Having Fun with History of Economic Ideas

This is an entry level text (popular science) in history of economic thought for readers aged 15-99. It is the authors’ responsibility if you do not follow each chapter smoothly. As such, some basic economics knowledge would be helpful, but not required. We have three aims in mind for this book: to be interesting, entertaining, and thought-provoking. In some cases, we are opinionated, but intentionally so in order to alert readers to form their own views. History of ideas does not make us smarter nor richer, but it can reduce our ignorance and the “banality of evil” - a term Hannah Arendt referred to people who lack self-reflection, “He did his duty...; he not only obeyed orders, he also obeyed the law.”
What is our basic mentality behind writing this book? We invite Isaac Newton to speak on our behalf: “I do not know what I may appear to the world, but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.” Yes, the great (expanding) ocean of truth in history of economic ideas lays undiscovered before all of us: the sea gets deeper as you go further into it, according to a Venetian proverb.
This book is free of charge, it is meant to share knowledge with wider audience. Bon appétit!