[.ca] Naked Economics (ISBN 0393324869)

Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science:
Popular economics writing does not get any better than this. In a dozen somewhat independent chapters, journalist Wheelan presents "Economics 101" in a readable, objective, and delightful manner. Employing basic concepts and assumptions, such as choices, incentives, tradeoffs, prices, costs, and the economics of information, Wheelan cuts a large swath though contemporary microeconomic and macroeconomic issues, controversies, and fallacies. (He sneaks in more sophisticated theoretical points and jargon, e.g., externalities and the prisoner's dilemma, but in interesting, informative ways.) Topics include environmental problems, health care and insurance, risk and safety, education and productivity, the Federal Reserve System and monetary policy, financial markets and capital, inflation and unemployment, international trade and globalization, income and wealth inequalities, and economic development. Using anecdotes and applications galore, Wheelan treats both the power of markets and the role of government in a market economy (including special interest groups and the politics of economics). Devoid of graphs and mathematical equations (but not documentation), this book is quite simply a terrific, much-needed addition to the economics literature for intelligent general readers and must-reading for the media, government officials at all levels, and those who cast ballots and attempt to influence public policy. Highly recommended for general readers, lower- and upper-division undergraduates, and professionals.

A sound, objective introduction to modern economics:
Surprising as it may sound, I was not able to put this book down. Now, while I didn't buy the book (I checked it out at my local library), I wouldn't mind having it on my shelf as a future reference. Having read some of Milton Friedman's work, I found Wheelan's writing much more refreshing and easier to grasp. Wheelan's book focuses much more on the "science" of economics than the merits of the free-market system, though he is obviously in favor of such markets. Wheelan's explanation of the FED seemed more attainable to me than what Friedman put forth in Free to Choose. All in all, anyone looking to a sound introduction to the market economy should check this book out.

A readable, simple introduction to Economics:
This small book is a great introduction to economics in a non text book format. The author's language is fluid and readable, not like a boring, stuffy textbook. He discusses everything from trade, inflation, fed rates, and the role of government. Sometimes informative, this book assumes hardly any economic knowledge from the reader, so it's really a beginner's book to economics. Anyone who took a simple economics course would probably not need to read big chunks of this. Even though simplistic, it is a quick and fun read and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to get in on the ground floor. In the realm of few non-academic economics book, this book is probably the best. For example, it's definitely better than "The Armchair Economist".

A Fun Read That Met All of My Criteria!:
Wheelan has done what no one else seems to have been able to do: write a non-technical economics book that avoids the fatal flaws of many others in the genre, presents all of the major areas of economics, does not insult the adult learner, and keeps the reader's attention from cover to cover. As an economics instructor at the principles through graduate level, I've searched high and low for such a book, and finally found in "Naked Economics" one that passes all of my screens. First, there are no graphs or formulas. Yet Wheelan has been able to capture virtually all of the basic lessons that are found in entry-level econ texts. The book covers micro, macro, monetary, labor and global economics. There are a number of fine non-technical econ. books on the market that focus on microeconomics (David Friedman, "Hidden Order" being one example), but have little to say about macro-, monetary or international economics, except in passing. Also, Wheelan offers brief but sound economic advice on personal investing. Thirdly, the book is politically well balanced. Neither the right nor the left get off scott-free, as Wheelan picks apart each side's weaknesses yet gives credit where sound economics supports a particular position. This aspect alone leaves it head and shoulders above its competitors, which in many cases are more polemics than economics. Wheelan is an economic journalist with a Ph.D., and happily, it shows. He weaves economic lessons with daily life and world events so smoothly that the reader is unaware that he or she has been learning the dismal science. Economics text writers can take a lesson from him.

A Better World Through a Better Understanding of Economics:
After reading economic books by Milton Friedman and Thomas Sowell, I find Naked Economics to be a more balanced explaination of economics. Though I believe good economic sense are more relevant to the conservative viewpoint. This book makes you ponder as too how much we as a society are willing to let the 'creative destruction' victims fall behind in the name of progress. I really hope more people would read into economics, because in the long run, it's the greater poor population will benefit more through capatilistic methods. Though it will be harsh for some groups who loses their jobs. Whether it's through replacing human hands with robotics or outsourcing for cheaper labor, it ultimately advances our productivity. This book answers a lot of questions very relevant to today's current events. All the outcry about US outsourcing jobs. The author puts forward a great question, "Whould it be better for the US if trade weren't allow across the Mississippi River?" I think you could even go further on that question, "Would it be better if each state weren't allow to trade across it's border?" Many would realize the answer is no, but yet, there is such an outcry on outsourcing? It's call lobbying by special interest. Great book, and very easy read.