The Accidental Theorist and Other Dispatches from the Dismal Science

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Politics based economics based on faulty conclusions

Pop Economics

Excellent book, super fast delivery

for beginners in economics

Excellent! Definitely a classic!

The Accidental Theorist and Other Dispatches from the Dismal Science
Paul R. Krugman , and Paul Krugman
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0393318877

Amazon.com

When economics and ideology mix, the results often sound plausible, but in fact can be terribly wrong and lead to ill-conceived and sometimes dangerous economic policy. For several years, Paul Krugman, author of The Accidental Theorist and one of the most celebrated economists of the '90s, has been punching holes in fashionable ideas such as the logic of supply-side economics and the evils of globalization. The Accidental Theorist is a collection of Krugman's best published and unpublished essays that cover everything from the Asian financial crisis to inflation in America.

Krugman's cause is neither left or right; rather it's the pursuit of clear thinking about economics that's unfettered by ideology. He writes, "But we should never be surprised when prominent people say foolish things about economics. The history of economic doctrines teaches us that the influence of an idea may have nothing to do with its quality--that an ideology can attract a devoted following, even come to control the corridors of power, without a shred of logic or evidence in its favor."

If you've read and enjoyed Krugman's regular column for Slate, "The Dismal Science," or have admired his work in the New York Times, The Washington Monthly, and Foreign Affairs, you'll find that the The Accidental Theorist is a must read. The essays in this book reflect a clairvoyant and playful mind that's patient enough to unravel and simplify--not dumb down--the arcane and lofty ideas of economics to something that the rest of us can understand. Highly recommended. --Harry C. Edwards

Book Description

In this wonderfully cohesive set of sharp and witty essays, Paul Krugman tackles bad economic ideas from across the political spectrum. In plain English, he enlightens us on the Asian crisis, corporate downsizing, and the globalization of the American economy, among other topics. The writing here brilliantly combines the acerbic style and clever analysis that has made Krugman famous. Imagine declaring New York its own country and you get a better picture of our trade balance with China and Hong Kong. Try reducing the economy to the production of hot dogs and buns and you'll understand why common beliefs about the impact of production efficiency on labor demand are wrong. This is a collection that will amuse, provoke, and enlighten, in classic Paul Krugman style.

Customer Reviews:

Politics based economics based on faulty conclusions.......2004-06-08

"Paul Krugman has been proclaimed the most celebrated economist of his generation..." proclaims the back cover add. Celebrated by who? Maybe the former economic minister of the Soviet Union. Kruger's attacks on supply-side economics, and general good-for-business economic policies reveal a guy who might be an accomplished academic but has absolutely no common sense. Despite the 80 years of failure data that communist/socialist economic models provide a wealth of information on, we still have people that cling to these ideals. Like blind rats who cannot desert the sinking hulk of failure that centralization and management stupidity that is socialism, they cast about wildly, squeeking to the other blind rats. It is a small book, which was a relief

Pop Economics.......2004-04-06

In the introduction to 'The Accidental Theorist', Paul Krugman states his ambition to do for Economics what Carl Sagan has done to Astronomy - to serve it to the intelligent public without the specialized vocabulary and the math - to popularize economics. In so far as this book is intelligent, enlightening, and most of all - fun, Krugman has hit home run.

This is a book of essays, most published in Slate, but also including various speeches and pieces for other markets, such as the New York Times Magazine. In most of them, Krugman discusses the fallacies of prominent 'Accidental Theorists' - people who get economics wrong, either through ignorance of and contempt to economics - like the 'hero' of the title essay, Rolling Stone reporter William Greider who apparently thinks that economics is "not really a science so much as a value laden form of prophecy" even though he doesn't know the first thing about it (p.23) - or, for those who should know better, because they are blinded by their political agenda - like Conservative house leader and professor of economics Richard Armery, whose manipulation of data Krugman exposes (pp. 58-59).

