HS Sophomore Economics

[minniebeth]

Help us Dis gurus!
My DS is a sophomore in HS and for economics has to pick a book, any book in the realm of economics to read and do a report on. Anything goes as long as he can justify it to his teacher. Anyone have any suggestions for a book that would be interesting to a student his age?
We would SO appreciate it!
Thanks!

 

[DSNY4ever]

Freakonomics, would that count? That book was interesting!

 

[Uncle Remus]

CHAPTER ONE “Shorter hours, higher wages . . .”

In 1910, Henry Ford instituted the “line production system” for “maximum production economy” in his Highland Park, Michigan, plant1 The innovation, though in many ways unsophisticated, and hardly educated as to its own implications, was the beginning of a momentous transformation in America’s capacity to produce.

Captains of Consciousness: Advertising and the Social Roots of the Consumer Culture

 

[snarlingcoyote]

The Price of Everything: Solving the Mystery of Why We Pay What We Do

Scorecasting: The Hidden Influences Behind How Sports Are Played and Games Are Won

How We Decide

I'll see if I can think of more. . .obviously, I prefer books about consumer behavior. Can't think why.

 

[DCPrincess]

Freakonomics, would that count? That book was interesting!

I really enjoyed Freakonomics too!

 

[clh2]

What about Michael Moore's "Downsize This"?

 

[Cindy B]

Nickel and Dimed : On (Not) Getting by in America by Barbara Ehrenreich

Affluenza: The All Consuming Epidemic

 

[punkin]

"The Great Crash of 1929" by Galbraith.

...might be a bit difficult, but soooo worth it. It's an amazing book.

 

[minniebeth]

Thanks so much for the replies, everyone! I will pass them along to DS and I'm sure he can find something out of that list!
It's really appreciated!

 

[christineann]

Nickel and Dimed : On (Not) Getting by in America by Barbara Ehrenreich

Agree 100%.

Freakonomics

I need to read this one! One of the authors is an App State grad, and he has spoken to the students on occasion.

You Want Fries With That? A White-Collar Burnout Experiences Life at Minimum Wage by Prioleau Alexander

This book was written by a friend of mine and is along the same lines as Nickel and Dimed but with a humorous twist (though still serious, if that makes any sense).

 

[LuvOrlando]

Count me in for Freakonomics too, very interesting spin on real world issues. It is also on CD and there is even a movie I am looking forward to seeing.

 

[Janet Hill]

Basic Economics: A Common Sense Guide to the Economy by Thomas Sowell.

 

[Pigeon]

Freakonomics is certainly entertaining, but take it with a grain of salt.

Outliers:The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell is also a fun read.

If he really wants to learn something about economics while doing the project, Naked Economics by Charles Wheelan is good and pretty interesting.

 

[FireDancer]

Milton Friedman's Capitalism and Freedom.

 

[Zerosinthecloset]

Why doesn't he do her own research rather than depending on ideas from complete strangers?

 

[Pigeon]

Why doesn't he do her own research rather than depending on ideas from complete strangers?

Consider it "Readers Advisory." He gets a few ideas and browses the books to decide which one he actually wants to read. Nothing wrong with that.