100 books like Payback

By Margaret Atwood,

Here are 100 books that Payback fans have personally recommended if you like Payback. Shepherd is a community of 11,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of The Deficit Myth: Modern Monetary Theory and the Birth of the People's Economy

L. Randall Wray Author Of Making Money Work for Us: How MMT Can Save America

From my list on helping you understand how money really works.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve been studying money since the early 1980s, when my dissertation advisor—the late and great Hyman Minsky—warned me not to do “Genesis”, origins stories of money. But I couldn't resist. I'm one of the founders of Modern Money Theory (MMT), an approach developed over the past three decades that has garnered tens of thousands of followers and earned the hatred of the elite. And, yet, those who know how money really works—or who embrace public policy pursuing the public interest (Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez), and even central bankers—have admitted that government cannot run out of money. I’ve written hundreds of academic papers, more blogs, many books, and given hundreds of interviews presenting the MMT alternative.

L.'s book list on helping you understand how money really works

L. Randall Wray Why did L. love this book?

This one’s by a member of the home team—a former student, colleague, collaborator, and fellow MMT conspirator.

Kelton was an advisor to Bernie Sanders, served as chief economist for the Senate Budget Committee, and is a frequent guest on all the important media outlets. She explains the basics of MMT and why they are important—especially right now as Congress is hog-tied trying to figure out what to do to prevent Uncle Sam from defaulting as we broach the debt limit.

Read this book and you’ll never again confuse Uncle Sam’s budget with your own. You can run out of money! Uncle Sam cannot. Uncle Sam’s budget deficit puts money in your pocket! His debt is your asset!

If you are worried about the government’s deficit and debt, take a deep breath, and read this book now 

By Stephanie Kelton,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked The Deficit Myth as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

'Kelton has succeeded in instigating a round of heretical questioning, essential for a post-Covid-19 world, where the pantheon of economic gods will have to be reconfigured' Guardian

'Stephanie Kelton is an indispensable source of moral clarity ... the truths that she teaches about money, debt, and deficits give us the tools we desperately need to build a safe future for all' Naomi Klein

'Game-changing ... Read it!' Mariana Mazzucato

'A rock star in her field' The Times

'This book is going to be influential' Financial Times

'Convincingly overturns conventional wisdom' New York Times

Supporting the economy, paying…


Book cover of The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money

L. Randall Wray Author Of Making Money Work for Us: How MMT Can Save America

From my list on helping you understand how money really works.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve been studying money since the early 1980s, when my dissertation advisor—the late and great Hyman Minsky—warned me not to do “Genesis”, origins stories of money. But I couldn't resist. I'm one of the founders of Modern Money Theory (MMT), an approach developed over the past three decades that has garnered tens of thousands of followers and earned the hatred of the elite. And, yet, those who know how money really works—or who embrace public policy pursuing the public interest (Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez), and even central bankers—have admitted that government cannot run out of money. I’ve written hundreds of academic papers, more blogs, many books, and given hundreds of interviews presenting the MMT alternative.

L.'s book list on helping you understand how money really works

L. Randall Wray Why did L. love this book?

This choice is obvious and tough.

The book is notoriously difficult. However, it ranks with Darwin’s Origins of the Species, and Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity as among the most important and revolutionary books ever.

It’s no exaggeration to say that Keynes changed everything in the same way that Darwin and Einstein had. It will change the way you see the world if you make the substantial effort. Keynes argues that it is the organization of our economy around money that causes unemployment—not high wages or lazy workers.

Here’s my one sentence summary: firms only hire the number of workers they need to produce the output they expect to sell at a profit. If they cannot make money from hiring you, you are unemployed.

By John Maynard Keynes,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

John Maynard Keynes's 1936 General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money is a perfect example of the global power of critical thinking. A radical reconsideration of some of the founding principles and accepted axioms of classical economics at the time, it provoked a revolution in economic thought and government economic policies across the world. Unsurprisingly, Keynes's closely argued refutation of the then accepted grounds of economics employs all the key critical thinking skills: analysing and evaluating the old theories and their weaknesses; interpreting and clarifying his own fundamental terms and ideas; problem solving; and using creative thinking to go beyond…


Book cover of The Origins of Money

L. Randall Wray Author Of Making Money Work for Us: How MMT Can Save America

From my list on helping you understand how money really works.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve been studying money since the early 1980s, when my dissertation advisor—the late and great Hyman Minsky—warned me not to do “Genesis”, origins stories of money. But I couldn't resist. I'm one of the founders of Modern Money Theory (MMT), an approach developed over the past three decades that has garnered tens of thousands of followers and earned the hatred of the elite. And, yet, those who know how money really works—or who embrace public policy pursuing the public interest (Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez), and even central bankers—have admitted that government cannot run out of money. I’ve written hundreds of academic papers, more blogs, many books, and given hundreds of interviews presenting the MMT alternative.

