25 Books like Bad Samaritans

Kicking Away the Ladder

by Ha-Joon Chang • 2002

Tariffs, subsidies, and industrial espionage built the West. Now it preaches free trade to the rest.

4.21

1k+

🏛️ Economic History 🌐 Development Economics 💰 Political Economy 🏭 Industrial Policy 🚢 Trade Protectionism

Kicking Away the Ladder 98%

Tariffs, subsidies, and industrial espionage built the West. Now it preaches free trade to the rest.

by Ha-Joon Chang 2002

4.21

1k+ ratings

🏛️ Economic History 🌐 Development Economics 💰 Political Economy 🏭 Industrial Policy 🚢 Trade Protectionism

Concrete Economics

by Stephen S. Cohen • 2015

Free markets didn't build American prosperity. Government did, repeatedly, then we forgot.

3.87

283

🏛️ Economic History 🏭 Industrial Policy 🏗️ State-Led Development 🇺🇸 Economic Nationalism 💰 Financialization

Concrete Economics 97%

Free markets didn't build American prosperity. Government did, repeatedly, then we forgot.

by Stephen S. Cohen 2015

3.87

283 ratings

🏛️ Economic History 🏭 Industrial Policy 🏗️ State-Led Development 🇺🇸 Economic Nationalism 💰 Financialization

Capitalism, Alone

by Branko Milanović • 2019

Capitalism has no rivals left, only two forms. Each carries a contradiction that could unravel it.

4.11

1k+

🏭 Global Capitalism 🏛️ Political Economy 📊 Inequality Economics 🏗️ State-Led Development 🇨🇳 China's Rise

Capitalism, Alone 97%

Capitalism has no rivals left, only two forms. Each carries a contradiction that could unravel it.

by Branko Milanović 2019

4.11

1k+ ratings

🏭 Global Capitalism 🏛️ Political Economy 📊 Inequality Economics 🏗️ State-Led Development 🇨🇳 China's Rise

23 Things They Don't Tell You about Capitalism

by Ha-Joon Chang • 2010

Markets were never free, finance is too fast: 23 reversals that rewrite capitalism.

3.96

13k+

💡 Heterodox Economics 🧨 Economic Myths 🏛️ Political Economy ⚖️ Market Regulation 🏦 Financial Reform

23 Things They Don't Tell You about Capitalism Summary

23 Things They Don't Tell You about Capitalism 96%

Markets were never free, finance is too fast: 23 reversals that rewrite capitalism.

by Ha-Joon Chang 2010

3.96

13k+ ratings

💡 Heterodox Economics 🧨 Economic Myths 🏛️ Political Economy ⚖️ Market Regulation 🏦 Financial Reform

Making Globalization Work

by Joseph E. Stiglitz • 2006

Rich nations wrote global trade rules for themselves. A Nobel economist's plan to rewrite them.

3.85

2k+

🌍 International Development 📊 Development Economics ⚡ Anti-Neoliberalism 🏛️ Global Governance 🚢 Trade Policy

Making Globalization Work 96%

Rich nations wrote global trade rules for themselves. A Nobel economist's plan to rewrite them.

by Joseph E. Stiglitz 2006

3.85

2k+ ratings

🌍 International Development 📊 Development Economics ⚡ Anti-Neoliberalism 🏛️ Global Governance 🚢 Trade Policy

Buddhism

by Damien Keown • 1996

Buddhism has no god, no bible, no pope. What holds its many traditions together?

3.74

3k+

📖 Introductory Buddhism ☸️ Buddhist Philosophy 🛕 Theravada Buddhism 🪷 Mahayana Buddhism 🧘 Meditation Practice

Buddhism 96%

Buddhism has no god, no bible, no pope. What holds its many traditions together?

by Damien Keown 1996

3.74

3k+ ratings

📖 Introductory Buddhism ☸️ Buddhist Philosophy 🛕 Theravada Buddhism 🪷 Mahayana Buddhism 🧘 Meditation Practice

Breakout Nations

by Ruchir Sharma • 2012

The BRICS boom is fading. Smart money is looking at nations the world has been ignoring.

