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Industry and Empire
by Eric J. Hobsbawm • 1968
Britain's industrial head start created an empire-dependent economy destined to fall behind.
3.92
574
Industry and Empire Summary
Industry and Empire 96%
Britain's industrial head start created an empire-dependent economy destined to fall behind.
by Eric J. Hobsbawm 1968
3.92
574 ratings
Fifty Inventions That Shaped the Modern Economy
by Tim Harford • 2017
Fifty inventions, from barbed wire to infant formula, and the economic ripples nobody saw coming.
4.06
4k+
Fifty Inventions That Shaped the Modern Economy Summary
Fifty Inventions That Shaped the Modern Economy 95%
Fifty inventions, from barbed wire to infant formula, and the economic ripples nobody saw coming.
by Tim Harford 2017
4.06
4k+ ratings
The Technology Trap
by Carl Benedikt Frey • 2019
The telescope helps you see. The power loom takes your job. Which one is AI?
4.10
657
The Technology Trap Summary
The Technology Trap 95%
The telescope helps you see. The power loom takes your job. Which one is AI?
by Carl Benedikt Frey 2019
4.10
657 ratings
The Gifts of Athena
by Joel Mokyr • 2002
The modern economy runs on a feedback loop between understanding nature and manipulating it.
4.02
136
The Gifts of Athena Summary
The Gifts of Athena 95%
The modern economy runs on a feedback loop between understanding nature and manipulating it.
by Joel Mokyr 2002
4.02
136 ratings
Power and Progress
by Daron Acemoğlu • 2023
For a thousand years, technology served the powerful; the handful of exceptions hold the lesson.
3.94
2k+
Power and Progress Summary
Power and Progress 95%
For a thousand years, technology served the powerful; the handful of exceptions hold the lesson.
by Daron Acemoğlu 2023
3.94
2k+ ratings
An Empire of Wealth
by John Steele Gordon • 2004
6% of the people, 30% of GDP: the institutional inheritance behind American wealth.
4.10
1k+
An Empire of Wealth Summary
An Empire of Wealth 95%
6% of the people, 30% of GDP: the institutional inheritance behind American wealth.
by John Steele Gordon 2004
4.10
1k+ ratings
The Birth of Plenty
by William J. Bernstein • 2004
Four conditions built the modern world; without them, even silver empires collapse.
4.19
858
The Birth of Plenty Summary
The Birth of Plenty 95%
Four conditions built the modern world; without them, even silver empires collapse.
by William J. Bernstein 2004
4.19
858 ratings
Energy and Civilization
by Vaclav Smil • 2017
A week of American energy use matches a year of Nigerian. The history behind that gap.
4.09
4k+
Energy and Civilization Summary
Energy and Civilization 95%
A week of American energy use matches a year of Nigerian. The history behind that gap.
by Vaclav Smil 2017
4.09
4k+ ratings
How Progress Ends
by Carl Benedikt Frey • 2025
Progress doesn't stall from a lack of ideas but from institutions that protect yesterday's winners.
4.16
233
How Progress Ends Summary
How Progress Ends 94%
Progress doesn't stall from a lack of ideas but from institutions that protect yesterday's winners.
by Carl Benedikt Frey 2025
4.16
233 ratings
Made in the USA
by Vaclav Smil • 2013
How the country that made a third of the planet's goods stopped making almost everything.
3.76
510
Made in the USA Summary
Made in the USA 94%
How the country that made a third of the planet's goods stopped making almost everything.
by Vaclav Smil 2013
3.76
510 ratings
Work
by James Suzman • 2020
Work predates paychecks by billions of years. A history of how energy became employment.
3.83
3k+
Work Summary
Work 94%
Work predates paychecks by billions of years. A history of how energy became employment.
by James Suzman 2020
3.83
3k+ ratings
The Wealth and Poverty of Nations
by David S. Landes • 1998
Coal and colonies don't explain Western wealth. The real reason: a culture that rewarded dissent.
3.96
4k+
The Wealth and Poverty of Nations Summary
The Wealth and Poverty of Nations 94%
Coal and colonies don't explain Western wealth. The real reason: a culture that rewarded dissent.
by David S. Landes 1998
3.96
4k+ ratings
Leave Me Alone and I'll Make You Rich
by Deirdre Nansen McCloskey • 2020
Global income rose thirty-fold since 1800. The cause wasn't empire or exploitation: it was a deal.
