Money, Blood and Revolution

I loved Money, Blood and Revolution by George Cooper. Cooper examines a few fields (e.g. biology, geology, astronomy) that were off-track before a change in perception (thanks to some bright minds, often from the outside) led to knowledge revolutions. Cooper then makes the argument that economics is currently stuck in that "off-track" mode, and suggests the changes in perception needed to get it back on track.

While I'm not sure I'd agree with everything the author suggestions, the book made me think, which is really what I'm looking for in a book. It presents macroeconomics in a slightly different way, creating a framework to think about how different mechanisms affect things like economic growth and inequality.

There are no wasted words, as the book punches well above its weight. Ideas are presented very clearly and concisely.

There was some good history in the book, too, as Cooper delves into seemingly unrelated areas in his attempts to draw parallels to fields that were in crisis in the past, just as (he argues) economics is in today. Cooper does an excellent job summarizing the various economic schools, and how even within schools there are enough contradictions to make clear that its members should be seriously questioning their own beliefs.

I highly recommend the book to anyone interested in history and economics.