Buy new:
-14% $14.52
FREE delivery Thursday, May 16 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon
Sold by: numberonestore
$14.52 with 14 percent savings
List Price: $16.95

The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price.
Learn more
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Thursday, May 16 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery Wednesday, May 15. Order within 7 hrs 58 mins
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$14.52 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$14.52
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon
Ships from
Amazon
Sold by
numberonestore
Sold by
numberonestore
Returns
30-day easy returns
30-day easy returns
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Returns
30-day easy returns
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$6.30
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Monday, May 20 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery Wednesday, May 15. Order within 7 hrs 58 mins
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$14.52 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$14.52
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Charles J. Wheelan
+ Follow
More books from this author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science (Fully Revised and Updated) Paperback – April 19, 2010

by Charles Wheelan (Author), Burton G. Malkiel (Foreword)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 2,227 ratings
See all formats and editions
Great on Kindle
Great Experience. Great Value.
iphone with kindle app
Putting our best book forward
Each Great on Kindle book offers a great reading experience, at a better value than print to keep your wallet happy.

Explore your book, then jump right back to where you left off with Page Flip.

View high quality images that let you zoom in to take a closer look.

Enjoy features only possible in digital – start reading right away, carry your library with you, adjust the font, create shareable notes and highlights, and more.

Discover additional details about the events, people, and places in your book, with Wikipedia integration.
Get the free Kindle app: Link to the kindle app page Link to the kindle app page
Enjoy a great reading experience when you buy the Kindle edition of this book. Learn more about Great on Kindle, available in select categories.
View Kindle Edition

There is a newer edition of this item:

Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science
Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science
$15.40
(2,227)
In Stock
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$14.52","priceAmount":14.52,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"14","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"52","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"2e%2FDlZ8gXJRrisJME%2BDnamzDf581OuD6J7XrWUWdIarl3GbqKXjovtBD81MJ5xdsOvN70%2Fvriljx6GkjAYArigCyGegF5oHtPxTsjNUguXy%2B4DFWqKHymrH3vDsKEs6cZuveYOFwYcLjWOSEhVwsEUVeZ84qdXyaeOJLC0etjGOmI3tquyqmqHPtunAHCqwl","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$6.30","priceAmount":6.30,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"6","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"30","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"2e%2FDlZ8gXJRrisJME%2BDnamzDf581OuD6JXUs3AsF%2FDpPnD7KkMfvZSha2jGYVH45PhbWNSl1zDZdWXQkSMSJJUsQiqnHXKfHGMPp5bHmmH7ghIk2HtpQhXdphR9d6hhcAT1dtaWe%2BJhmDlA6E%2Fax3gXWwyvm7G6UViZWrLfkWsG3qzQ3N2lk5cJskgXXC%2BgD","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

"Clear, concise, informative, witty and, believe it or not, entertaining." ―Chicago Tribune

Finally! A book about economics that won’t put you to sleep. In fact, you won’t be able to put this bestseller down. In our challenging economic climate, this perennial favorite of students and general readers is more than a good read, it’s a necessary investment―with a blessedly sure rate of return. Demystifying buzzwords, laying bare the truths behind oft-quoted numbers, and answering the questions you were always too embarrassed to ask, the breezy Naked Economics gives readers the tools they need to engage with pleasure and confidence in the deeply relevant, not so dismal science.

This revised and updated edition adds commentary on hot topics, including the current economic crisis, globalization, the economics of information, the intersection of economics and politics, and the history―and future―of the Federal Reserve.
Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Part of series
    Naked Series
  2. Print length
    384 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    W. W. Norton & Company
  5. Publication date
    April 19, 2010
  6. Dimensions
    5.5 x 1 x 8.3 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    9780393337648
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0393337648
  9. See all details
Next page
The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Frequently bought together

Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science (Fully Revised and Updated)
$14.52
Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
Sold by numberonestore and ships from Amazon Fulfillment.
+
Naked Money: A Revealing Look at Our Financial System
$12.29
Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
Naked Statistics: Stripping the Dread from the Data
$13.65
Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Some of these items ship sooner than the others.
Show details Hide details
Choose items to buy together.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“I recommend this book to anyone who wants to gain an understanding of basic economics with little pain and much pleasure.”
- Gary Becker, 1992 Nobel Prize winner in Economics

“Bravo, Charles Wheelan, for doing the impossible: making the study of economics fascinating, comprehensible, and laugh-out-loud funny.”
- Deborah Copaken Kogan, author of Shutterbabe: Adventures in Love and War

“Translates the arcane and often inscrutable jargon of the professional economist into language accessible to the inquiring but frustrated layman. . . . Clear, concise, informative, [and] witty.”
- Chicago Tribune

About the Author

Charles Wheelan is the author of the best-selling Naked Statistics and Naked Economics and is a former correspondent for The Economist. He teaches public policy and economics at Dartmouth College and lives in Hanover, New Hampshire, with his family.

