This was a bit of a mixed bag for me. The first chapter started out really really strong and interesting. There was a direct relationship between the subject matter and economics and how it's shaped culture. It was giving five star energy, new non-fiction to scream to my friends about.

But as the book wore on, there were a lot of moments that felt more like current events or history, and how it related to economics in particular was more tenuous. I also don't really agree with the author on a couple of points (like that it's good/natural for humans to derive their identity from their job) and it kinda speaks to his upbringing and privilege. eg Grocery clerks and janitors are essential jobs, but I don't think they're the kind of identity/purpose he's talking about.

Though I at least appreciate that he mentioned alternate schools of thought and clarified that it's just his opinions and not necessarily the position supported by studies, I also don't think a non-fiction is really the right place for those discussions.

...I'm honestly tempted to even lower my rating to two stars, based on this segment at the end:
"Pinker notes that, due to better diets and more schooling, IQ scores have risen so rapidly that the average person today would score better than 98 per cent of the population a century ago. The odds of a typical European being murdered are less than one-tenth of what they would have been 500 years ago. Across the globe, attitudes on gender, race and sexuality have become more progressive, such that young Middle Eastern Muslims are about as tolerant as young Western Europeans were in the 1960s."

1. That's literally not how IQ tests work, my dude. I get what you're trying to say, but that's absolutely not the way to say it.
2. Holy racism, Batman! Big big yikes here.

I loved this book! I was an economics major and studied it in my master's program as well, but could always use a refresher and more of a macro/10,000-foot-view to keep it all in perspective. I loved the digestible length as well as the organization of the chapters, keeping subjects flowing while also discrete. It can be really difficult for economists to explain economics to, well, non-economists, but Andrew Leigh did a fantastic job of making economics accessible to the everyperson who may be reading this.

I would like to state for the record if Econ had been this interesting in school, I would have paid attention. This book tell s the story of capitalism (well…condensed) – of how our market system developed. Why the allies won WWII… same reason the North won the American Civil War.. economics. Econ and history, I saw the synopsis and HAD to read it (bought another one of his book half way through this one!). Most of the we rate books with stars…this one gets judged by the amount of highlighting I did. It’s a lot!

Thank you NetGalley and Mariner Books. Who knew economics was fascinating?! #HowEconomicsExplainstheWorld #NetGalley.

Just finished How Economics Explains the World by Andrew Leigh, and let me tell you, it was a bit like finding the secret sauce to life’s big questions. Leigh does a stellar job of breaking down complex economic concepts into digestible nuggets that actually make sense—no small feat! I felt like I finally understood why my coffee shop latte costs more than my rent sometimes (well, almost).

The book is packed with fascinating insights into how economics shapes everything from global markets to everyday choices. Leigh’s humor and engaging writing style make the dense stuff feel like a breeze. The chapters are filled with witty anecdotes and real-world examples that keep you hooked, and his take on economic theories often made me chuckle.

That said, a few parts felt a bit repetitive, like hearing your favorite joke for the third time—still funny, but you start to see the punchline coming. And while the book is insightful, some topics could have used a bit more depth. But hey, for a book that aims to simplify economics, it does a pretty darn good job without turning into a snooze fest.

Overall, How Economics Explains the World is a clever and entertaining read. If you’re curious about the world and enjoy a good laugh while learning, this one’s definitely worth picking up!

This is a great book for two main reasons. First, the authors aim to educate and inform readers how economics shaped the world we live in. The authors expertly deliver on this aim. Pick up a copy of this book and you will learn something, even if it is just learning to see something through a new perspective. But it’s also a great book because it explains so much so well in layman’s terms. Whether you are an academic scholar or a casual reader – this book is for you. Whether you are interested in how the past shaped the current climate or how current events are shaping the future (AI) - this book is for you. You simply need a curiosity about economics and/or the world around you to enjoy this book.

