This book gave a good, top level grounding in how the different elements of the economy interact. He does this without getting boring or going into too much detail. I found the book very easy to read and it held my attention. This is no easy feat for a book on economics!

However I am left feeling that my taste has been wetted and I need to know more in order to fully understand the subject. The book has done well to stimulate my interest to the extent that it did, but did not provide enough detail to satisfy me.

If you just want a top level, interesting introduction to economics and how it effects Joe Bloggs you won't regret buying this book.


Something to think about..   September 11, 2003
 10 out of 12 found this review helpful

As someone with no academic education in economics but with a growing interest in my economy and how it affects me I thought this book served rather well for me. The author's style of writing helps reduce the frown from your forehead that comes from this type of subject and I was happy enough with the wider knowledge I gained from it that I will probably purchase another author on the subject to see where this takes me. For newcomers to the subject at the very least looking to better understand the politcal/economic gibberish you here in the media these days then you will not go far wrong with this book. I recommend it.


a lunch too much expensive   August 28, 2003
 7 out of 50 found this review helpful

Yes, we know the song, at least in Spain, though David Smith explanations refer generally to examples extracted of Great Britain. This is a good book in the form, clear and explanatory, but it has a big fault: the analyses the author realizes part from the base of which human economy begins only from the XVIII century and that Stuart Mill, Ricardo, Keynes and others have demonstrated that the only viable system for mankind is capitalism. He mentions Marx, but only to say he was wrong because the fall of the USRR has demonstrated that his theories are unviable and false.
The curious thing nevertheless is that the author does not deny that in so good system, a few hundreds of people possess the 40 % of the world wealth. Few commentaries can be done after knowing this. The capitalism has triumphed since theories and their practices often win because are based, not neither in rationality, justice nor equity, but on rapacity of the man and his poor drives and instincts. The author explains the thousand and one tricks and games of cheap magic that the capital proposes to "distribute" some money among the least favored, that are legion. In Spain, in spite of the sham of democracy that we have from Franco's death, they continue ordering the same families. It is not necessary to scratch very much to find the same surnames that last sometimes centuries between the richest families.
This is not at all new, and therefore I say that though the communism has failed by the moment, the future is red or there will no be any. And before it I’m afraid that there will be a lunch that indeed will be not free, but truly expensive. More than the more luxurious at Wall Street restaurants.


Unimpressive   May 1, 2003
 8 out of 13 found this review helpful

Somewhat at odds with other reviewers, I'm afraid that I'm unable to rate this book particularly highly. I have not read any other economics text books, so it could just be that in realtive terms that this book is good - in which case the others must be truly dreadful!

The book covers much ground. It trys to inform, but I found myself none the wiser as to how to interpret current day economic issues - perhaps it is at too high a level. The book also tries to avoid mathematics, which I think is a mistake as a few simple and well worked examples would have added much. It tries to amuse, which it does to an extent by the inclusion or irrelevant but interesting facts/ancedotes, though I found myself put off in the early chapters by some forced and rather wet attempts at jokes.

Overall, I would expect there to be better books on economics out there - if not, there remains a hole in the market.