The worldly philosophers
by Robert L. Heilbroner · first published 1953
94% recommend6% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Readable, narrative history of economics told through the lives and ideas of its major thinkers, showing how theory evolved with its times; a good first book for newcomers wanting the schools of thought compared.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
"The Worldly Philosophers is a bestselling classic that not only enables us to see more deeply into our history but helps us better understand our own times. In this seventh edition, Robert L. Heilbroner provides a view theme that connects thinkers as diverse as Adam Smith and Karl Marx. The theme is the common focus of their highly varied ideas - namely, the search to understand how a capitalist society works."--BOOK JACKET.
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…(1979) Civilization & Capitalism 15th-18th Century, vol. 3: Perspective of the World, trans. Siân Reynolds Brechin, Gray (2006) Imperial San Francisco: Urban Power, Earthly Ruin Heilbroner, Robert (1999) Worldly Philosophers: Lives, Times & Ideas of Great Economic Thinkers, 7E Marx, Karl (1867) Capital, vol. 1 Stiglitz, Joseph (2003) Roaring Nineties: A New History of the World’s Most Prosperous Decade _________ (2010)…
on “Ask HN: What are the must-read books about economics/finance?” ↗I really like "The Worldly Philosophers" by Robert L. Heilbroner. I don't know if it's as focused on technology as you're looking for but it does a good job of showing how economics and economic theory evolved over time and the circumstances…
on “Ask HN: What history of economics and technology book would you recommend?” ↗As a start, take some economics courses, intro Micro and Macro. (Check https://www.coursetalk.com/ https://www.class-central.com/ ) Actually the first book I'd recommend would be The Worldly Philosophers, a readable history of economics https://www.amazon.com/Worldly-Philosophers-Economic-Thinker... A couple of more right-leaning books - Hayek, The Road to Serfdom https://www.amazon.com/Road-Serfdom-Fiftieth-Anniversary/dp/...…
on “Ask HN: What are the must-read books about economics/finance?” ↗The Emperor's New Mind, by Roger Penrose The Tao of Physics, by Fritjof Capra Dancing Wu Li Masters, by Gary Zukav The Naked Ape, by Desmond Morris The Road to Serfdom, by Friedrich Hayek The Worldly Philosophers, by Robert Heilbroner The Story of Philosophy, by Will Durant Grammatical Man, by Jeremy Campbell Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, by Robert M. Pirsig Flow, by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
on “Ask HN: What books have made the biggest impact on your mental models?” ↗I highly recommend Debt: the first 5000 years https://www.amazon.com/Debt-Updated-Expanded-First-Years/dp/... and Heilbroner's Worldly Philosophers https://www.amazon.com/Worldly-Philosophers-Economic-Thinker...
on “Ask HN: What are the must-read books about economics/finance?” ↗…Vacations! Free snacks! Company provided lunches!" etc, offered as perks. You are very (very) wrong and need to read some history. I strongly suggest an economics primer like Robert Heilbroner's The Worldly Philosophers[1]. It's the second-best selling economics book in history and well worth the price of admission. [1] https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/82120.The_Worldly_Philos...
on “Women force change at Indian iPhone plant” ↗These two are my favorite (that are reasonably priced!). Samuelson is definitely a formidable thinker and lays the groundwork for much later economic thinking. http://www.amazon.com/Worldly-Philosophers-Lives-Economic-Th... http://www.amazon.com/Price-Theory-Milton-Friedman/dp/020206... However if you go with the Samuelson, Fridman, and Heilbroner you'll be missing out on some key concepts relating…
on “Good book for economics” ↗…very different books I like that are fun enough that you would not be embarrassed (well, not too embarrassed) reading them at the beach: Milton Friedman, Capitalism and Freedom Robert Heilbroner, The Worldly Philosophers Paul Krugman, Peddling Prosperity Steven Landsburg, The Armchair Economist P.J. O'Rourke, Eat the Rich Burton Malkiel, A Random Walk Down Wall Street Avinash Dixit and Barry Nalebuff, Thinking Strategically…
on “Ask HN: Getting a grip on economics” ↗Along with the excellent recommendations here, I would add "The Worldly Philosophers" by Heilbroner (http://www.amazon.com/Worldly-Philosophers-Lives-Economic-Th...) for a slightly different angle. It covers a wide range of famous economists and describes the high points of their theories…
on “Ask HN: Best book(s) to learn about the basics of economics?” ↗The Worldly Philosophers, by Robert Heilbroner - http://www.amazon.com/Worldly-Philosophers-Lives-Economic-Th...
on “Ask HN: Best book(s) to learn about the basics of economics?” ↗The Worldly Philosophers is my favorite. It will take you through economic history as told by its great philosophers and break down the differences between the schools of thought. It has been my trusted guide on economic theory…
on “Ask HN: Good books on economic history?” ↗For readable bios of the major economic thinkers, I like: New Ideas from Dead Economists: An Introduction to Modern Economic Thought, by Bucholz and Feldstein The Worldly Philosophers: The Lives, Times And Ideas Of The Great Economic Thinkers, by Heilbroner And for a readable sample of the economists' thought in their own words, there's: Teachings from the Worldly Philosophy, by…
on “Ask HN: What are the must-read books about economics/finance?” ↗…Roger Backhouse's The Ordinary Business of Life is extraordinarily dry, but reasonably encompasses the mainstream. http://www.worldcat.org/title/ordinary-business-of-life-a-hi... Heilbroner's The Worldly Philosophers is a classic: http://www.worldcat.org/title/worldly-philosophers-the-lives... For heterodoxy, I'd add to the Austrian side: Herman Daly on ecological economics. http://www.worldcat.org/title/ecological-economics-principle... ul it…
on “Ask HN: What are the must-read books about economics/finance?” ↗Going along with this sort of fundamentally changed worldview theme - I loved Debt: The First 5,000 Years but for me it was equally important to read a book called The Worldly Philosophers: The Lives, Times and Ideas of the Great Economic Thinkers by Robert L. Heilbroner. This book summarizes the entirety of major paradigms in the history of economic thought, complete with great little…
on “Ask HN: What books fundamentally changed the way you think about the world?” ↗…their pricing behaviours, in ways that are not generally addressed today. There are overviews and histories of economic thought and its development which should be useful. I've read Heilbroner (The Worldly Philosophers) and Backhouse (The Ordinary Business of Life), both of which provide a broad overview. Ha-Joon Chang has Economics: The User's Guide, which is a pretty good overview of various schools of thought. I'm…
on “Technology Change Not the Culprit in Wages Falling Behind US Productivity Gains” ↗