The best economic history books, according to hackers
5 economic history books recommended in Hacker News comments over the past year, ranked by how many separate people recommend each one.
All economic history books
- Debt by David GraeberRecommended as a readable economic history of credit and money across societies, arguing debt preceded coinage. Critics say its facts and sourcing are weak.19recommend
- The Great Transformation by Karl PolanyiRecommended as a historical look at how attempts to force a market society on England shaped modern economies, and as a book people feel is more relevant now than ever.3recommend
- The Origin of Capitalism by Ellen Meiksins WoodRecommended for its account of how England and France moved from agrarian feudal mercantilism into capitalism. No critics appear in the quotes, so no caveat is recorded.3recommend
- The Rise and Fall of American Growth by Robert GordonRecommended for its economic data, which readers say informs discussion of investment and economics, and for plots comparing horsepower and kW per worker with output.2recommend
- The Almighty Dollar by Brendan GreeleyRecommended for a clear history of how currency and the US dollar evolved, including 19th-century monetary regimes, regional variations, and private banknotes.2recommend