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Book Cover
Introduction Readers' Comments Sample Chapter Table of Contents Resources Even Dogs Love It! |
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Cover and website art by Rob Dodson.
The Nation That Lost Its Jobs, But Got Then Back
Carl Menger on the Nature of Value
Models: What Are They Good For?
Allegiance to Government Schools
Mr. Callahan leads us gently through the fruit of hundreds of years of reflection on human action with prose accessible to any layman. In fact, he does such an excellent job of being clear, interesting and witty that some readers may think that all economic reading is this straight-forward.
-- Stephen Carson, Washington Witness
[A] terrific new book on economic theory... If I were teaching an introductory course in economics, I'd assign Gene Callahan's Economics for Real People: An Introduction to the Austrian School. I also commend it to folks in search of a good read on the joys of economic insight.
-- Gene Epstein, Barron's
For the uninformed laymen, Gene Callahan has written an excellent entry to understanding the nature of human action and choice, and the workings of the market process. For the student who has already had some economics, it clears up many of the confusions, errors, and omissions from which a standard college economics class is likely to suffer. And for the trained economist, it not only freshly restates first principles, it explains why the way the Austrians think about economic and market problems offers a sounder and richer foundation for understanding how the real world works.
-- Richard Ebeling, Freedom Daily
I strongly recommend Gene Callahan's brilliant Economics for Real People [2002], an outstanding introduction to sound economic thought...
-- Dr. Thomas E. Woods, Jr., Seattle Catholic
[A] Hazlitt for our time... Callahan superbly executes a very difficult task.
-- Dr. David Gordon, The Mises Review
An excellent, jargon-free introduction to Austrian economics. The book to have if you have only one book on the subject.
-- EnterpriseEconomy.com
Economics for Real People is just that, but it's wonderfully, engagingly, comprehensively economics for real people. With coverage that rivals an economics textbook, and an inviting writing style that makes the topics comprehensible to the lay reader, Callahan fulfills the promise of his book's title and then some.
-- Sunni Maravillosa, Editor, Freedom Book of the Month
It is a truly amazing achievement on Callahan's part to have suceeded in explaining the essence of Austrian economics in such a clear, accurate and comprehensive way. His remarkably creative analogies alone are worth more than the cover price!
-- Rich Wilcke, University of Louisville
Why, the sheer intellectual power of Economics for Real People! The blast of it not only knocked me down, but blew my socks and shoes off!
-- Bob Wallace, journalist
Thanks for the great book. I just finished it and plan to read it again, believe it or not.
-- Arthur Foulkes
I really enjoyed Economics for Real People. It's beautifully written and argued and the examples and metaphors are simply outstanding.
-- Professor Dominick Armentano, University of Hartford (Emeritus)
Even a cursory examination of this book is sufficient to impress the reader that we have here a remarkably well-written exposition for the layman of the highlights of Austrian Economics.
-- Professor Israel M. Kirzner, New York University
Callahan's new book is going to be a classic and even if he gets hit by a bus tomorrow, he'll be remembered as a Hazlitt.
-- Robert P. Murphy, author, Chaos Theory
I am often asked what is the best introduction to Austrian Economics. This is not an easy question to answer. Thomas Taylor's and Stephen Littlechild's pamphlets from the 1970s immediately come to mind, but they are both rather 'thin' and now are out of date. On the other hand, Rothbard's Man, Economy and State and Mises' Human Action are too 'thick' to serve as basic introductions. Gene Callahan's Economics for Real People fills an important niche in the literature. Written in a jargon-less and engaging style, Callahan's work provides the most comprehensive introduction to modern Austrian economics currently available to the intelligent layman. His work presents Austrian ideas on methodology, money, and markets (and more) in an easy reading common-sense language peppered with examples from everyday life and popular culture. Callahan was alert to a hitherto unexploited opportunity and seized that opportunity to the mutual benefit of all of us who value the teachings of the Austrian School of Economics.
-- Peter J. Boettke, Deputy Director, James M. Buchanan Center for Political Economy, George Mason University
Callahan's language is breezy and contemporary, but his thinking is rigorous and deeply learned in the Austrian tradition. He explains the basics of economics in the best Misesian and Rothbardian traditions, bringing Austrian economics to the people with consummate skill and admirable verve. Callahan possesses an almost uncanny ability to anticipate his reader's next question and answer it with great lucidity and minimal jargon. Even if you think you understand the Austrian approach, Callahan provides both the pleasures of easy lucidity and fresh ways of looking at old issues--his analogy of CPIs with thermometers was especially clever and illuminating. The book is not merely about economics--Callahan ties in the Austrian economic approach with some of its political implications clearly and convincingly, making this a useful work not just of economic theory, but of political economy and public policy as well.
-- Brian Doherty, Reason Magazine
Economics for Real People, engagingly written and surprisingly comprehensive, is the best overview of Austrian economics for the layman that I know of. As such, it's an excellent introduction to sound economic thinking for anyone. It admirably fills a long-standing gap in the literature.
-- Professor Sanford Ikeda, SUNY Purchase
The only problem with Murray Rothbard's Man, Economy and State is that it is rather daunting for freshman students of economics. Economics for Real People is as good a compromise as you'll ever find between the rigor and coverage of Rothbard's magnum opus and what is required to introduce newcomers to our profession. The Callahan book occupies an important market niche: an Austrian-grounded and libertarian-inspired introductory treatment of economics. I don't toss around compliments like this lightly, but the passion, eloquence and sheer witty writing style of this author is also reminiscent of Rothbard. I plan to use it in all of my future intro courses.
-- Professor Walter Block, Loyola University
