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Thinking Like an Economist: A Guide to Rational Decision Making  By  cover art

Thinking Like an Economist: A Guide to Rational Decision Making

By: Randall Bartlett,The Great Courses
Narrated by: Randall Bartlett
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Publisher's summary

Economic forces are everywhere around you. But that doesn't mean you need to passively accept whatever outcome those forces might press upon you. Instead, with these 12 fast-moving and crystal clear lectures, you can learn how to use a small handful of basic nuts-and-bolts principles to turn those same forces to your own advantage.

Requiring no previous economics background, Professor Bartlett presents some of the fundamental principles and concepts that shape the lenses through which economists view the world. He then shows you how to use these simple analytical tools to understand what you see through those lenses. By learning to identify the many varied situations in which economics affects your life and how to wield the tools that can help you make the wisest choices in those situations, you'll enhance not only your understanding of daily life but your own success in living it.

Packed with case studies, helpful strategies, economic insights, and more, this series will equip you with a reliable toolkit for thinking more like an everyday economist and approach the issues in your own life with a more educated, seasoned eye. And after these dozen lectures with Professor Bartlett, things really will look very different. You'll see how basic economic ideas like incentives, risks, rewards, and rationality are not just the province of professional economists, government policymakers, or your local bank's loan officer, but instead lie at the root of nearly every decision you must make in your daily life.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2010 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2010 The Great Courses

What listeners say about Thinking Like an Economist: A Guide to Rational Decision Making

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    4 out of 5 stars

Great for beginners, nothing you for an economist

Strictly speaking, there is really nothing new in this book for people who either took courses in economics or read some of the popular books on the topic. It's really a very superficial presentation of some of the fundamental assumptions of economics. However, if you have no prior training or exposure to economics and would like to learn some basics, this is a fun series of non technical lectures that you will probably enjoy and learn from.

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80 people found this helpful

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Economists as Kindergartners

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I would recommend but only for a few of the "nuggets" relevant to everyday life that one encounters throughout the series.

What other book might you compare Thinking Like an Economist: A Guide to Rational Decision Making to and why?

"Skepticism 101: How to Think like a Scientist" and "Mistakes Were Made (But Not By Me)"

Which scene was your favorite?

The sections on game theory, relative value and risk had some good information

Could you see Thinking Like an Economist: A Guide to Rational Decision Making being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No

Any additional comments?

In several key areas the professor engages the listener in descriptions of actions that are well-documented but proceeds to state that their cause is a mystery. In each case the scientific literature relevant to the answer can be found but is apparently unknown to the professor, although most were addressed in non-economic disciplines. (i.e. cognitive dissonance) Also, his lecture on the tragedy of the commons seemed to indicate that the solution is a larger and more complex common resource, government, which leaves the stakeholders more disparate then in the localized example given.

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44 people found this helpful

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A difficult subject made easy!

I have found this the best set of lectures on economics so far. The presenter paces himself. explains a concept and then gives an anecdote. This has enabled me to comprehend relatively difficult concepts with ease.
I own a small business and have never really understood a lot of the terms used in the modern press that relate to finance. I wish I had learned this information at the beginning of my career. It would have helped me enormously.
I give this 5 stars.

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34 people found this helpful

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Economics for dummies

This is a very basic introduction to Economics. So much so that much of it is just common sense and not at all enlightening. You would not know that from the lecturer who presents his material as if pulling back the curtain on the secrets of the universe. I found his delivery somewhat grandiose and corny. He must have repeated the phrase "think like an economist" a thousand times. Ok, we get it, it's an economics course, no need to constantly repeat it!

I don't know a whole lot about economics and yet I don't think I learned anything new in this course. It might be good if you know absolutely nothing about economics and rational decision making but I doubt most people buying The Great Courses on Audible fall into this category.

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25 people found this helpful

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Potentially life-changing.

I cannot say this for myself, since I am since long a fan of Freakonomics and interested in behavioral economics, but to those who are looking for something that could really change their lives for the best, this is absolutely a must.
Clear, actionable and with the right tempo and digressions.

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12 people found this helpful

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  • LM
  • 05-26-17

As an amateur economist, I found this excellent.

This is a great primer for folks who want the benefits of efficient, logical, rational thought and decision making in all areas of life. It's covers the basics of Microeconomics 101 (and to some extent macro) in very plain terms applicable to anyone.

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11 people found this helpful

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Definitely makes you think

Great book that I would recommend to anyone. At times he does come off as condescending but I don't think it is intentional. I especially liked the tools he provided to help the individual understand decision making and incentives. Enjoy!

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9 people found this helpful

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Worth listening

2% of 1 million is 20,000 not 2,000! Hedgefund example at around 3.25.44. Good listen overall!

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8 people found this helpful

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Clear, useful, accessible

It was a pleasure to listen to this. I never found myself zoning out or wondering (as I often do) when the speaker will cut through the fuzzy jargon and get to the point. The points are all set out. This has helped me think more clearly in my own decisions, and express myself more clearly in my own business teaching.

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8 people found this helpful

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Good information for the Novice

The book was done well, it was organized, and relatively entertaining. The average marks I provided for the book was more for my expectations of learning more. This book is for someone that has not had a graduate course in economics. Solidly based for teenagers and students that have yet to go through any formal education on the topic.

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7 people found this helpful