Unexpected Economics

By: Timothy Taylor, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Timothy Taylor

Length: 12 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

Why are we choosing to have fewer children, even as we put more time into raising each one? Why are we so often willing to follow the herd and the opinions of strangers when making important decisions, even when those decisions are deeply personal? Most surprising: Why are questions like these increasingly attracting the attention of economists?

Find out why with these 24 fascinating lectures that will help you grasp as never before the ways in which these mechanisms for making choices are operating even in areas in which you may never have considered the forces of economics to be at work. Professor Taylor puts to rest the oft-quoted misconception of economics as "the dismal science." Instead, you'll take part in a wide-ranging and enjoyable investigation of how economic thinking - whether applied personally, nationally, or globally - relates to, and sheds fresh light on, just about everything.

With the aid of findings from recent Nobel Prize winners and rapidly evolving leading-edge fields like behavioral economics, you'll look at subjects ranging from discrimination and natural disasters to charity and risk-taking, and even whether terrorism can be considered a "career choice." As you roam with Professor Taylor across this fascinating landscape, you'll discover unique vantage points from which to survey and understand these exciting and vital territories being explored every day by economists. And you'll gain a deeper understanding of the role of choice in your own life, whether choices you've made for yourself, or those made for you by leaders you've entrusted with that authority.

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

©2011 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2011 The Great Courses

Riveting Take on Big Issues from Econ Perspective

In the vein of Freakonomics, Professor Taylor, undoubtedly one of the best Great Courses lecturers, provides you with a novel perspective on a variety of issues. Kidney transplants, traffic congestion, terrorism, marriage, procreation, discrimination, addiction, obesity, and voting; Prof. Taylor gently but fascinatingly analyzes all of these areas with economics in mind. He doesn't tell you what to but how to think more clearly about these subjects. Highly recommended.

Economics in everyday life

I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook. Timothy Taylor explains in a very lucid manner without resorting to jargon, how Economics can improve the quality of our daily decision making.

One of best The Great Courses audio I listened to ...

Well structured and excellent explanation of economic ideas in real world existence, simple and everyone can benefit

See the World a Bit More Clearly

Prof. Tim Taylor uses an upbeat presentation, thorough research and references, and refreshing insights to apply economic concepts to everyday occurrences. By doing this, Prof. Taylor turns our view of daily life into a more clear, more viable existence.

enlightening and exciting enough to keep focus

This knowledge is beautiful, especially the unexpected parts. No previous study is necessary to permit many wonderful considerations here.

New Insights Into Familiar Topics

This was an enjoyable, informative course. I purchased it on a friend's recommendation, and I'm better for it. Professor Taylor takes a variety of subjects--sports, obesity, risk, uncertainty, and more--and looks at them through an economist's lens. One needn't know much about the study of economics to enjoy and appreciate this lecture series--the lecture topics are pertinent to to the lives we actually lead, and not just the stuff of academics.

Worth Listening To

Provided great insights to mundane issues. Prof Taylor gave us a very lively presentation. I recommend this to all who want a scientific understanding of many of the issues of life. 1

Not bad.

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I love the Great Courses. This one was OK, but not my favorite. I guess the title made me think this would be full of fun, 'unexpected' economic story-telling...the untold story behind big events, etc. It is not that. This is an overview of various social science topics that could (unexpectedly) be considered to be 'economics'. Many of the lectures were simplistic probability theory sort of stuff. Some were opinions rationalized through selective inclusion of data. The lecture on addiction was particularly bad. If you are a social scientist, this might be your thing. Delivery was fine. If you are looking for education that also entertains, there are better choices.