Krugman is celebrated as an independent scholar, deconstructing fallacies both from the left and from the right. Even though Krugman attacks leftists wrongs (as in the aforementioned 'accidental theorist' and in a series of attacks on the dismal economic policies of socialist France), it is clear where his heart is. Krugman is a free market Liberal, who supports active governments, both for the definition of property rights ('Taxes and Traffic Jams' pp.173-178), and for helping the poor, including funding Medicare by increasing taxation (pp. 189-190). Krugman also attacks Supply Side Economics (in a whole section of the book titles 'Right Wing Wrongs'), and argues that inequality in American is not, for the most part, the fault of the poor (p. 54).

I basically share almost all of Krugman's views, and Krugman takes care to separate his ideology from his analysis, but he is not the unbiased source he sometimes appears to be (but then again, who is?).

The greatest in the arsenal of weapons in Krugman's war against economic fallacies is his command of prose. Krugman tackles difficult subject with the immense clarity and wit, and the pure joy of reading it would make this book interesting even for those who are well acquainted with economics.

The weakest aspects lie not in these essays themselves, but in the editing. Krugman essentially collected the essays, arranged them according to themes, and wrote introductions to each theme. The book suffers from several weaknesses which could have been avoided with a little more care.

First, there is a complete lack of scholarly apparatus that will let the reader track Krugman's facts and statements. The book has neither footnotes nor a bibliography, and there's not even an index.

Second, these essays were written in the middle 1990s, during the height of the Clinton years. They constantly refer to then current affairs. But what was the here and now in 1997 is now then and there, and the memory of events will not become fresher as the first Bush administration comes to an end. More background information about the situation when Krugman has written would have made this much easier to get into.

Finally, Krugman misses the opportunity to update us on what has happened since he has written these essays. Several people criticized here, such as historian David Hackett Fischer, must have reacted to Krugman's and similar criticisms, but if they did, their voice here is silent. Nor does Krugman bother to tell us how he feels the realities (such as the European Monetary Union or the troubles in Latin America) measure up to his predictions about them. It feels like a lost opportunity - Krugman could have reconsidered these essays, instead of merely republishing them.

Faults aside, Paul Krugman's book may just be the best written book about economics I've ever read. His prose and insights are well worth your time and money.

Excellent book, super fast delivery.......2003-08-12

Excellent book, super fast delivery

for beginners in economics.......2003-07-13

I've studied religion most of my life; since religion matters to almost everyone, almost everyone has an opinion about it, and I've seen first-hand that most popular opinions are poorly informed, at best. So I am prepared to believe that the same can be true of other intellectual fields.

Like religion, economics matters to most people, and most of us don't know much about it. But I wanted to begin to understand economics, and one of my brilliant friends (a Yale guy who does math for a hedge fund) told me that this book was the place to start. His recommendation should mean more to you than mine!

He was right. I now have some basic ideas about things like monetary policy (why what the Fed does matters), currency speculation, supply-side economics, and labor markets. Of course there is a lot more to economics; this book is only a beginning. But it is readable, and well-explained.

Let me recommend reading the tutorials at Investopedia.com as well. They were helpful to me.

Now I'm at least not a total financial ignoramus, and I look forward to exploring economics more!

Excellent! Definitely a classic!.......2002-10-24

This book is essentially a collection of Krugman's short articles from various sources in 1996 and 1997. I read some of them online after the 97 Asian Crisis. Today is 24th Oct 2002. What, and simply all, he said are still true today. He's a genius and really deserves a Nobel prize. To me, he already has. I think it becomes more appropriate to quote the praise of a Nobel Laureate from the back cover of the book than to write more myself:-(I checked that it's not on the editorial review here on Amazon)

"When it comes to popularized economic wisdom, there are a lot of balloons of ignorance out there, many of them reinforced by self interest and self confidence. Fortunately Paul Krugman is also out there, popping those balloons with intelligence, style and wit. You can learn a great deal, about economics and otherwise, by reading these delightful essays."