On a personal note, I found the inclusion of the secret Federal Reserve meeting on Jekyll Island, Georgia in 1910 fascinating, not just because the event leading to the Aldrich Plan is interesting, but also because I happen to live just a few miles from this beautiful island. In 1942 a German Uboat approached the Golden Isles. Two U.S. merchant ships were torpedoed, and Jekyll Island was evacuated. In response, the War Department opened Glynco Naval Air Station in neighboring Brunswick to patrol the Atlantic by blimps with state-of-the-art electronic submarine detection. In 1948, the state of Georgia bought the island in as a public land trust and its beauty has been preserved ever since.

My recommendation is to buy the book and, if possible, read it on one of the beautiful Jekyll Island beaches. You won’t be disappointed.

I really enjoyed reading this book. Leigh covers a lot of information in this book, breaking it down in simple terms. I was astounded that in just two pages Leigh explains the 2008 housing crisis in the most accessible way I have ever read.
I would absolutely recommend this to as an economics primer or to somebody wanting a refresh.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Mariner Books, for an advance copy of this book that looks at the rise of human civilizations through the study of its economics, and how the growth of prosperity gave us the world we have today.

Money makes the world go round. And makes people do a lot of weird things, go to war, marry for wealth, form global trade conglomerates, cheat on taxes. Even form communities to share the wealth, and the risk that comes from it. Wealth and power go hand in hand, making civilizations, and making people act uncivilized in its pursuit. Andrew Leigh in his book How Economics Explains the World: A Short History of Humanity looks at the rise of capitalism, the many influences this has had on people, places and the objectification of things, from the far past to what might be coming tomorrow.

The book begins in the past when communities began to form around the idea of farming. Hunting and gathering was such a drain on time and energy, the idea of finding an area and using it became more and more prevalent. With this came the idea of trade, giving what one has more of for goods that a person was in need of. And vice versa. Leigh traces this idea through various eras, looking at the dips an rises of prosperity, the idea of capitalism, and how wars and famines influence not only people, but the ideas of the time. Leigh uses the works of other economists to show different trends, sometimes showing them being right, or sometimes wrong. Leigh discusses how immigration effects the wealth of nations, using the Great Depression as an example. For conspiracy buffs there is a discussion about both the start of the Federal Reserve and of the meeting on Jekyll Island among the elites of the time, though leigh doesn't go into this, which is probably a good thing. Leigh also looks at hot button issues, the rise of AI in business and arts, and climate change, raising some intriguing points. .

A book about economics that is very good for the lay person, though there are a lot of mentions about economists that might be a little much for people. Leigh is a very good writer, with a nice mix of humor, when needed, facts and an understanding and ability to make these facts clear on the page. One learns about the true history of the game Monopoly, why Europes was not colonized by Africa. And how to build the most expensive toaster possible, and make it melt in less than five minutes.

I am sure that people will quibble with some of his conclusions, climate and AI especially. I can see many a keyboard being busted with the heaviness of the typing. Though I might disagree on a few things, all and all I found this a very interesting book, filled with a lot of information, and ways of looking at things that I had not thought of. Perfect for those with an interest in history and economics.

I enjoyed the first half of this book very much. The content was engaging and I was intrigued to learn about the origins of economics. The last half left something to be desired. It was chaotic and bounced between naming recent economists and their theories, to bouncing between historical events with little structure. I also felt that the history seemed to be very Euro-Centric with only glancing mentions of South America and Africa and the way their economies could be looked at through the prism of the theories he highlights.

I began reading this book anticipating some good thoughts on how basic economics shape the world around us.

The first quarter of the book was really good. Talking about the rise of trade, farming, rise of communities, the author does a great job of revealing how economics gave rise to the settlement of communities.

THEN the book started to slide. I thought that the author threw a lot of names of the economists that were highlighted, but didn't fully explain why they were important.

The last 20% of the book was even more bewildering and as soon as I got interested in the rise of wealth in the population of the world, the topic was changed. Or there was a ton of economists names put in a paragraph that I guess, as a lay person I should know.

OVerall, this is a good companion book for people already well versed in economics. Not for the layperson trying to learn more about the world .