4.04

3k+

🏙️ Emerging Markets 📈 Development Economics 🌐 Global Macro 🛢️ Commodity Cycles 🏛️ Crony Capitalism

Breakout Nations 96%

The BRICS boom is fading. Smart money is looking at nations the world has been ignoring.

by Ruchir Sharma 2012

4.04

3k+ ratings

🏙️ Emerging Markets 📈 Development Economics 🌐 Global Macro 🛢️ Commodity Cycles 🏛️ Crony Capitalism

The Globalization Paradox

by Dani Rodrik • 2010

The case for why global markets must sometimes give way to the voting booth.

4.00

2k+

🏛️ Political Economy 📋 Trade Policy 🌍 Development Economics 💥 Financial Crises ⚖️ Economic Governance

The Globalization Paradox 96%

The case for why global markets must sometimes give way to the voting booth.

by Dani Rodrik 2010

4.00

2k+ ratings

🏛️ Political Economy 📋 Trade Policy 🌍 Development Economics 💥 Financial Crises ⚖️ Economic Governance

Edible Economics

by Ha-Joon Chang • 2022

Your dinner is a map of global economics: tariffs, subsidies, and the myths we still believe.

3.83

3k+

🧠 Economic Myths 🌐 Global Trade 🏭 Industrial Policy 📜 Economic History 🤲 Care Economy

Edible Economics 96%

Your dinner is a map of global economics: tariffs, subsidies, and the myths we still believe.

by Ha-Joon Chang 2022

3.83

3k+ ratings

🧠 Economic Myths 🌐 Global Trade 🏭 Industrial Policy 📜 Economic History 🤲 Care Economy

Unholy Trinity

by Richard Peet • 2003

Wall Street's enforcers: how three institutions built an economic order the poor never chose.

3.57

147

🏦 Neoliberal Critique 🌐 Global Governance 📉 Structural Adjustment 📊 Political Economy ⚖️ Global Inequality

Unholy Trinity 96%

Wall Street's enforcers: how three institutions built an economic order the poor never chose.

by Richard Peet 2003

3.57

147 ratings

🏦 Neoliberal Critique 🌐 Global Governance 📉 Structural Adjustment 📊 Political Economy ⚖️ Global Inequality

How Progress Ends

by Carl Benedikt Frey • 2025

Progress doesn't stall from a lack of ideas but from institutions that protect yesterday's winners.

4.19

202

📈 Economic History 💡 Innovation Economics 💥 Creative Destruction 🛡️ Incumbent Resistance 🏛️ State-Led Development

How Progress Ends 96%

Progress doesn't stall from a lack of ideas but from institutions that protect yesterday's winners.

by Carl Benedikt Frey 2025

4.19

202 ratings

📈 Economic History 💡 Innovation Economics 💥 Creative Destruction 🛡️ Incumbent Resistance 🏛️ State-Led Development

Trade Wars Are Class Wars

by Matthew C. Klein • 2020

The real trade war is between classes, not nations. Money flows, not goods, tell the story.

4.11

2k+

🏛️ Political Economy ⚖️ Global Imbalances 💰 Inequality And Trade 👥 Class Conflict 📊 Financial Flows

Trade Wars Are Class Wars 95%

The real trade war is between classes, not nations. Money flows, not goods, tell the story.

by Matthew C. Klein 2020

4.11

2k+ ratings

🏛️ Political Economy ⚖️ Global Imbalances 💰 Inequality And Trade 👥 Class Conflict 📊 Financial Flows

Outside the Box

by Marc Levinson • 2020

Globalization moved goods and built China. The next phase trades ideas, and new winners emerge.

