Arguing with Zombies

Economics, Politics, and the Fight for a Better Future

By: Paul Krugman

Narrated by: Rob Shapiro, Paul Krugman

Length: 12 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

An accessible, compelling introduction to today’s major policy issues from the New York Times columnist, best-selling author, and Nobel prize-winning economist Paul Krugman.

There is no better guide than Paul Krugman to basic economics, the ideas that animate much of our public policy. Likewise, there is no stronger foe of zombie economics, the misunderstandings that just won’t die. 

In Arguing with Zombies, Krugman tackles many of these misunderstandings, taking stock of where the United States has come from and where it’s headed in a series of concise, digestible chapters. Drawn mainly from his popular New York Times column, they cover a wide range of issues, organized thematically and framed in the context of a wider debate. Explaining the complexities of health care, housing bubbles, tax reform, Social Security, and so much more with unrivaled clarity and precision, Arguing with Zombies is Krugman at the height of his powers. 

Arguing with Zombies puts Krugman at the front of the debate in the 2020 election year and is an indispensable guide to two decades’ worth of political and economic discourse in the United States and around the globe. Krugman turns his listeners into intelligent consumers of the daily news and hands them the keys to unlock the concepts behind the greatest economic policy issues of our time. In doing so, he delivers an instant classic that can serve as a reference point for this and future generations. 

This audiobook includes a bonus PDF of diagrams from the book. 

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio. 

©2020 Paul Krugman (P)2020 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Narrator Rob Shapiro delivers long, fluid strokes, perfectly paced to draw the listener into Paul Krugman's latest compilation of columns, blog posts, and essays on macroeconomics. Shapiro captures Krugman's passion for explaining the economic implications of political actions. His warm tones breathe life into 'zombie' economics, the ins and outs of the housing bubble, recessions, depressions, and periods of prosperity.... Listeners are treated to the author's passionate reading of the foreword, a tone that is capably echoed by Shapiro throughout the rest of the audiobook." (AudioFile Magazine) 

"In an era when facts are too often disdained and discarded, Paul Krugman wields them like a rapier. A brilliant scholar and polemicist, Krugman's incisive columns are a beacon for anyone who cares about public policy and progressive change. (David Axelrod) 

"Years after appearing in the daily newspaper, Paul Krugman’s columns resonate because he avoids the herd mentality of most journalism. Applying history, math, and humanity, he transforms our understanding of great issues and when writing on economics translates the dismal science into plain English." (David Cay Johnston, recipient of the Pulitzer Prize, an IRE Medal, and the George Polk Award)  

One of the most decisive and partisan books I’ve read

I got this book knowing nothing about the author other that what was on the dust jacket. Expecting a book primarily about economics, I instead got a book constantly throwing accusations and complaining about Republicans. It took honest effort to not hit stop on the last 2/3 of the book, just because I was tired of all the political rhetoric. It did have a smattering of economics, but most of the writing could easily be confused as having not been written by a respected economist, but rather a political pundit who took a couple Econ classes in their undergrad.

I'm a fan, but this could have been better

This is largely a collection of essays written for his column over the last 30 years, with some current comments. I was hoping for a more unified explication of the economics of the day and the direct relevance to the current political questions. I learned some things, but was hoping for more.

Well written but wanted more econ/less politics

Overall good book with a great many economic insights that were entirely new to me, and I personally agree with many views that Mr. Krugman holds. But, I rly didn't need a reminder of why I don't like the current GOP, and I what I would like is a deeper analysis of the specific econ points he makes in the book. After all, he won a Nobel for economics and not political science.

A few talking points repeated a thousand times

I like Krugman's eloquent writing style, but this book is nothing more than a few talking points cherry-picked to support the author's views. Governments should run deficits when unemployment is high and never bother to run a budget surplus because debts melt away due to inflation. Government regulations, the welfare state and high taxes are good. I guess if they increase unemployment, the governments should increase deficits even more.... Could not finish it.

Professor Krugman is a national treasure

If more people listened to Professor Krugman the world would be a better place. I am going to read it again.

Important reading

A masterful treatise from a masterful writer, who brings clear economic insights to a political world of issues. That said, sections of the book do drag occasionally like a plumbers manual, but well worth the time to hear this

Terrific

Clear and well thought out. Very thought provoking. FaIrly easy to read even for the non economist lay person.

rehashing

I slept through some of his stuff. would have liked more current thoughts or cause and effect

Highly Recommend

Excellent economics instruction tied to our nation’s history and current events. Provides important economic comparisons with other countries. I’ve listened to this three times and it continues to help me understand our global and national concerns. Recommend reading Paul Krugman’s editorials in the New York Times. Excellent narration by Rob Shapiro.

Intellectually fulfilling and suitably narrated

Rob Shapiro gives a clear, engaging, and suitable narrative performance of Paul Krugman’s intellectually confident and fulfilling, Arguing with Zombies, a collection of essays on economics. Krugman distills and simplifies economics jargon into clear, comprehendible prose that is enjoyable to read.

Great introduction to US economics

As someone with limited economic knowledge I found this book easy to understand and a bit of an eye opener. I has certainly sparked my interest, and I look forward to reading some counter arguments.

worthwhile tour of krugman

Krugman has been writing a column for years so it was nice to take a leisurely tour of some of his best writing. took a star off as his tone can feel partisan and his comments are occasionally ad hominem

Clean and neat

Very well constructed, and easy to get hold of.
Geart exsamples for illustration. Loved it

Essential for the new economic dialog

At a time when GOP economic policy needs to be re-evaluted after not only the Great Financial crisis, but to combat the post COVID economy.

Interesting but very complex

This book provided a lot of information but is only accessible to people with a good understanding of economics, especially American economics