TOPIC · 21 BOOKS

Economics and finance

Books I have read about economics and finance, brought together across genres, periods and countries.

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Cover of The Road to Serfdom

The Road to Serfdom

Friedrich A. HayekOne of the books that most influenced my thinking about the power of the state and the risks of economic planning, which I have read many times and it is completely up-to-date, is one of those books that should not be overlooked and that has shaped my thinking the most.

Cover of Economics for Real People: An Introduction to the Austrian School

Economics for Real People: An Introduction to the Austrian School

Gene CallahanVery interesting and easy to read. A clear introduction to the Austrian school and its way of explaining prices, capital, money and individual decisions.

Cover of Economics in One Lesson

Economics in One Lesson

Henry HazlittI loved it. It is easy to read and should be required reading. It is one of the economics books I have reread most often. Its argument for looking at the indirect and long-term consequences of every policy sounds simple, but I find something new each time I return to it.

Cover of Human Action

Human Action

Ludwig von MisesA huge, demanding book that tries to build a whole explanation of economics from human decisions.

Cover of Socialism: An Economic and Sociological Analysis

Socialism: An Economic and Sociological Analysis

Ludwig von MisesA very comprehensive analysis of the economic and social problems of socialism. It is long and quite demanding, but it helps to understand why incentives and information are so important when organizing an economy.

Cover of What Has Government Done to Our Money? and The Case for a 100 Percent Gold Dollar

What Has Government Done to Our Money? and The Case for a 100 Percent Gold Dollar

Murray N. RothbardIt is a very clear explanation of the Austrian view on money, inflation and state intervention, which I liked because it forces us to think about things that we normally take for granted, although I do not necessarily share every conclusion.

Cover of The Invisible Hook: The Hidden Economics of Pirates

The Invisible Hook: The Hidden Economics of Pirates

Peter T. LeesonA very interesting book about how pirates created rules, incentives and organizational ways to work together.

Cover of Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money—That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!

Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money—That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!

Robert T. KiyosakiA book that had a huge influence on how I first thought about assets, income and financial freedom. It simplifies some things too much, but its main ideas aren't wrong and it's important to understand them.

Cover of Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything

Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything

Steven D. LevittA very funny book about how to use data and incentives to answer very rare questions. Some conclusions are debatable, but I loved the way you look at everyday problems from another angle.

Cover of Basic Economics: A Citizen's Guide to the Economy

Basic Economics: A Citizen's Guide to the Economy

Thomas SowellOf the books you have to read over and over again. A huge, very clear explanation of how prices, incentives, trade and public policy work. I liked it because it tries to start from real consequences rather than good intentions, and I learned a lot.

Cover of The Undercover Economist

The Undercover Economist

Tim HarfordA very entertaining way to understand the economy through coffee, supermarkets, cities and everyday decisions. I liked it because after reading it you start seeing incentives and prices everywhere.

Cover of Defending the Undefendable

Defending the Undefendable

Walter BlockA provocative book that attempts to analyze socially hated activities and characters from the perspective of individual freedom and incentives.

Cover of The Last Oil: The Rise and Fall of Industrial Whaling

The Last Oil: The Rise and Fall of Industrial Whaling

Aslak BergeIt tells how whaling in Antarctica became a huge global industry, how factory ships and whaling stations worked, and the role that Argentina, the South Atlantic islands and companies like Unilever played, which was one of the biggest buyers of whale oil. It's a book of economic, maritime and business history filled with characters, technology, money, and adventures in some of the most remote places on earth.

Cover of Saving for retirement

Saving for retirement

Ben CarlsonA very simple and very clear book about personal finance and how to save for retirement. It's a book that everyone should read between the ages of 20 and 40 at least, to get ready (the sooner the better).

Cover of Portfolios of the Poor

Portfolios of the Poor

Daryl Collins, Jonathan MorduchHow people in extreme poverty manage their finances, and the triple whammy -- low, irregular, unpredictable income.

Cover of The Tao of Charlie Munger

The Tao of Charlie Munger

David ClarkCharlie Munger is Warren Buffet's partner, they're the best investors in the world, and this book is full of practical lessons about business, investing and life distilled from Munger's speeches and writings.

Cover of Enough

Enough

John C. BogleA very interesting book about money, wealth, happiness and what's enough. Very interesting explanations about investments and funds. John C. Bogle was the founder of Vanguard, one of the world's leading investment banks.

Cover of Desigualdad y distribución de la riqueza

Desigualdad y distribución de la riqueza

Luis PazosA simple read on the demagogy that exists around wealth inequality and how it would be easier to reduce poverty.

Cover of The psychology of money

The psychology of money

Morgan HouselOne of the best books I've ever read about financial education and understanding money. It's a book that tells 19 stories about how people understand money, their relationship with it, and good and bad financial decisions.

Cover of The future of capitalism

The future of capitalism

Paul CollierThis book made me think a great deal about the current economic and social system. I agree with much of its analysis of capitalism and almost none of its proposals. I do not think they would work.

Cover of Economics in One Virus: An Introduction to Economic Reasoning Through Covid-19

Economics in One Virus: An Introduction to Economic Reasoning Through Covid-19

Ryan A. BourneI loved it. It examines both the visible and hidden effects of the decisions made during COVID: the alternatives, consequences and trade-offs. Very interesting and instructive for learning about economics and politics. I highly recommend it. It is also useful for making decisions and accepting sacrifices under uncertainty and limited resources.