3.81
164
Leave Me Alone and I'll Make You Rich Summary
Leave Me Alone and I'll Make You Rich 94%
Global income rose thirty-fold since 1800. The cause wasn't empire or exploitation: it was a deal.
by Deirdre Nansen McCloskey 2020
3.81
164 ratings
The Square and the Tower
by Niall Ferguson • 2017
The real shapers of history were not kings but the networks connecting everyone else.
3.65
4k+
The Square and the Tower Summary
The Square and the Tower 94%
The real shapers of history were not kings but the networks connecting everyone else.
by Niall Ferguson 2017
3.65
4k+ ratings
Global Capitalism
by Jeffry A. Frieden • 2007
How governments built the first global economy, dismantled it, and rebuilt.
3.87
644
Global Capitalism Summary
Global Capitalism 94%
How governments built the first global economy, dismantled it, and rebuilt.
by Jeffry A. Frieden 2007
3.87
644 ratings
The Age of Capital, 1848–1875
by Eric J. Hobsbawm • 1975
After 1848, capitalism conquered the globe. Railways, gold, and free trade were its weapons.
4.27
5k+
The Age of Capital, 1848–1875 Summary
The Age of Capital, 1848–1875 93%
After 1848, capitalism conquered the globe. Railways, gold, and free trade were its weapons.
by Eric J. Hobsbawm 1975
4.27
5k+ ratings
A Culture of Growth
by Joel Mokyr • 2016
What fueled modern growth? Not property rights. A cultural shift that made nature a solvable puzzle.
3.94
427
A Culture of Growth Summary
A Culture of Growth 93%
What fueled modern growth? Not property rights. A cultural shift that made nature a solvable puzzle.
by Joel Mokyr 2016
3.94
427 ratings
How Economics Explains the World
by Andrew Leigh • 2024
The entire human story, retold through scarcity, trade, and the accidents of birth.
3.91
3k+
How Economics Explains the World Summary
How Economics Explains the World 93%
The entire human story, retold through scarcity, trade, and the accidents of birth.
by Andrew Leigh 2024
3.91
3k+ ratings
Capitalism in America
by Alan Greenspan • 2018
America's 400-year economic experiment: why each era's solution becomes the next era's problem.
4.06
2k+
Capitalism in America Summary
Capitalism in America 93%
America's 400-year economic experiment: why each era's solution becomes the next era's problem.
by Alan Greenspan 2018
4.06
2k+ ratings
The Prize
by Daniel Yergin • 1991
How a dark liquid wrote the rules of power, decided wars, and built the greatest fortunes.
4.44
13k+
The Prize Summary
The Prize 93%
How a dark liquid wrote the rules of power, decided wars, and built the greatest fortunes.
by Daniel Yergin 1991
4.44
13k+ ratings
Slavery, Capitalism and the Industrial Revolution
by Maxine Berg • 2023
Sugar, copper, cotton, and credit: how enslaved labor built the Industrial Revolution.
4.42
26
Slavery, Capitalism and the Industrial Revolution Summary
Slavery, Capitalism and the Industrial Revolution 93%
Sugar, copper, cotton, and credit: how enslaved labor built the Industrial Revolution.
by Maxine Berg 2023
4.42
26 ratings
Civilization
by Niall Ferguson • 2011
Five hundred years of Western rule rested on six innovations. The rest have now caught up.
3.86
10k+
Civilization Summary
Civilization 93%
Five hundred years of Western rule rested on six innovations. The rest have now caught up.
by Niall Ferguson 2011
3.86
10k+ ratings
Kicking Away the Ladder
by Ha-Joon Chang • 2002
Tariffs, subsidies, and industrial espionage built the West. Now it preaches free trade to the rest.
4.21
1k+
Kicking Away the Ladder Summary
Kicking Away the Ladder 93%
Tariffs, subsidies, and industrial espionage built the West. Now it preaches free trade to the rest.
by Ha-Joon Chang 2002
4.21
1k+ ratings
A Splendid Exchange
by William J. Bernstein • 2008
Commerce, not conquest, built the modern world: the history of trade from obsidian to oil.
4.16
3k+
A Splendid Exchange Summary
A Splendid Exchange 93%
Commerce, not conquest, built the modern world: the history of trade from obsidian to oil.
by William J. Bernstein 2008
4.16
3k+ ratings
How Innovation Works
by Matt Ridley • 2020
Not lone geniuses but slow, collective tinkering, freedom, and accident drive real innovation.
