Thinking Like an Economist: A Guide to Rational Decision Making

By: Randall Bartlett, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Randall Bartlett

Economic forces are everywhere around you. But that doesn't mean you need to passively accept whatever outcome those forces might press upon you. Instead, with these 12 fast-moving and crystal clear lectures, you can learn how to use a small handful of basic nuts-and-bolts principles to turn those same forces to your own advantage.

Requiring no previous economics background, Professor Bartlett presents some of the fundamental principles and concepts that shape the lenses through which economists view the world. He then shows you how to use these simple analytical tools to understand what you see through those lenses. By learning to identify the many varied situations in which economics affects your life and how to wield the tools that can help you make the wisest choices in those situations, you'll enhance not only your understanding of daily life but your own success in living it.

Packed with case studies, helpful strategies, economic insights, and more, this series will equip you with a reliable toolkit for thinking more like an everyday economist and approach the issues in your own life with a more educated, seasoned eye. And after these dozen lectures with Professor Bartlett, things really will look very different. You'll see how basic economic ideas like incentives, risks, rewards, and rationality are not just the province of professional economists, government policymakers, or your local bank's loan officer, but instead lie at the root of nearly every decision you must make in your daily life.

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

©2010 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2010 The Great Courses

Great overview of economic thinking!

What did you love best about Thinking Like an Economist: A Guide to Rational Decision Making?

Professor Bartlett quickly got into the meat of the topic and the material was quite easy to grasp. It really makes you think about priorities and how to best decide about how you will spend your time and resources.

Amazing course

Probably the best discussion I have ever heard on rational decision making. It fundamentally changed the way I look at the world.

Rudimentary, but great intro to economics

it was a great little thing to pop on while doing chores, the whole thing felt like one of those popular non-fiction books that summarizes concepts intermingled with anecdotes to engage the audience.
If you are familiar with compound interest, game theory, retirement investing, and a passing knowledge of pop psychology, that's what this course was. not an entire waste of time when listened to at 1.75x but did not think it was good value.

very good primer

good for a refresh if you have a background or as an intro if you don't.

Amazing!

Excellent explanation of economic concepts in base of real life examples. Neat narration. Highly recommended.