Burton G. Malkiel is the Chemical Bank Chairman's Professor of Economics Emeritus at Princeton University. He is a former member of the Council of Economic Advisers, dean of the Yale School of Management, and has served on the boards of several major corporations, including Vanguard and Prudential Financial. He is the chief investment officer of Wealthfront.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0393337642
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ W. W. Norton & Company; Fully Revised and Updated edition (April 19, 2010)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780393337648
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0393337648
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.5 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1 x 8.3 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 2,227 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Charles J. Wheelan

Charles J. Wheelan

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Former correspondent for The Economist, current columnist for Yahoo!, and professor at the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago, Charles Wheelan lives in Chicago with his family.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
2,227 global ratings
Missing some pages, but i recommend the book
3 Stars
Missing some pages, but i recommend the book
The book is a great intro to economics for laymen. However, my paperback copy was missing a lot of pages (163-194).
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

P.C
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read!
Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2024
Verified Purchase
This is well written and explains economics in a way the layman can understand.
Helpful
 Report
DonL2507
5.0 out of 5 stars A Very Accessible and Fun-to-Read Introduction to Economics
Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2018
Verified Purchase
This is an excellent introduction to economics and the broad range of issues informed by economics for the non-professional but interested reader. It is clear and accessible and punctuated by a breezy, witty style, and without a single equation or graph for those terrified of numerical relationships. The economics presented in this book is mainstream economics as befitting a journalist for The Economist and makes points that would satisfy those right-of-center and those left-of-center. For conservatives, the author reminds us (like Milton Friedman did in "Capitalism and Freedom") that a heavily regimented economy would eventually come at a steep price in curtailed political / civil freedoms just to maintain the economic regimentation. In addition, the physical and human capital underlying productivity growth, and the economic self-interest that drives their application, are key components of economic well-being. On the other hand, liberals will appreciate his contention that government is a crucial catalyst for effective market functioning in that it provides (or can provide) a legal framework, a predictable regulatory regime, and a stable macroeconomic environment. Most of the national economic failures to which the author alludes are not the result of racial, ethnic, institutional, or cultural deficiencies but are simply a result of government incompetence and corruption (see Zimbabwe). And markets are not omniscient; we get the standard analysis for market prices not reflecting social costs / benefits (externalities) and the market's failure to produce public goods.

What I also liked about this volume was the way in which it extended economic analysis to many areas of social / human behavior, but then would go no further, i.e., the author recognizes that economic analysis informs much of our public policy debates but cannot settle value-laden issues. For example, in his chapter on "Productivity and Human Capital", subtitled "Why is Bill Gates so much richer than you", he acknowledges that economics can tell us about the production of income and the creation of wealth, but can't really tell us how that income and wealth should be distributed. (Some prominent economists are on record as claiming that distribution issues are irrelevant.) This book maintains that these value-oriented issues are determined in the political process as shaped by our religious, moral, and cultural backgrounds.

I enjoyed this book very much. But I would challenge the author on two points: (1) He asserts that social security is a "pyramid scheme." While pay-as-you-go financing may superficially resemble a pyramid scheme, there are fundamental differences that any actuary at the SSA could tell you. Pyramid schemes are inherently unsustainable because of the geometric progression of the pool of investors. A pay-as-you-go system does not require increasing multiples of later-round investors but simply a stable relationship between workers and beneficiaries. Long-term economic growth and population growth would contribute to its sustainability. Our current problems refer to the demographic "bulge" of the baby-boomers which should disappear with their passing, (2) With regard to intellectual property (IP) the author (no surprise) comes down strongly for long-term protection for IP as an inducement to its creation, as opposed to less stringent protection that encourages the dissemination and use of IP. Obviously, there's a trade-off between creation and dissemination, but the current stress on protection may inhibit economic growth and innovation. How many firms pay (or refuse to pay and thus not use the IP) royalties for the use of "patents" that many would consider belong in the public domain? Do we really need copyright protection for 70 years after the author's death? Just one man's opinion.
20 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
James T. Humphrey II
4.0 out of 5 stars Impressive and entertaining introduction to economics
Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2015
Verified Purchase
This book was a real page turner, which is not something you can say about too many books on economics. This book is a great concept book. It's non technical and written for the layman who is just trying to understand what is going on in the world when it comes to economics and public policy.

If you read this book, I feel you'll walk away with a solid understanding about issues about production, wealth, trade, taxes, inflation, job creation, monetary policy, debt/deficit spending, and how all these things interrelate, especially in regard to how public policy is shaped.

What is especially great about this book is that it deals with modern issues that we as a country have faced in America since the Great Depression, all the way up to the housing crisis. It may just skim the surface of these issues. But it shows how economics, although an imperfect science, impacts real life.

