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The Worldly Philosophers: The Lives, Times And Ideas Of The Great Economic Thinkers (平装)
by Robert L. Heilbroner
| Category:
Biography |
| Market price: ¥ 168.00
MSL price:
¥ 158.00
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MSL rating:
 Good for Gifts |
| MSL Pointer Review:
A nice summary and analysis of the great Economic thinkers from Adam Smith, Marx, Ricardo to Mill, Keynes, Schumpeter and others. A helpful bibliography. |
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AllReviews |
1 Total 1 pages 10 items |
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-06-12 00:00>
This is a great book about philosophers who layed the foundation for modern economic ideas. It provides a wonderful snapshot of the lives and times of Adam Smith, Thomas Malthus, David Ricardo, Karl Marx, J.S. Mill, Thorstein Veblen, J.M. Keynes, and Joseph Schumpeter, along with a synopsis of their economic thought. Professional economists and economic historians will find this book a bit too basic. The intended audience here is the sophisticated general reader interested in intellectual history, especially as it pertains to economics. I also recommend this book to all students of economics, political economy, public policy, and those studying history of Britain of the last two centuries.
Heilbroner is a good writer and brings his subjet to life. Political economy of economically advanced countries is one of my fields of specialization; and I wrote a dissertation on it, using the Internet as an example of a technological field created as a result of cooperation between business, government, and universities. Still, I learned a lot from this book. It has important facts as well as interesting tidbits that will captivate most intelligent readers. |
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Craig (MSL quote), USA
<2007-06-12 00:00>
As an economics major in college, I found this to be the most interesting economics book I've read in the field and highly recommend it to anyone who has any interest in business, economics, or history. It reads like a good novel as it covers each economist's thoughts and lives, and leads up to the present time. After my older copy wore out, I bought the newer edition. I was disappointed to hear that the author recently passed away, thereby making this the final edition (unless others revise it). Another interesting introductory book is "New Ideas from Dead Economists" which I would recommend after Robert Heilbroner's book. |
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Newman (MSL quote), USA
<2007-06-12 00:00>
This book is an important history of economic thought throughout the ages. It gives the general reader a basic understanding of how economics has changed through the years from Adam Smith to contemporary times.
The impression I gained of this book was that economics does not have a unified theory that addresses all circumstances. A doctrinaire approach could lead to disaster if the solutions proposed to not match the circumstances they were meant to address. In fact, most of the great thinkers of economic matters are addressing specific difficulties which tend to be narrowly focused on a particular set of circumstances. Adam Smith sought to address the problems of mercantilism, Karl Marx the dislocations of the industrial revolution, Keynes, the problems of deflationary economic policy. This is an insightful thesis which explains a great deal.
This book is useful to the person who is familiar with economics and a cautionary tale for people like myself who are not. It provides a good overwiew and gives a good critical understanding of the men and ideas who have contributed to our understanding of these issues. |
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Jack (MSL quote), USA
<2007-06-12 00:00>
This book is about learning from the past and applying it to the future. It is important that we understand the philosophic economics of the past. The author explains what has happened in a "reader friendly" way where the past is understandable and applicable, which is the pure purpose history serves. |
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-06-12 00:00>
I came to this book a novice in economic history. The Worldly Philosophers opened my eyes and gave in-depth detail of some of the major thinkers and key players in economics: such as Karl Marx, John Hobson, Marshall, Keynes, the Utopian socialists, Adam Smith, etc. This is a wonderful book for an introduction to economics. I've generated many ideas and economic theories as a result of reading this book - the author constantly points out their ideas, the flaws, the strengths, the fallacies. |
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Grisham (MSL quote), USA
<2007-06-12 00:00>
I first read "The Worldly Philosophers" in an economics class in college and enjoyed it so much that I've read it a couple times since. Heilbroner does a wonderful job explaining the basics in economic thought from the Pre Adam Smith world through David Ricardo, John Stuart Mill, Karl Marx, Henry George, John M. Keynes, and Joseph Schumpeter. This is a gem! |
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-06-12 00:00>
Starting with the physiocrats, Heilbroner summarizes schools of economic thought, and profiles some leading exponents of each. Temperamentally an interventionist, the author nevertheless reveals some glaring weaknesses in Utopian economic thought.
His chapter on Fourier and the French philosopher's attempt to sell a business plan for some rich capitalist to fund a phalangerie system of society is very interesting, and captures the dilemma of so many meliorist thinkers who fail to convince a critical mass of society to buy into their plans to revolutionize society.
His treatment of communism is doctrinaire, with not much focus on the need for a rabid, ruthless minority to force the rest of society to accept Marxist theory and practice.
The book ends with meditations on Galbraith, and the now-quaint prescriptions for government power to "countervail" private economic power in allegedly free market economies.
The great strength of this book is not whether you agree or disagree with any of the theories profiled by Heilbroner, but that he presents them in a compelling way, relates them to the real people who expressed them distinctively, and creates the desire to learn more. That was Isaac Asimov's definition of what it means to learn.
This book is very good for younger readers who need a challenge. |
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-06-12 00:00>
This book is so much fun that you may have trouble putting it down - and you will definitely be surprised at how much you've learned. It's true that Heilbroner makes no attempt to disguise his opinions about the theories and the theorists, but I found that to be just as informative as his excellent prose style. I would definitely recommend this book as an introduction to economics for people of all ages. |
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Sweeney (MSL quote), USA
<2007-06-12 00:00>
This book is a wonderful survey of big ideas that changed how we experience human society. The author begins with the premise that ideas more than swords or guns have been the transformational stimuli of human history. I encourage anyone to read this book, particularly if you were raised with some ignorance about the world of economics or financial matters. This book won't explain everything in detail, but for a young man raised as a Roman Catholic, this book explained away a lot of the misinformation taught to me about the role of capital, organizing paradigms, and authority on Earth. Everyone that I know who has read the book has praised it. Enjoy. |
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Ghiara (MSL quote), USA
<2007-06-12 00:00>
This is one of those delights that come very rarely in economics. The author wrote for the New Yorker and anyone familiar with the old rambling New Yorker articles that took days to finish reading rather than hours will love this book. The Worldly Philosophers are economists with VISION, so very few mainstream economists are mentioned in this book! Instead Heilbroner takes you on a journey through the most fascinating physical and psychological landscapes. |
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1 Total 1 pages 10 items |
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