Don't Let the Author's Bias Scare You Away!

Mr Skousen brings us a solid, comprehensive and thoroughly entertaining history of modern economic thought from Adam Smith to the present day. Skousen succeeds wildly in making esoteric economic theories accesible, and draws in the reader/listener with quirky stories about each of the economists: Why did Adam Smith Burn all of his clothes? What was the story behind J.M Keynes's hand fetish? Who fathered Marx's housemaids child? These are just a few of the high points of this work.

Admitedly, Skousen is strongy biassed towards a Neo-Classical/Austrian viewpoint, and holds some quesitonable ideas, but don't let that turn you away! The author does a great job explaining each Economists viewpoint in a clear, concise, logical way; I was even able to get a good handle on some of Marx's important formulas from Kapital while driving on the freeway. This book is that good! Skousen is very careful to completely present each Economist's bio and arguments first and only then move on to a critique on their more questionable assumptions.

In regards to the narrator, I have no idea what the other reviewer is talking about. Hughes speaks clearly, pronounces German and French words well ans seems honestly excited in his narration. In fact, to me he seemed so excited that I initially thought it was the author narrating his own book.

Overall, having listened to some of Sowell's audiobooks and a few of the great courses on Economics, I have to say that this is the best choice on Audible to get readers excited about Economics. Well worth the credit!

13 persone l'hanno trovata utile

Market fundamentalist bias throughout

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

A non-biased presentation that doesn't try to demonize Keynes and glorify Friedman and the Austrian/Chicago school.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Something by Keynes to wash the Market Fundamentalist crap out of my brain. Actually I have since listened to Paul Krugman's book "End This Depression Now" and I feel greatly cleansed.

How could the performance have been better?

Not be biased.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

It put the great economists into a clear chronology for me and gave me a more personal understanding of their lives and thoughts.

Any additional comments?

If Skousen hadn't tried to make the case toward the end of the book, that an unfettered and unregulated free market will somehow produce a stable economy, and that there is such a thing as efficient markets and that there is no such a thing as involuntary unemployment, the book might have gotten a much higher vote from me. Keynes wasn't necessarily right about everything, but he was right about some very important things, and there are some much needed and much ignored Keynesian solutions to our present economic circumstance.

4 persone l'hanno trovata utile

A Libertarian Economist Rant!

Author uses descriptors like "good" and "bad" to describe ideas in a way I find obnoxious. I was looking for more of an even handed overview. The bias was extreme. The first couple chapters were good but I couldn't finish the whole audio-book.

I think the title and description of the book misrepresented the subject. I thought I would be more of a survey of early economists and their ideas. But it turned out to be Mr Skousen glorifying some economists and savagely attacking those he disagreed with. Ok, I get it. You don't like Marx. Not as a writer, thinker, not as a person. And you look down on your students if they show interest in Marx. Ok, cool down. Be prepared for several chapters on this subject. It seemed a large part of the book is devoted to this. More than about Smith, perhaps.

I should have researched the author more. He is pretty far out there, friend of Rudy Giuliani. Recommended by the Ayn Rand Institute.

I am enjoying "Economics" from Timothy Taylor of the Great Courses on Audible.

3 persone l'hanno trovata utile

Skousen's Sells Action Economics

Where does The Making of Modern Economics rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Again I have my homework to do. Yet Skousen does for Economics what Tesla did for Innovative Power. He is objective, well researched, and focused on what he wants the reader to do, not to judge the character of an Economist, but do their ideas work? From the beginning of the story, he introduces to great Economics, their habits, their idiosyncrasies. He does not give you Economics straight, but provides a chaser with antidotes, along with pertinent facts. He is far ahead of the game of his Academic Communities than he knows. He is on the verge, if not there, on the Mt. Everest of Greatness!

What other book might you compare The Making of Modern Economics to and why?

I like him, had a terrible Economics Professor in 101 Econ back in College. If the Professor, unlike Skousen's The Making of Modern Economics, could have made me majoring in Economics rather than Ancient and U.S. Histories.

What does William Hughes bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Hughes is fresh, lively, and sounds as if he never tires, he is a welcomed relief, and does what is supposed to, bring the text alive with crisp inflections.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

Well, Skousen seems to use what I would like to call "Oral Histories" or "Action History" where you, and he, study together events, and the effects of theory making in the world of Economics. This book is a must read for anyone in Government, State, Local and at the Federal Reserve.

Any additional comments?

If you teach Economics at any level, think if Skousen could be described as an NBA player; He could be considered to be another Lebron James!

2 persone l'hanno trovata utile

Poor performance ruins what may be an interesting

What didn’t you like about William Hughes’s performance?

The performer's voice is too soft, and too close to a monotone. To his credit, there were no flaws in his reading, but unfortunately his voice just isn't suited for it at all.

Any additional comments?

I would not recommend this reading to anyone, I can't imagine how the other reviewers made it all the way through!

2 persone l'hanno trovata utile

review

a comprehensive account that is inherently long and at points lacks "punch"

1 persona l'ha trovata utile

Excellent author, narrator, and story.

This is an excellent book. The audio is outstanding. Anyone with an interest in economics or economic history will enjoy this.

It's a book about Economic History - I liked it.

First of all - If you favor socialism; Economic History isn't for you. It's NOTHING against this book; It's more the results of socialism in history that your not likely to enjoy. A lot of reviews say its Anti-Socialism, or Anti-Marx, but I think that's just world history and not the authors fault. It does have more on Marx then anyone else, but Marx is about the most documented person in the realm of economics. This Summer of 2022 was a good time for me to read this... So many mistakes that smarter people have already discovered are being made in the United States right now. It's a good book to understand the evolution of world economic theory and principal's.

Makes Economics Fun

You see? It is possible to write about the topic of economics and make it engaging, informative, and fun. Wish I had this book when I was taking my economics classes decades ago. I enjoyed economics in spite of our textbooks. However, a book like this would have inspired far less dedicated students to see how enjoyable the topic can be. This is a wonderful read I highly recommend.

not quite objective, but a good survey

At times, perhaps because the author inserts himself, the book asks the reader to assume not only that the story of modern economics is a story about the conflict between socialist-focused and laissez faire-focused economic views but that there are only those binary choices for understanding the possibilities for economics. The survey itself is good, but you realize eventually that it is towing a party line and that the author's position is that one of those views categorically represents the good guys.