Robert M. Solow, Nobel Laureate
MIT

Book Description

Objectives - by the end of this workbook you should be able to:
ú Understand and adopt an ethical approach to management issues which is both open and reasoned
ú Plan and prioritise objectives
ú Apply techniques to influence and communicate with colleagues
ú Understand techniques for decision-making.

*Adopting an ethical approach
*Setting objectives
*Achieving effective communication
*Understanding the decision making process

Book Description

In the course of this brilliant essay the author traces the way water has been shorn of its mythic associations and reduced to an urban cleaning fluid. The histories of medicine, art, mythology, architecture, technology, and conceptions of the afterlife come into play as the changing role of water in our lives is revealed.

H2O and the Waters of Forgetfulness (Open Forum)

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H2O and the Waters of Forgetfulness (Open Forum)
Ivan Illich
Manufacturer: Marion Boyars Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
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marine electrical and electronic bible payne

Very Useful

Good Book not Perfect

Not for powerboaters

The Marine Electrical and Electronics Bible

The Marine Electrical and Electronics Bible
John C. Payne
Manufacturer: Sheridan House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Book Description

Here at last is the long awaited third edition of the worldâ€™s most comprehensive electrical and electronics handbook for sailors. This new edition is fully updated and contains information on battery capacity, charging systems, wiring, lightning and corrosion protection, radar, autopilots, VHF and SSB radios, Short-wave communications, GMDSS, GPS, EPIRBs and much more. The book is illustrated with hundreds of informative charts, wiring diagrams and graphs.

Customer Reviews:

marine electrical and electronic bible payne.......2007-05-16

Must have for all boaters and workers in the industry.

Very Useful.......2004-11-09

10 years ago I used this book to engineer and install the electrical system on an old 60's vintage sailboat. Since then, the boat has been sailed extensively and the system has performed flawlessly. The information on batteries, energy management, and charging is invaluable.

I work in a boatyard, and can honestly say that because of this book there are not many boats that are wired as well as mine.

Good Book not Perfect.......2003-04-05

It took me a bit to get used to the format of the book, its all outline style, point 1, 1a 1b etc. I did catch some mistakes in some tables... it seemed that wiring sizes in one table were different than another table. I wish some areas had more detailed infomration. But there is a LOT of information here, and he covers every category I can think of. I am currently in the process of rewiring my DC and it is very helpful. I use it in conjunction with Nigel Calder's book, and each has good info. Over all I prefer Calder, but like having both.

Not for powerboaters.......2002-08-24

It was very hard to tell from the description or the reviews that the book is almost exclusively designed for the wind-borne sailor. For example there is very little on multiple alternator charging systems and all pictures of boats are of sailboats.
As a result I have a brand new copy for sale.

The Marine Electrical and Electronics Bible.......2002-01-29

This book gives an overabundance of information about the electrical and electonic system aboard a boat. Some of the diagrams are not accurate i.e. the thing the author is trying to explain will not work if you construct it the way he is suggesting you should.

Average customer rating:

The Marine Electrical And Electronics Bible
Payne John C.
Manufacturer: Sheridan House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UDKSK4

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Marine Electrical and Electronics Bible
John Payne
Manufacturer: ADLARD COLES (BLAC)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000K76MTQ

Book Description

Webster's New World English Grammar Handbook covers all the basics of standard English usage in a concise, step-by-step format including the special "General Observation" feature that provides grammar rules and tips at a glance. This comprehensive reference is the perfect desktop reference for the non-writing professionals and students alike. Webster's New World English Grammar Handbook goes beyond the competition by providing special sections on writing, spelling, and punctuation as well as an extensive appendix on "Misused Words and Expressions." This alphabetized appendix features hundreds of examples of misused words and expressions and explains proper usage. You'll find yourself referring to this section time and again to polish your grammar.

Customer Reviews:

Makes even the simplest concepts confusing.......2007-04-03

This book is dull, poorly organized, and ambiguous. The number of errors make you doubt the validity of every statement.

