A review by mflaxbart
The Undercover Economist by Tim Harford

3.0

This book took me forever to read, unlike the somewhat similar Freakonomics, which was nearly impossible to put down. But Hartford is often funny and always insightful, and just when his observations seem their most outrageous or controversial, he throws in some even-handed reason.

The book was published in 2005, so it doesn't have much commentary on things as they are now in the US (though he does kind of predict a stock market crash!). I'm interested to read his more recent book, where he applies economic reasoning to domestic problems, and hilarity reportedly ensues.

Finally, a favorite line from the book: "If you would like to be rich and have nothing change, you will be disappointed." - p.190