If you are an econ enthusiast, these titles are for you!

1.

MATERIAL WORLD: THE SIX RAW MATERIALS THAT MADE THE WORLD
by Ed Conway

"Sand, salt, iron, copper, oil, and lithium. These fundamental materials have created empires, razed civilizations, and fed our ingenuity and greed for thousands of years. Without them, our modern world would not exist, and the battle to control them will determine our future."

2.

THE FABRIC OF CIVILIZATION: HOW TEXTILES MADE THE WORLD
by Virginia Postrel

"The story of humanity is the story of textiles -- as old as civilization itself. Since the first thread was spun, the need for textiles has driven technology, business, politics, and culture."

3.

MAKING IT IN AMERICA: THE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE QUEST TO MANUFACTURE IN AMERICA (AND HOW IT GOT THAT WAY)
by Rachel Slade

"A moving and eye-opening look at the story of manufacturing in America, whether it can ever successfully return to our shores, and why our nation depends on it, told through the experience of one young couple in Maine as they attempt to rebuild a lost industry, ethically"

4.

THE ECONOMIC WEAPON: THE RISE OF SANCTION AS A TOOL OF MODERN WAR
by Nicholas Mulder

"'Tracing the use of economic sanctions from the blockades of World War I to the policing of colonial empires and the interwar confrontation with fascism, Nicholas Mulder uses extensive archival research in a political, economic, legal, and military history that reveals how a coercive wartime tool was adopted as an instrument of peacekeeping by the League of Nations. This timely study casts an overdue light on why sanctions are widely considered a form of war, and why their unintended consequences are so tremendous."

5.

CO-INTELLIGENCE: LIVING AND WORKING WITH AI
by Ethan Mollick

"In Co-Intelligence, Mollick urges us to engage with AI as co-worker, co-teacher, and coach. He assesses its profound impact on business and education, using dozens of real-time examples of AI in action. Co-Intelligence shows what it means to think and work together with smart machines, and why it’s imperative that we master that skill."

6.

THE NEW RULES OF MONEY: A PLAYBOOK FOR PLANNING YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE 
by Bourree Lam and Julia Carpenter

"Overcome your fears of money, break old spending habits, and become more mindful of your personal finances with this fun, illustrated workbook from the Wall Street Journal."

Twice a year we offer a workshop called 6 Econ Books in 60 Minutes. Above are our May 2024 selections. Looking for more reading ideas? Here's a list of all books featured in past workshops.