L.'s book list on helping you understand how money really works

L. Randall Wray Why did L. love this book?

This is based on a lecture given by Grierson in London in 1970. (Do you see a pattern? Lectures can make entertaining books.)

He was the world’s most famous numismatist (expert on coins). A professor at the University of Cambridge, UK, for seventy years (!), he spent most of his salary collecting medieval coins, donating 20,000 of them to the university’s museum—the world’s premier collection. But coins were invented around 700 B.C., while money has been around for 6000 years.

In this book he speculates on money’s origins (in Babylonian temples)—linking it to the ancient practice of Wergeld (blood money). He hypothesized that money originates as a measure of debt owed to victims. Hence, the link of money to debt and sin made by Atwood. Money is not a “thing” but a record of indebtedness.

Today, it is tax debt that drives money: you work hard to get money to…

By Philip Grierson,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Origins of Money as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.


Book cover of The Case for a Job Guarantee

L. Randall Wray Author Of Making Money Work for Us: How MMT Can Save America

From my list on helping you understand how money really works.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve been studying money since the early 1980s, when my dissertation advisor—the late and great Hyman Minsky—warned me not to do “Genesis”, origins stories of money. But I couldn't resist. I'm one of the founders of Modern Money Theory (MMT), an approach developed over the past three decades that has garnered tens of thousands of followers and earned the hatred of the elite. And, yet, those who know how money really works—or who embrace public policy pursuing the public interest (Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez), and even central bankers—have admitted that government cannot run out of money. I’ve written hundreds of academic papers, more blogs, many books, and given hundreds of interviews presenting the MMT alternative.

L.'s book list on helping you understand how money really works

L. Randall Wray Why did L. love this book?

If you find Keynes’s explanation of unemployment depressing, here’s the antidote: another from the home team—Pavlina is a former student and current colleague.

Her solution is a universal job guarantee provided and funded by the Federal government. This isn’t welfare; wages are paid for useful work that promotes the public interest. Unlike private firms, government doesn’t need profits and cannot run out of money (see Kelton’s The Deficit Myth).

Pavlina explains the details: how the government finances the program; why it stabilizes wages and prices so that it cannot be inflationary; how the program will be run; and what kinds of projects will be undertaken.

She provides a clear, concise, detailed examination of policy that will permanently end the scourge of unemployment.

By Pavlina R. Tcherneva,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Case for a Job Guarantee as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

One of the most enduring ideas in economics is that unemployment is both unavoidable and necessary for the smooth functioning of the economy. This assumption has provided cover for the devastating social and economic costs of job insecurity. It is also false.

In this book, leading expert Pavlina R. Tcherneva challenges us to imagine a world where the phantom of unemployment is banished and anyone who seeks decent, living-wage work can find it - guaranteed. This is the aim of the Job Guarantee proposal: to provide a voluntary employment opportunity in public service to anyone who needs it. Tcherneva enumerates…


Book cover of A Treasury of Shakespeare's Verse

Cassia Hall Author Of Songs of Love & Longing: Poem & Songs from the Seasons Cycle

From my list on romantic fantasy poetry to make you swoon and sigh.

Why am I passionate about this?

I grew up loving the works of Shakespeare and the Romantic poets. Now I write romantic fantasy with a lyrical, fairy-tale vibe. The Seasons Cycle is a spin-off series from my main Lake Traveler saga. My poetry includes Poems of Myth & Magick, and Songs of Love & Longing. I compose songs and background music for key scenes in my stories. My music has been described as GoT meets LoTR with a lyrical twist and a musical theatre vibe. You can check out my songs and instrumental pieces on my youtube channel and my music website.

Cassia's book list on romantic fantasy poetry to make you swoon and sigh

Cassia Hall Why did Cassia love this book?

This book is a beautifully illustrated work of art. I absolutely adore the well-chosen excerpts from some of the Bard's most famous plays, including his fantasy ones (The Tempest and Midsummer Night’s Dream). This book contains some of the most beautiful passages in the English language. If you love the language of Shakespeare, you will swoon over this book. I do every single time.

By William Shakespeare, Emma Chichester Clark (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked A Treasury of Shakespeare's Verse as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 10, 11, and 12.

What is this book about?

