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The Price Of Everything: A Parable Of Possibility And Prosperity (2008)

by Russell Roberts(Favorite Author)

3.64 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

0691135096 (ISBN13: 9780691135090)

languge

English

genre

Fiction

publisher

Princeton University Press

review 1: The Price of Everything is an enjoyable fiction story, interwoven with the essential economic lessons of Leonard Reed's "I, Pencil," Smith's Wealth of Nations, and other free-market economic greats. Using an informative dialogue between economics professor & university provost Ruth Lieber, and her Cuban-American student, Ramon, Russell Roberts breaks down economic basics (market systems, price emergence, spontaneous order, "unseen" forces) into concepts the non-economist can understand. Lieber subtly nudges Ramon through the logic by establishing their common goals (despite being somewhat ideological opposites), and teaching him relevant history, which in turn, leads him to reevaluate what he'd always felt were the most effective means of achieving those ends. While I'd re... morecommend this to anyone, I enjoyed Roberts' novel The Invisible Heart (also a didactic economics novel) slightly more than I did this one. Having family members who fled Cuba, I did appreciate the incorporation of that plot line, but I found the storyline of Invisible Heart to be a bit more engaging. Both are very quick reads.
review 2: A quick enjoyable read that I finished during my airport wait and subsequent flight. Would recommend it as an introductory text to my econ students. I especially like the discussion about the morality of large retailer charging higher prices in the aftermath of an earthquake. Ramon Fernandez reminded me of some people I know who could stir up a revolution over a thing they don't clearly understand. The character of Ruth Lieber made me think of Deidre M, even though I have never met her, this is how I imagine her to be. less

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