Superficial and dull.......2006-07-11

I'm one of the 4 percent who ultimately bought this book upon having viewed items similar to it. Trust me, I would've like to belong to another statistic...

Most of the information found in this reference is easily findable on the Internet, and what's worst, already well rooted in your brain and fingertips from your first years in school. If you're looking for a guide of advanceD grammar, don't buy this book.

Not Great as a Quick Reference.......2006-05-20

I'm a native English speaker but speak several other languages as well and sometimes get the rules mixed up. So I was looking for a quick reference guidebook to confirm that the grammatical lessons ingrained from my elementary education, such as, "i before e except after c..." etc. are still valid. Unfortunately, this book is poorly organized in such fashion that one has to read it chapter by chapter and can't really just focus on the specific grammatical rule you want to refresh your knowledge on. This may be good as a learning tool, but I would not recommend it for someone who already has a solid handle of the English language.

A great reference.......2003-02-15

I was looking for a book to use as a study guide for the verbal section of the GMAT. As a college graduate, what I WASN'T looking for was a rudimentary book full of exercises, which is what the store bookshelves are full of. This book is more of a reference book, but it is laid out in a very intuitive and step-by-step manner, so it is useful as a study book. This was exactly what I needed, and for confirmation, I ended up getting almost a perfect score on my GMAT verbal.

Webster's New World Punctuation: Simplifed and Applied (Webster's New World)

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Webster's New World Punctuation: Simplifed and Applied (Webster's New World)
Geraldine Woods
Manufacturer: Webster's New World
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 076459916X

Book Description

Unsure about proper punctuation?

When in doubt, look it up!

THE PRACTICAL, ACCESSIBLE GUIDE TO CORRECT PUNCTUATION

Whether you're writing a business report or a book report, creating an article for a newsletter, writing a note to your child's teacher, a personal letter, or a cover letter, using proper punctuation helps you make your points clearly and make a good impression. This user-friendly reference helps you quickly find the commonly accepted rule for any given situation, and even explains when to make exceptions to the rules.

Webster's New World Punctuation: Simplified and Applied is packed with information and features, including:

An overview of the importance of good punctuation
Clear, concise explanations of difficult rules
Easy-to-understand examples that make applying the rules a snap
Cautions that alert you to common pitfalls
An overview of punctuation in common writing formats, ranging from business letters to e-mails to desktop publishing
Guidelines for citations in more formal writing

Download Description

A commonsense approach to the confusing world of punctuation Until now, people haven't known where to get quick answers to their punctuation questions. This user-friendly reference helps writers quickly find the commonly accepted rule for any given situation, and even points out when to make exceptions to the rule. Webster's New World Punctuation explains the importance of good punctuation and offers easy-to-understand examples that make applying the rules a snap, clear and concise explanations of difficult rules, and a section on common punctuation pitfalls. Covering all common forms of writing, from personal letters to PowerPoint presentations, Webster's New World Punctuation is a must-have reference for homes, businesses, and classrooms. Geraldine Woods (New York, NY) has taught English for 35 years and is currently an educator at the Horace Mann School in Riverdale, New York. She has written or cowritten over 45 books, including English Grammar For Dummies (0-7645-5322-4) and The SAT I For Dummies, 6th Edition (0-7645-7193-1).

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Webster's New World Pocket Style Guide
Webster
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ASIN: 0028621573

Book Description

The Webster's New World Pocket Style Guide is the portable key to effective writing. Its handy size and durable vinyl cover allow it to travel equally well in a backpack or briefcase. Complete and concise rules of grammar, punctuation and usage are written for easy understanding and are clearly illustrated with hundreds of examples. Ideal for students and communications professionals on the go, the Pocket Style Guide is the perfect complement to the Pocket Dictionary and Pocket Thesaurus.

Webster's New World High School Writers Handbook

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Webster's New World High School Writers Handbook
Sharon Sorenson
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