened with minute elaboration and carefulness, make it a work of permanent value. Missed here is the dogmatic readiness to force many intricate and diverse things to accommodate themselves to a few simple formulas. The book’s very descriptive title reveals its subject, which is presented with the utmost clearness, thoughtful intelligence, and adequacy of analysis, It is a welcomed reminder that time is the greatest innovator, spawning economic developments missed by the blind mechanisms of theoretical formulas. There is the accuracy of knowledge throughout, thoroughness in setting it forth, and admirable clearness. 

This book is perhaps one of the best-kept secrets in economics, overshadowed by Keynes’ more path-breaking General Theory, but oozing with wisdom on every page. Here Keynes transcends the bounds of economics. In his words: “It is one of the objects of this book to urge that the best way to cure this mortal disease of individualism is to provide there shall never exist any confident expectation either that prices are generally going to fall or that they are going to rise; and also that there shall be no serious risk that a movement, if it does occur, will be a big one.” Of course, inflation is the subject here. Its writing style alone elevates it above the commonplace. In this book, the reader finds the balance of practical judgment found in the best economists.