When you’re reading, you should always remember what mom used to say: “if it seems too good to be true, then it probably is.” Our picks for the best economics booksīased on those qualities, we picked several must-reads. These types of texts usually make unbelievable claims, such as a promise that “anyone can get rich from forex trading” or “investing in a single stock will unlock financial freedom in one year”. Occasionally, dishonest authors will cleverly disguise their get-rich-quick scheme as a scientifically-based manual on “economic secrets that professionals don’t want you to know”. Perhaps the most important quality, you should only read economics texts that are honest with you. If you find yourself falling asleep, you may want to abandon ship and pick up another title. The subject of economics might not be on-par with fantasy adventure novels in terms of excitement, but great authors know how to take a relatively dry subject matter and make it fun. Just because a book is simple to follow doesn’t mean it should be boring. If you find yourself having to look up multiple terms per page, re-reading what you’ve already read multiple times because you don’t understand the text, or you can’t seem to remember what you’ve read on a chapter-to-chapter basis, chances are that you’re reading too far above your skill level. No matter what your skill level, the economics books you choose to read should be at or slightly above your technical understanding. On your search, look for books that have all of the three following characteristics: Easy to follow

However, identifying a great book on economics is typically much easier.

What makes a good book? The answer to that question will depend upon the genre and your personal preferences.

Three characteristics of well-written books on economics

Basic economics paperback