How Economics Explains the World (US)/ The Shortest History of Economics (UK)

by Andrew Leigh

The Shortest History of Economics by Australian economist and politician Andrew Leigh is part of the excellent “The Shortest History of…” series. It’s called How Economics Explains the World: A Short History of Humanity in the US.

Recommendations from our site

“If you read just one economics book in 2024—and perhaps if you just read one economics book in your life—it should be this book by Andrew Leigh, an Australian economics professor turned elected politician. How Economics Explains the World is a relatively short and easy read, proceeding chronologically from the advent of agriculture to the present day. Underlying it is an immense wealth of scholarship and economic ideas about economic history, the process of growth, and economic concepts like opportunity cost and thinking on the margin that are almost invisibly woven into the fabric throughout the book.” Read more...

The Best Economics Books of 2024

Jason Furman, Economist

“The Shortest History of Economics is a delightful, easy-to-read overview of economics and even has an endorsement from Claudia Goldin (winner of the 2023 Nobel economics prize).” Read more...

Nonfiction Books to Look Out for in Early 2024

Sophie Roell, Journalist