Economics in One Lesson: The Shortest and Surest Way to Understand Basic Economics

This book, even if it may seem outdated based on the copyright date, relates to today's times. It explains "real" economics and how one should look at it compared to what we are taught in school. It should be a REQUIRED READING in high school as well as to all current and potential politicians.

Particularly appropriate for these times (even many decades after it was written), Hazlitt's Economics in One Lesson offers an alternative to the traditional Keynesian economic theory of the 20th Century. This book is a fairly easy read for non-economists and, though a bit repetitive towards the end, quite enlightening. I'd recommend this book strongly for any student of macro economics or anyone curious in what is happening to the global economy.

The title is a little off. This is shortest and surest way to understand government economic policies - not the basic of economics. But this hardly detracts - I think I am more delighted with what I found than I would have been with what I expected!

If you passed a junior high school Economics class (and have the reading skills to match), you'll be able to make sense of this brilliantly written book. Using easy understandable language, simple examples, and direct reasoning founded on straightforward principles, "Economics in One Lesson" dissects most common fallacious economic policies.

Reading it will give you the basic tools needed to cut through the crap and quickly dissect the debates on almost any of the inherently flawed economic policies which are squandering the wealth of the West and retarding the growth of developing nations. Most of the policies we see proposed (and in effect) today fit the basic forms of those Hazlitt dismembered more than 60 years ago.

I was blown away by a single paragraph in chapter 5 which nailed the heart of the current housing crisis.

Every politician and business leader should be forced to read and understand Economics in One Lesson. Again and again, the classic mistake is made: pursuing a short-term policy that benefits only a select few at the expense of a long-term policy that could benefit many. It's why hybrid car policies can lead to more traffic and pollution. Why setting maximum prices for staples (such as milk) can lead to shortages of those staples. There are many more examples. Read the book. It's a quick read with a huge ROI.

Great gift for your teenager or aging hippy who thinks all problems can be resolved if only someone else would foot the bill. Highly recommended for anyone desiring to support either party this year - will be an enlightening read no matter the side or the viewpoint - But I guarantee you will call yourself to question for your current views regardless of which side you are on today.