The subtitle is How Money & Markets Really Work.  I am a big fan of Kyla Scanlon (see the link for her other work), who is a force of nature.  She graduated from Western Kentucky University in 2019, and she has a new and very effective approach to how to talk.  I first learned of her through her explanatory videos, and it turns out she does one almost every day. Apart from being very well done, this economics book has two notable features.  First, it elevates Kyla’s notion of “vibes” as a significant determinant of economic activity.  I use the older (and less vibe ..read more

The author is Yuval Levin and the subtitle is How the Constitution Unified Our Nation — And Could Again.  Excerpt: The greatest obstacle to our understanding of the US Constitution is our familiarity with it. Everything by Yuval is highly intelligent, this book included. The post *American Covenant* appeared first on Marginal REVOLUTION ..read more

Revenge of the Tipping Point: Overstories, Superspreaders, and the Rise of Social Engineering, due out in October. The post New Malcolm Gladwell book appeared first on Marginal REVOLUTION ..read more

That is a recently translated Brazilian novel by Itamar Vieira Junior, set in Bahia.  It is better to read this one without any spoilers.  And I am pleased to announce that we have another great Latin American (and Brazilian) novel, worthy of entering the canon. I haven’t seen a good ungated review of the book, as no one seems to care.  I did like this NYRoB (gated) review.  Further on the plus side, the book is also short and an easy read. The post *Crooked Plow* appeared first on Marginal REVOLUTION ..read more

The author is Bjorn Lomborg, and the subtitle is The 12 most efficient solutions for the world’s poorest and our global SDG promises.  I missed this book when it first came out last year.  Here is what Lomborg presents as the twelve best global investments, in no particular order: Tuberculosis Maternal and newborn health Malaria Nutrition Chronic diseases Childhood immunization Education Agricultural R&D e-procurement Land tenure security Trade Skilled migration The post *Best Things First* appeared first on Marginal REVOLUTION ..read more

NYTimes: Glenn C. Loury’s new book, “Late Admissions,” is unlike any economist’s memoir I have ever read. Most don’t mention picking up streetwalkers. Or smoking crack in a faculty office at Harvard’s Kennedy School — or in an airplane at 30,000 feet. Or stealing a car. Or having sex on a beach in Israel with a mistress and attracting the attention of the Israel Defense Forces. Or later being arrested and charged with assaulting her. Or cuckolding a best friend….“Late Admissions” passes the Orwell Test. “An autobiography is only to be trusted when it reveals something disgraceful.” Of course ..read more

Here is the audio, video, and transcript.  Here is the episode summary: Benjamin Moser is a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer celebrated for his in-depth studies of literary and cultural figures such as Susan Sontag and Clarice Lispector. His latest book, which details a twenty-year love affair with the Dutch masters, is one of Tyler’s favorite books on art criticism ever. Benjamin joined Tyler to discuss why Vermeer was almost forgotten, how Rembrandt was so productive, what auctions of the old masters reveals about current approaches to painting, why Dutch art hangs best in houses, wh ..read more

One of the very greatest of all writers, ever. The great Alice Munro has died.https://t.co/Kpg7Yjd2Bo — Cheryl Misak (@MisakCheryl) May 14, 2024 The post Alice Munro, RIP appeared first on Marginal REVOLUTION ..read more

The subtitle is Hw Popular Misconceptions about Inflation, Prices, and Value Create Bad Policy.  I am happy to have blurbed this book, here is part of the Amazon description: Was inflation’s recent spike exacerbated by corporate greed? Do rent controls really help the needy? Are U.S. health care prices set in a Wild West marketplace? Do women get paid less than men for the same work, and do they pay more than men for the same products? The War on Prices is an eye-opening book that answers all these burning questions and more, as top economists debunk popular misconceptions ..read more

An excellent book, here is the UK Amazon link, I am not sure of the U.S. plans.  The subtitle is What Late Bloomers Can Tell You About Success and Reinventing Your Life. Here is one excerpt: What this showed is that processing speed (matching numbers and symbols) peaks much earlier than working memory (unfamiliar shapes and reciting lists of numbers). These are both aspects of fluid intelligence, but they peak at different times. The idea that fluid intelligence is one thing and declines early isn’t quite right. There are many aspects to intelligence and they peak at different ages throu ..read more