The Armchair Economist

Economics and Everyday Life

By: Steven E. Landsburg

Narrated by: Kyle Tait

The extensively revised and updated edition of Steven Landsburg's hugely popular book, The Armchair Economist - "a delightful compendium of quotidian examples illustrating important economic and financial theories" (The Journal of Finance).

In this revised and updated edition of Steven Landsburg's hugely popular book, he applies economic theory to today's most pressing concerns, answering a diverse range of daring questions, such as:

• Why are seat belts deadly?
• Why do celebrity endorsements sell products?
• Why are failed executives paid so much?
• Who should bear the cost of oil spills?
• Do government deficits matter?
• How is workplace safety bad for workers?
• What's wrong with the local foods movement?
• Which rich people can't be taxed?
• Why is rising unemployment sometimes good?
• Why do women pay more at the dry cleaner?
• Why is life full of disappointments?

Whether these are nagging questions you've always had, or ones you never even thought to ask, this new edition of The Armchair Economist turns the eternal ideas of economic theory into concrete answers that you can use to navigate the challenges of contemporary life.

©2012 Steven E. Landsburg (P)2018 Tantor

Should have liked it

I wanted to like it much more than I did. And I should have liked it much more than I did. I have read almost every popular-economics book out there, but this one was unfortunately one of my least favourites. Sometimes the author is just kind of dumb about the reasons behind some things. He seems to forget that people are humans, to the strong detriment of his reasoning. I think also the book lacks enough narrative. As it is it is quite dry.

Why Behavioral Economics was invented

Classical Economics is too simplistic and black / white. I hated this book. Stopped after chapter 5. Go read misbehaving or nudge.

More for Someone Interested in Studying Economics

The author should have left out the economic analysis of law and legal disputes (how the economy is better or worse off depending on which party wins), his economic musings that have no answers, and his views on environmentalism (similar to his views on religion - don't impose on those who don't believe). This book is probably more interesting for people who want study economics rather than the general public.

Still relevant today.

Wonderful starting place for economics or logic. I found it easy to follow and have recommended to others.

Had high hopes

It starts off quite good and what was described was exactly what I was looking for. However, I can't really put my finger on it, but the author is very conceited and does not really take the time to explain the why something is true. He has some valid points, however most of his statements are presented without enough support to make you believe them. He does not spend any time helping you understand why certain logic statements he makes are true. Did I say he is quite conceited, just did not come off as very likable :(