Without an understanding of economics, it’s difficult to describe the world around us. Economic data can create public policies and lead movements, and a lack of basic understanding can be a real impediment to progress. No one can evaluate data if they don’t know basic best practices, like the fact that one statistic or number (averages included) can’t tell you much. Luckily, gaining a working understanding of economics and data interpretation is possible without having a degree in advanced mathematics.
This list is compiled entirely of works that are digestible for the curious lay reader, and they cover a lot of highly varied ground. Whether you want to learn the history of economics to gain an understanding of how we ended up with the system we have now, or to find out exactly what a free market economist thinks about, we have you covered.