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A comment on The worldly turn: A return to economics that studies the real world. Parent comment

Re:The worldly turn: A return to economics that studies the ... by wnolens on Friday January 21, 2022 @08:01PM (#30032005)
I'm slowly feeding a budding interest in economics and started with Basic Economics by Thomas Sowell. With all the stories and references, I take the basic principles as mostly scientific. However when I told someone with more background in economics, they made me feel as if I'm reading a heretical book that only tells half the story.

Do you have similar views on that book/author, or if not familiar - do you have any recommended books/courses?

I can't help but feel economics learning comes married to a politics, but it's not clear when reading.

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Re:The worldly turn: A return to economics that studies the ... by huitzitziltzin on Friday January 21, 2022 @08:41PM (#30032293)
Haven’t read it so I can’t comment on it. Economists of a more conservative bent do praise the book, but that’s all I know about it.

Really any intro principles book should be fine for the basics. Mankiw is a popular choice. Wolfers and Stevenson is one I use for examples and class problems. The book my department uses is set by committee and because they give the students at our university a (very good) deal relative to competitors.

Economics does not need to come with any politics at the intro or any level, frankly.

In my class, I do criticize a lot of very stupid things DJT did as president when they intersect the material I am teaching, but I’m happy to note when Biden (who I happily voted for) does something I disagreed with.

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