3.94

228

🏛️ Economic History 🌍 Global Trade 🔗 Supply Chains 📜 Trade Policy 💰 Global Finance

Outside the Box 95%

Globalization moved goods and built China. The next phase trades ideas, and new winners emerge.

by Marc Levinson 2020

3.94

228 ratings

🏛️ Economic History 🌍 Global Trade 🔗 Supply Chains 📜 Trade Policy 💰 Global Finance

China's Gilded Age

by Yuen Yuen Ang • 2021

Why did China boom for 40 years amid vast corruption? Because not all graft kills growth.

4.17

309

🏛️ Political Economy 🌏 Comparative Politics 💼 Crony Capitalism 📊 Institutional Economics 🗿 Developmental State

China's Gilded Age 95%

Why did China boom for 40 years amid vast corruption? Because not all graft kills growth.

by Yuen Yuen Ang 2021

4.17

309 ratings

🏛️ Political Economy 🌏 Comparative Politics 💼 Crony Capitalism 📊 Institutional Economics 🗿 Developmental State

The Global Minotaur

by Yanis Varoufakis • 2011

Global prosperity ran on America's twin deficits from the 1970s until 2008. Then the engine died.

4.17

2k+

🏦 International Economics 🏛️ Political Economy 📉 Financial Crises 💵 Dollar Hegemony 🏭 Financialization

The Global Minotaur 95%

Global prosperity ran on America's twin deficits from the 1970s until 2008. Then the engine died.

by Yanis Varoufakis 2011

4.17

2k+ ratings

🏦 International Economics 🏛️ Political Economy 📉 Financial Crises 💵 Dollar Hegemony 🏭 Financialization

The Age of Turbulence

by Alan Greenspan • 2007

A Fed chair's map of the invisible machinery that makes economies prosper or stall.

3.65

7k+

🏦 Monetary Policy 📈 Economic Development 🏛️ Institutional Economics 🔑 Property Rights 🛢️ Resource Curse

The Age of Turbulence 95%

A Fed chair's map of the invisible machinery that makes economies prosper or stall.

by Alan Greenspan 2007

3.65

7k+ ratings

🏦 Monetary Policy 📈 Economic Development 🏛️ Institutional Economics 🔑 Property Rights 🛢️ Resource Curse

Gambling on Development

by Stefan Dercon • 2022

Elite bets on growth, not aid or policy, explain why some nations prosper and others stall.

4.02

275

🏗️ Development Economics ⚖️ Political Economy 🏛️ State Capacity 👥 Political Elites 💸 Foreign Aid

Gambling on Development 95%

Elite bets on growth, not aid or policy, explain why some nations prosper and others stall.

by Stefan Dercon 2022

4.02

275 ratings

🏗️ Development Economics ⚖️ Political Economy 🏛️ State Capacity 👥 Political Elites 💸 Foreign Aid

How Asia Works

by Joe Studwell • 2013

Some Asian economies boomed while others stalled. The difference wasn't free markets.

4.26

5k+

📊 Development Economics 📜 Economic History 🌏 Asian Economies 🌾 Land Reform 🏭 Export-Led Growth

How Asia Works 95%

Some Asian economies boomed while others stalled. The difference wasn't free markets.

by Joe Studwell 2013

4.26

5k+ ratings

📊 Development Economics 📜 Economic History 🌏 Asian Economies 🌾 Land Reform 🏭 Export-Led Growth

The Value of Everything

by Mariana Mazzucato • 2018

Economics lost the line between earning and extracting. A 150-year mistake now shapes every sector.

4.07

4k+

🏛️ Political Economy 💎 Value Theory 💹 Financialization 🎰 Rent-Seeking 📊 Shareholder Capitalism

The Value of Everything 95%

Economics lost the line between earning and extracting. A 150-year mistake now shapes every sector.

by Mariana Mazzucato 2018

4.07

4k+ ratings

🏛️ Political Economy 💎 Value Theory 💹 Financialization 🎰 Rent-Seeking 📊 Shareholder Capitalism

The Growth Map

by Jim O'Neill • 2011

Four giant economies already power a third of global growth, and the next wave is bigger.