An engaging introduction to Shakespeare, this lyrically llustrated anthology has been carefully edited to be accessible both to older children and teenagers. More then 200 short gems of verse, arranged in thematic sections -- heroics and love, good and evil, fun and frolic, magic and mystery -- capture the rich, powerful language and imagery of Shakespeare without overwhelming the reader who is new to Elizabethan poetry. A beautiful book that the whole family can treasure. Includes index of plays and first lines.


Book cover of 7 Feasts: Finding Christ in the Sacred Celebrations of the Old Testament

Scott LaPierre Author Of A Father Offers His Son: The True and Greater Sacrifice Revealed Through Abraham and Isaac

From my list on learning about Jesus Christ in the Old Testament.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am the teaching pastor of Woodland Christian Church. I have been in ministry since 2007, preaching God’s Word an average of 1 to 3 times weekly. Because my ministry focuses on teaching and preaching, I study God’s Word for 20 to 30 hours per week, and I have developed a deep and rich understanding of Christ in the Old Testament.

Scott's book list on learning about Jesus Christ in the Old Testament

Scott LaPierre Why did Scott love this book?

This book focuses strictly on the seven feasts in Leviticus 23 as opposed to multiple types from throughout the Old Testament.

This book is also more of a devotional, with something to read each day. There are also questions to answer, which makes it more like a study guide or workbook than an actual book or devotional. With that said, the book provides a great understanding of the seven feasts and the way they each looked to Christ.

For example, most people know that Jesus is our Passover Lamb, but they would be surprised to see that the other six feasts look to him as well. You will be blessed to see how Jesus is revealed through each of them.

By Erin Davis,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked 7 Feasts as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

What’s the story behind all those feasts?

It’s hard to know when you read about the Feast of Booths why exactly it matters for your life. What in the world is the Feast of Trumpets supposed to be teaching you? And, in this case, the text itself doesn’t tell you. You need a resource, a guide that can help you understand the cultural significance and how these feasts relate to the rest of the Bible.

That’s exactly what Erin Davis does in this new 8-week Bible study, 7 Feasts. She’ll teach you:

The significance of these feasts and why God…


Book cover of The Old Testament: Text and Context

Lena Einhorn Author Of A Shift in Time: How Historical Documents Reveal the Surprising Truth about Jesus

From my list on ancient religious texts and actual history.

Why am I passionate about this?

Lena Einhorn is a writer and filmmaker, with a background in medicine. She has portrayed Greta Garbo’s life before the breakthrough, in the novel Blekinge Street 32, and in Nina’s Journey, she told the story of her mother, one of the last to leave the Warsaw ghetto alive. Nina’s Journey also became a feature film, written and directed by Einhorn. The book received the National Book Award of Sweden, and the film received the National Film Award for best picture and best script, as well as a number of international awards. In 2019 the critically acclaimed autobiographical novel The Thin Ice came out.

Lena's book list on ancient religious texts and actual history

Lena Einhorn Why did Lena love this book?

It is not only the New Testament that is written in layers: an upper religious layer, a lower historical one. Also the Old Testament uses this construct, albeit less elaborately so. It is no coincidence that the subject of "history", as we know it, is a fairly recent one. If one goes far enough back in time, all we had, when it comes to longer narratives, are the mythical and religious epics. They likely filled many purposes, of telling stories of the fantastical and supernatural, of giving ethical advice, of uniting people, and of conveying history.

By Victor H. Matthews, James C. Moyer,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Old Testament as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

This substantially updated edition of a classroom standard provides students with an accessible introduction to the literature, history, and social context of the Old Testament. Written by two seasoned Old Testament professors, the book pays attention to methodology, archaeology, history, and literary genre and includes illustrations, sidebars, maps, and study questions.


Book cover of Ancient Treasure: Old Testament Gems

John Pasquet Author Of The Essence: A Guided Journey of Discovery through the Bible

From my list on helping you truly understand the Bible from beginning to end.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m passionate about helping people see the incredible beauty of God’s unfolding plan of redemption and restoration that unfolds in the pages of the Bible. In the Old Testament, this plan is hidden in mystery and symbolism. But then in the New Testament, this great mystery is unveiled in all its glory, and the symbolism emerges from the shadows and steps into the light! For the past 15+ years, it has been my great honor to read the Bible with people for their very first time and help them watch this great mystery unfold. These books do that very same thing!

John's book list on helping you truly understand the Bible from beginning to end

John Pasquet Why did John love this book?

What I enjoyed most about this book was that it was quite thorough but also very conversational in its approach and easy to read.

