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The Worldly Philosophers: The Lives, Times And Ideas Of The Great Economic Thinkers [7th Edition]
Robert L. Heilbroner

Touchstone, 1999 - 368 pages

average customer review:based on 76 reviews
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   highly recommended  highly recommended




An Economics book that anyone can read...

Though it won't teach you economics in the academic sense, this is a good introduction to learning how the study of economics developed and the thoughts of major players in the history of the field. It's very well written in a story-like fashion, and when I finished, I was very much interesting in directly reading the works of these worldly philosophers. I've studied economics before, but it was never quite as intersting as this.


The best review of major economic theories available

This book is so much fun that you may have trouble putting it down - and you will definitely be surprised at how much you've learned. It's true that Heilbroner makes no attempt to disguise his opinions about the theories and the theorists, but I found that to be just as informative as his excellent prose style. I would definitely recommend this book as an introduction to economics for people of all ages.


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The Perfect Introduction to Economy

ADam Smith, Marx, Ricardo, Mill, Vieblen, Keynes: they're all in this book, which focus on their ideas and the time in which they lived, as being the main factor in their opinions. The author states, corrrectly, that the time for "philosophers" economists is gone.






Thoroughly enjoyable

I approached this book with the thought that "Ok, ok, I know I've got to get around to reading more about these guys sooner or later" attitude. What a fortunate find, and great way to begin!

The author takes a subject (economics) that is often beyond dry and makes it both entertaining and educational, with lots of surprises thrown in. Every time I thought I had caught the author in a mistake or an oversight (Ah ha! Now I've got you!) he'd cover my questions or thoughts within the next couple of pages or so. The author earned my confidence again and again. I found him to be a reliable guide through treacherous waters.

There's a lot of good history in this book. He tackles each major economic philosopher (and others), makes the man come alive in the context of his times, and relates his thinking to our own time by putting their ideas to the test of subsequent history. I particularly enjoyed the chapters on Smith and Keynes.

The author, like any good educator, doesn't give you everything. He gives you lots of food for thought. I also found the author to be thoughtful and unpretentious. I plan to read more books by him.

My copy also contained a very nice description of suggested readings.


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Surreptitiously tendentious.

Many people (witness the other reviews below) receive their introduction to the history of economic thought by reading this book. What a shame, then, that it is such a statist account. If you are going to read this tome, note that praise of Keynes, Schumpeter, Galbreath, _et al._ is a partisan activity, and that not everyone thinks more government is better (or better economics, for that matter). Indeed, this point of view is generally on the retreat throughout the world -- except in American publishing and academia.


reviews: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, page 14, 15, 16



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