Took me longer than I thought to finish it but I guess with the topic of economics I can't just zip through it like a sci-fi adventure. That was a book that was on my "book bucket list" when it comes to economics. I still need to read more Milton Friedman, Adam Smith, and Marx (so I can understand Marxists since they always ask if I've read Marx).

I know it is a silly notion at this point but I think Basic Economics should be required reading in public high schools along with the classics of Western Literature because if you live in the western world then you should understand the culture as well as understand what made it great. I'm all for learning all the good/bad/ugly history but I think we have rehashed the past excessively without any context. Everything the west has done has been done on a larger or smaller scale throughout history.

But back to the book. I highly recommend it if you haven't read it yet. Although it is still a sad reminder that emotion dominates today. One example was when he talks about how stores in inner cities or high crime areas get attacked for "gouging" the customers and charging higher prices when nobody bothers to consider that they have to charge higher prices to make up for high levels of crime or having to hire security. Also reminded me of the arguments I had with the "but those buildings have insurance" crowd because I said they will be the first to scream bloody murder when those businesses move to a nice suburb and it becomes harder for people to find work in their neighborhood.

Plus I think a lot of high school age students would benefit from the idea that proclamations don't solve problems. I can remember in 2016 hearing so many young people acting like they were compassionate for supporting Bernie. I would ask them what they are doing with their own time and money to help the less fortunate.