4.11
4k+
How Innovation Works Summary
How Innovation Works 93%
Not lone geniuses but slow, collective tinkering, freedom, and accident drive real innovation.
by Matt Ridley 2020
4.11
4k+ ratings
The Rational Optimist
by Matt Ridley • 2010
Trade, not genius, drives human progress. Two centuries of data, and why the pessimists always lose.
3.97
14k+
The Rational Optimist Summary
The Rational Optimist 93%
Trade, not genius, drives human progress. Two centuries of data, and why the pessimists always lose.
by Matt Ridley 2010
3.97
14k+ ratings
Growth
by Daniel Susskind • 2024
Growth is recent, reversible, and destructive. The choice isn't whether to grow but how.
3.75
831
Growth Summary
Growth 93%
Growth is recent, reversible, and destructive. The choice isn't whether to grow but how.
by Daniel Susskind 2024
3.75
831 ratings
Invention and Innovation
by Vaclav Smil • 2023
Moore's Law is an outlier. Everywhere else, innovation crawls, stumbles, or backfires.
3.84
1k+
Invention and Innovation Summary
Invention and Innovation 93%
Moore's Law is an outlier. Everywhere else, innovation crawls, stumbles, or backfires.
by Vaclav Smil 2023
3.84
1k+ ratings
The Race between Education and Technology
by Claudia Goldin • 2008
The 20th century's inequality curve has a single engine: how fast education kept pace with machines.
3.81
189
The Race between Education and Technology Summary
The Race between Education and Technology 93%
The 20th century's inequality curve has a single engine: how fast education kept pace with machines.
by Claudia Goldin 2008
3.81
189 ratings
Money
by Yuval Noah Harari • 2018
Algorithms are building an economy where the human is the bottleneck, not the point.
3.90
3k+
Money Summary
Money 93%
Algorithms are building an economy where the human is the bottleneck, not the point.
by Yuval Noah Harari 2018
3.90
3k+ ratings
ColdFusion Presents
by Dagogo Altraide • 2019
From steam to AI: the chain of breakthroughs that built the modern world, every link essential.
4.17
780
ColdFusion Presents Summary
ColdFusion Presents 93%
From steam to AI: the chain of breakthroughs that built the modern world, every link essential.
by Dagogo Altraide 2019
4.17
780 ratings
The Zero Marginal Cost Society
by Jeremy Rifkin • 2014
When everything costs nearly nothing to produce, what happens to an economy built on scarcity?
3.92
2k+
The Zero Marginal Cost Society Summary
The Zero Marginal Cost Society 93%
When everything costs nearly nothing to produce, what happens to an economy built on scarcity?
by Jeremy Rifkin 2014
3.92
2k+ ratings
Bad Samaritans
by Ha-Joon Chang • 2007
Rich nations preach free trade. Their own history is tariffs, state planning, and stolen patents.
4.20
6k+
Bad Samaritans Summary
Bad Samaritans 93%
Rich nations preach free trade. Their own history is tariffs, state planning, and stolen patents.
by Ha-Joon Chang 2007
4.20
6k+ ratings
Concrete Economics
by Stephen S. Cohen • 2015
Free markets didn't build American prosperity. Government did, repeatedly, then we forgot.
3.87
283
Concrete Economics Summary
Concrete Economics 93%
Free markets didn't build American prosperity. Government did, repeatedly, then we forgot.
by Stephen S. Cohen 2015
3.87
283 ratings
Outside the Box
by Marc Levinson • 2020
Globalization moved goods and built China. The next phase trades ideas, and new winners emerge.
3.94
228
Outside the Box Summary
Outside the Box 93%
Globalization moved goods and built China. The next phase trades ideas, and new winners emerge.
by Marc Levinson 2020
3.94
228 ratings
The Pencil
by Henry Petroski • 1992
A pencil hides centuries of engineering failures, global trade, and the secret to good design.
3.80
657
The Pencil Summary
The Pencil 93%
A pencil hides centuries of engineering failures, global trade, and the secret to good design.
by Henry Petroski 1992
3.80
657 ratings
The Capitalist Manifesto
by Johan Norberg • 2023
What brought extreme poverty from 29% to 8% in twenty years? The answer is not what you've been told
4.23
811
The Capitalist Manifesto Summary
The Capitalist Manifesto 93%
What brought extreme poverty from 29% to 8% in twenty years? The answer is not what you've been told
by Johan Norberg 2023
4.23
811 ratings
The Box
by Marc Levinson • 2006
In 1956, a trucker shipped 58 truck bodies on a tanker. What followed remade the global economy.
