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A review by viviantodd
Economics in One Lesson: The Shortest & Surest Way to Understand Basic Economics by Henry Hazlitt
2.0
I’d suggest a better title for this book to be “Libertarian Economics in One Lesson”. This book does contain some great explanations at how the market system works, but it is also chock full of libertarian propaganda to say the least. My edition has endorsements from Ayn Rand and Ron Paul so you totally know what you’re getting into when you read it. The bias is also clear in the way Hazlitt refers to those who disagree with him (e.g. “the economically illiterate”)
I really enjoy it for its simplicity. It explains free-market theories well and concisely. Hazlitt beats over your head the idea that nothing in an economy happens in isolation, which is true and essential understanding for economics. However, by the second half of the book all arguments are predictable and repetitive.
One problem I had with this book, that I find all too common in economics in general, is the exclusive use of he/him pronouns when referring to agents in literally made up examples. Ignoring that women are both consumers and producers is a typical fallacy in economics, even in relatively newer works, such as this one.
I really enjoy it for its simplicity. It explains free-market theories well and concisely. Hazlitt beats over your head the idea that nothing in an economy happens in isolation, which is true and essential understanding for economics. However, by the second half of the book all arguments are predictable and repetitive.
One problem I had with this book, that I find all too common in economics in general, is the exclusive use of he/him pronouns when referring to agents in literally made up examples. Ignoring that women are both consumers and producers is a typical fallacy in economics, even in relatively newer works, such as this one.