Economics for Everyone

APRIL 18, 2009 - I am thrilled at some of the latest reviews that have been published or posted of e4e from a great range of sources, both in Canada and internationally.  Here's a summary of some of the recent feedback, with links:

Lane Vanderslice, the editor of Hunger Notes magazine (published by the good folks at the World Hunger Education Service in Washington, DC) has published a very generous review of e4e here.  He sums it up nicely in one short opening sentence: "This is a wonderful book!"  Thanks Lance -- also for the good work you have done (for example, the panel he organized at the recent ASSA meetings in San Francisco) in trying to connect progressive economists with concete social change movements.

Frank Stilwell is a leading progressive economist in Australia, who's made a remarkable contribution to maintaining a strong community of critical thinkers in the economics profession there (including through some epic battles at the UNiversity of Sydney).  That makes it especially humbling to receive his kind review of e4e in the next edition of Australian Options (a progressive newsmagazine): "This new book called ‘Economics for Everyone' meets the urgent need for a readable and progressive explanation of how the economy works - and why it doesn't work well for many people. It is the book that, for many years, people in the labour movement have been saying should be written. It explains the characteristics of modern capitalism in language that is readily accessible to workers and members of the general public who have not had a formal education in economics. The style is informal and conversational, the arguments readily intelligible. Remarkably though, there is little feeling of ‘talking down'. Indeed, some very sophisticated aspects of the economy are addressed, including money and banking, fiscal and monetary policies, the distribution of income (‘dividing the pie'), the causes of recessions, the operation of stock markets and the process of financialisation. Emphasis is placed on how the economy depends on social relationships, not just technical relationships, leading to change over time. Concurrently, economics is shown to be inherently subjective, value-laden and political."

Roger Lever sums it up with this matter-of-fact review of e4e for the Suite101 website: "...A useful book that presents economics in a straightforward and simple way."  Here is the full review.

The Tyee is a first-rate and highly progressive on-line newspaper based in Vancouver, B.C.  Tom Sandborn reviewed e4e for The Tyee: "His clear, easy-to-understand text is designed to be accessible to rank and file union members who are his first intended audience. But after autumn's collapse, a much wider audience is prepared to hear Stanford spell out both the system's undeniable strengths and its devastating weaknesses."  The whole review is here.

Finally, many thanks to the fine folks at the New Unionism Network (and a little help from my on-line friends!) e4e was voted the "Best Union Read for 2008".  In announcing the award, they generously concluded: "Stanford's book is a 100% worker-friendly guide to understanding economics, and thoroughly deserves a place on every unionist's book shelf."