3.86
7k+
The Box Summary
The Box 93%
In 1956, a trucker shipped 58 truck bodies on a tanker. What followed remade the global economy.
by Marc Levinson 2006
3.86
7k+ ratings
Age of Revolutions
by Fareed Zakaria • 2024
Four centuries of revolutions reveal one pattern: gradual change sticks; radical breaks collapse.
4.17
5k+
Age of Revolutions Summary
Age of Revolutions 92%
Four centuries of revolutions reveal one pattern: gradual change sticks; radical breaks collapse.
by Fareed Zakaria 2024
4.17
5k+ ratings
Eat People
by Andy Kessler • 2011
Find what gets cheaper every year, waste it prodigiously, and let the market eat the rest.
3.63
393
Eat People Summary
Eat People 92%
Find what gets cheaper every year, waste it prodigiously, and let the market eat the rest.
by Andy Kessler 2011
3.63
393 ratings
Average Is Over
by Tyler Cowen • 2013
The labor market is now a chess match: winning means teaming up with the machine.
3.64
2k+
Average Is Over Summary
Average Is Over 92%
The labor market is now a chess match: winning means teaming up with the machine.
by Tyler Cowen 2013
3.64
2k+ ratings
Numbers Don't Lie
by Vaclav Smil • 2020
Your smartphone costs the planet as much as a car. 71 data points that rewrite modern life.
3.82
11k+
Numbers Don't Lie Summary
Numbers Don't Lie 92%
Your smartphone costs the planet as much as a car. 71 data points that rewrite modern life.
by Vaclav Smil 2020
3.82
11k+ ratings
The Victory of Reason
by Rodney Stark • 2005
The 'Dark Ages' were an era of explosive innovation, lit by the Church's obsession with reason.
3.99
927
The Victory of Reason Summary
The Victory of Reason 92%
The 'Dark Ages' were an era of explosive innovation, lit by the Church's obsession with reason.
by Rodney Stark 2005
3.99
927 ratings
What Would the Great Economists Do?
by Linda Yueh • 2018
Trade wars. Stagnant pay. Slowing growth. Twelve great economists diagnosed them all, decades ago.
3.66
1k+
What Would the Great Economists Do? Summary
What Would the Great Economists Do? 92%
Trade wars. Stagnant pay. Slowing growth. Twelve great economists diagnosed them all, decades ago.
by Linda Yueh 2018
3.66
1k+ ratings
The Big Three in Economics
by Mark Skousen • 2007
Smith, Marx, and Keynes built three rival blueprints for capitalism. The argument never ended.
3.59
863
The Big Three in Economics Summary
The Big Three in Economics 92%
Smith, Marx, and Keynes built three rival blueprints for capitalism. The argument never ended.
by Mark Skousen 2007
3.59
863 ratings
The Journey of Humanity
by Oded Galor • 2022
Every human was poor for 300,000 years. Then some nations escaped. The reason sits in prehistory.
3.82
2k+
The Journey of Humanity Summary
The Journey of Humanity 92%
Every human was poor for 300,000 years. Then some nations escaped. The reason sits in prehistory.
by Oded Galor 2022
3.82
2k+ ratings
Edible Economics
by Ha-Joon Chang • 2022
Your dinner is a map of global economics: tariffs, subsidies, and the myths we still believe.
3.83
3k+
Edible Economics Summary
Edible Economics 92%
Your dinner is a map of global economics: tariffs, subsidies, and the myths we still believe.
by Ha-Joon Chang 2022
3.83
3k+ ratings
Conquests and Cultures
by Thomas Sowell • 1998
Geography blocked Africa, conquests lifted Britain, and human capital explains the gap.
4.44
964
Conquests and Cultures Summary
Conquests and Cultures 92%
Geography blocked Africa, conquests lifted Britain, and human capital explains the gap.
by Thomas Sowell 1998
4.44
964 ratings
The Nature of Technology
by W. Brian Arthur • 2009
Technology is nature harnessed, then endlessly recombined. Each invention fuels the next.
3.95
858
The Nature of Technology Summary
The Nature of Technology 92%
Technology is nature harnessed, then endlessly recombined. Each invention fuels the next.
by W. Brian Arthur 2009
3.95
858 ratings
The New World Economy
by Randy Charles Epping • 2020
One disruption anywhere now hits everywhere. A map of the new global economy for beginners.
3.64
152
The New World Economy Summary
The New World Economy 92%
One disruption anywhere now hits everywhere. A map of the new global economy for beginners.
by Randy Charles Epping 2020
3.64
152 ratings
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