3.59

288

🗺️ Global Macroeconomics 📈 Emerging Markets Investing 👥 Demographic Economics 🔮 Economic Forecasting 🌐 Geopolitical Risk

The Growth Map 95%

Four giant economies already power a third of global growth, and the next wave is bigger.

by Jim O'Neill 2011

3.59

288 ratings

🗺️ Global Macroeconomics 📈 Emerging Markets Investing 👥 Demographic Economics 🔮 Economic Forecasting 🌐 Geopolitical Risk

Talking to My Daughter About the Economy

by Yanis Varoufakis • 2013

Capitalism began when grain storage created money and debt. Its crisis is written into that origin.

4.13

21k+

🧐 Political Economy 🏛️ History Of Capitalism ⚖️ Market Society Critique 💸 Debt And Money Creation 🤖 Automation And Work

Talking to My Daughter About the Economy Summary

Talking to My Daughter About the Economy 95%

Capitalism began when grain storage created money and debt. Its crisis is written into that origin.

by Yanis Varoufakis 2013

4.13

21k+ ratings

🧐 Political Economy 🏛️ History Of Capitalism ⚖️ Market Society Critique 💸 Debt And Money Creation 🤖 Automation And Work

The Rise and Fall of Nations

by Ruchir Sharma • 2016

Onion prices and billionaire lists reveal more about a country's future than any official forecast.

4.14

3k+

🏛️ Political Economy 🔄 Economic Cycles 👥 Demographic Economics 💰 Wealth Inequality 💸 Currency Crises

The Rise and Fall of Nations 95%

Onion prices and billionaire lists reveal more about a country's future than any official forecast.

by Ruchir Sharma 2016

4.14

3k+ ratings

🏛️ Political Economy 🔄 Economic Cycles 👥 Demographic Economics 💰 Wealth Inequality 💸 Currency Crises

The Tyranny of Experts

by William Easterly • 2014

Poverty isn't a knowledge gap; it's a power gap. A century of development got it backward.

3.87

1k+

📈 Development Economics 🌐 International Aid ⚙️ Technocratic Critique ✊ Rights-Based Development 🏛️ Colonial Legacies

The Tyranny of Experts 95%

Poverty isn't a knowledge gap; it's a power gap. A century of development got it backward.

by William Easterly 2014

3.87

1k+ ratings

📈 Development Economics 🌐 International Aid ⚙️ Technocratic Critique ✊ Rights-Based Development 🏛️ Colonial Legacies

Freefall

by Joseph E. Stiglitz • 2010

The 2008 crash was a crisis of economic ideas, not just banks. The ideas are still orthodox.

3.88

4k+

📉 Financial Crises 🏛️ Economic Policy ⚖️ Market Regulation 🔓 Deregulation ⚠️ Moral Hazard

Freefall 95%

The 2008 crash was a crisis of economic ideas, not just banks. The ideas are still orthodox.

by Joseph E. Stiglitz 2010

3.88

4k+ ratings

📉 Financial Crises 🏛️ Economic Policy ⚖️ Market Regulation 🔓 Deregulation ⚠️ Moral Hazard

Popular Economics

by John Tamny • 2015

LeBron James and the Rolling Stones reveal why most economic policy makes things worse.

3.64

300

🏪 Free Market Economics 🎸 Pop Economics 🏛️ Government Failure 💥 Creative Destruction 💵 Monetary Policy

Popular Economics 95%

LeBron James and the Rolling Stones reveal why most economic policy makes things worse.

by John Tamny 2015

3.64

300 ratings

🏪 Free Market Economics 🎸 Pop Economics 🏛️ Government Failure 💥 Creative Destruction 💵 Monetary Policy

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