My only complaint about the book is that the author seems rather fond of quoting studies done by "Nobel prize" winning economists. As if that adds more "authority" to the insights these people have had. It gets a little annoying. I also wish he would shown more critical thinking around the housing crisis. He pretty much was a fan of the bailouts, as awful as they were. Not every economist would agree with his take on how these things were handled.

But be that as it may, this book shows you how our world works, and what the thinking behind a lot of brilliant economists over the years has been. Highly recommended.
4 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Kelly McCants
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! Unexpectedly Entertaining and Witty
Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2017
Verified Purchase
I didn’t expect a book on the broad spectrum of economics to be such an enjoyable read. This author has quite a gift for taking a topic with the potential to operate as a sedative and instead making it clever and entertaining. Wheelan concisely and clearly explains an overview of all the facets of economies and does an excellent job of showing the ramifications of decisions by consumers, business and lawmakers. Wheelan shows the reader how our economy (or any economy) necessarily gets put into place, and then examines proposed changes by various leaders and fleshes out what the impact would be of those decisions. He also thoroughly discusses the international markets and shows how essential the connections to them are to an optimized national and global economy. He demonstrates that economics is a web that stretches through all facets of government and societal life. Most of all, he substantiates that productivity is a hinge for society, and denotes the profound impact it has played in the past and continues to play. His purpose in this book is to educate, not to persuade, and that makes it all the better. He sprinkles in many, “wow! I can’t believe that,” stories throughout his chapters that illustrate his points and, more pointedly, keep the text entertaining.
I learned so much from this book, and my thinking about economic issues has a more solid framework for having read it. I’ve learned to evaluate and appreciate the vast intricacies that the impact of proposed “fixes” that float around the news would have, and now appreciate the power of productivity in remedying many of life’s difficulties. I highly recommend this book. It gives you ideas to ruminate on well past the pages, and plus it is enjoyable and thus easy to read.
4 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Artem Kel
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!
Reviewed in Germany on March 11, 2023
Verified Purchase
great book which explains the core principles of economics in a clear and concise way! Highly recommend along with another book of the author Naked Statistics!
Report
AV
5.0 out of 5 stars Recomendado 100%
Reviewed in Mexico on November 20, 2020
Verified Purchase
Muy recomendable lectura
Report
Marcos Luz
5.0 out of 5 stars Life-changing book
Reviewed in Brazil on October 17, 2020
Verified Purchase
This book is awesome. It is a life-changing and everybody must-read it. I feel a better version of myself after and now able to comprehend everyday economics facts. From now on, I am sure that I feel more confident to take care of my financial assets and life savings and the choices ahead. The whole book is a mastermind but the best part is chapters 10 (Federal Reserve Bank, fiscal and monetary policies) and 11 (Forex Exchange). Charles has hit 10 out 10 as so he did with naked statistics’ book that, by the way, is a must-read book too.
Report
Sinduja
5.0 out of 5 stars This book has made me appreciate Economics
Reviewed in India on September 1, 2016
Verified Purchase
I've always been scared of economics: it was the kind of stuff better left to bored fathers in family gatherings. What's with all the fiscal deficit and monetary policy and trade embargoes? Phew!

But perhaps what we needed was one wonderful introductory guide to this fascinating subject. Naked Economics serves as that Economics 101 manual. That said, it is different from other introductory books in that it doesn't talk down to its readers. It is not your textbook introduction that lists definitions, theories and examples. We have all had that boring academic textbook which put people to sleep and scared them away from economics. Rather, Naked Economics is an engaging narrative. It explains economics with questions we might all have had but were overwhelmed to research: Why are some countries poor? Why doesn't Brad Pitt sell auto insurance? How can locals be made to protect the environment?, etc.

A good teacher is one who leaves your thinking about the subject and asking more questions on it. Naked Economics has been the best economics teacher I've had. I no longer squirm if I have to read The Economist to find something. I am not saying I've become a pro. I would still be wary to provide my inputs on "serious economy stuff". But I will listen now. With interest.
7 people found this helpful
 Report
CollectedReader
5.0 out of 5 stars Thanks for making me that much smarter
Reviewed in Canada on July 8, 2013
Verified Purchase
This book is so much more than a book on economics. Its a book on critical thinking/reasoning related to economics. It was a welcome surprise that the author doesn't dumb down any topics and goes to such depth to explain topics critically. This is not a 'Economics for dummies' book (nothing wrong with that). It is a well written, and accessible book for all readers interested in understanding our global situation.

I suggest this book to anyone that wants to exercise their brain and view economic topics critically with multiple view points.

ps. I also loved his other book 'Naked Statistics' which I've read first and brought me to Naked Economics. I will be looking for anything more coming out from this author. Much praise and very well done!
2 people found this helpful
 Report