Though the author takes you through almost every book in the Old Testament, it doesn’t really feel like it. It feels more like you’re just listening to someone over dinner share with you what they are learning in the Scriptures. She doesn’t try to impress you with her vocabulary or theological jargon. She just shares her thoughts very clearly. Still, it is very informative and has really great insights.

Recommended for anyone!

By Sandra Julian Barker,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Ancient Treasure as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Readers are saying: "I couldn't put it down! You made it come alive. Love the pictures which give special visuals! Love also the extra info and historical references." What do you think of the Old Testament of the Bible? Does it seem boring? Old and dusty? Intimidating? Like a fable? This book can help you get over those negative misconceptions. The Old Testament is alive and exciting! Its truths apply to our lives today and its relevant to our current world. This book of Ancient Treasure contains Old Testament Gems – key stories from the beginning of time in Genesis,…


Book cover of The Emmaus Code: Finding Jesus in the Old Testament

John Pasquet Author Of The Essence: A Guided Journey of Discovery through the Bible

From my list on helping you truly understand the Bible from beginning to end.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m passionate about helping people see the incredible beauty of God’s unfolding plan of redemption and restoration that unfolds in the pages of the Bible. In the Old Testament, this plan is hidden in mystery and symbolism. But then in the New Testament, this great mystery is unveiled in all its glory, and the symbolism emerges from the shadows and steps into the light! For the past 15+ years, it has been my great honor to read the Bible with people for their very first time and help them watch this great mystery unfold. These books do that very same thing!

John's book list on helping you truly understand the Bible from beginning to end

John Pasquet Why did John love this book?

I enjoyed this book because it was such an exhaustive look at how Jesus is foreshadowed in symbols, types, and prophecies in the Old Testament. No stone is left unturned as he shows how “all roads lead to Christ” and how Christ is revealed in every single book in the Old Testament.

It is very intriguing, well-researched, presented very logically, and contains many great insights. It is not, however, a quick read, but more academic in its presentation.

I recommend this book for people who are already pretty familiar with the Scriptures and want to deepen their knowledge of the Bible, particularly of the Old Testament.

By David Limbaugh,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Emmaus Code as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A New York Times Bestseller!

In the 2014 New York Times bestseller Jesus on Trial, David Limbaugh made a case for the Gospels as hard evidence of the existence of God, drawing on his own spiritual journey from skeptic to believer. Now, in The Emmaus Code, Limbaugh unlocks the mysteries of the Old Testament and reveals hints of Jesus Christ's arrival through all thirty-nine Old Testament books.

The key to the secrets of the Old Testament, Limbaugh argues, is the crucial New Testament encounter between the risen Jesus and two travelers on the road to Emmaus. With that key, and…


Book cover of Flannery O'Connor Collected Works

Brian Malloy Author Of After Francesco

From my list on that mix comedy and tragedy.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m a gay Midwestern novelist who finds that literary fiction is often humorless, with a narrow emotional range that begins with ennui and ends in despair. If you're weary of trauma porn and want to read books with a broad emotional range, this list of recommendations is for you. My favorite writers ably mix laughter and tears, and are able to find the funny in just about anything life can throw at us. 

Brian's book list on that mix comedy and tragedy

Brian Malloy Why did Brian love this book?

If you’re older, you probably read O’Connor’s short story “A Good Man is Hard to Find” for one or more lit classes; if you’re younger, you may have never heard of her as she is now “problematic” according to the unfunny woke-on-steroids crowd. I love O’Connor because I love characters with moral failings, I love mordant humor, and I love the possibility that even the most irredeemable among us can experience moments of grace. The brief details in her stories do such heavy lifting in terms of irony, for example when a Wellesley undergrad hits Mrs. Turpin in the head with a copy of Human Development in the short story “Revelation.” The action itself – a privileged white college student from an elite school inflicting violence upon a rural white woman – also speaks to our ongoing culture wars. 

By Flannery O'Connor,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Flannery O'Connor Collected Works as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In her short lifetime, Flannery O’Connor became one of the most distinctive American writers of the twentieth century. By birth a native of Georgia and a Roman Catholic, O’Connor depicts, in all its comic and horrendous incongruity, the limits of worldly wisdom and the mysteries of divine grace in the “Christ-haunted” Protestant South. This Library of America collection, the most comprehensive ever published, contains all of her novels and short-story collections, as well as nine other stories, eight of her most important essays, and a selection of 259 witty, spirited, and revealing letters, twenty-one published here for the first time.…


5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in the Bible, New Testament, and Jesus?

The Bible 366 books
New Testament 50 books
Jesus 242 books