Explore the human story of economics … 'The secret of economics is that the most powerful insights come from a handful of big ideas that anyone can follow.' This small book tells a big story. From ancient times to the modern world, The Shortest History of Economics unearths the hidden economic forces behind war, innovation and social transformation. It traces how capitalism and the market system emerged, and introduces the key ideas and people who shaped the discipline of economics. From the agricultural revolution to the warming of our planet, Andrew Leigh tells the story of economics that ranges across centuries and continents, highlighting the diversity of the discipline. He delves into the radical origins of the game of Monopoly, why the invention of the plough worsened gender inequality, how certain diseases shaped the patterns of colonialism, the reasons skyscrapers emerged first in American cities, and much more. The result is an illuminating, entertaining book about the economic ideas and forces that shape our world. 'This "short" book is bursting with insights about economics, illustrated by memorable stories and historical events. People who are curious about but confused by economics will learn enough from this volume to be conversant for life. Andrew Leigh is not only an engaging writer, he is charming and fun as well—something that cannot be said of all economists!' — Caroline M. Hoxby, Donya Bommer Professor of Economics, Stanford University 'If you read just one book about economics, make it Andrew Leigh's clear, insightful, and remarkable (and short) work. Learn why we are richer, live longer, have healthier children, are monumentally more productive and are happier than our ancestors.' — Claudia Goldin, Nobel Laureate, Henry Lee Professor of Economics, Harvard University 'Leigh takes the reader on an engaging romp through key moments in the world's economic history that created the economies we see today around the globe. It is essential reading for anyone looking to understand today's economy.'— Betsey Stevenson, Professor of Economics, University of Michigan, and co-author of Principles of Economics

A concise, star-studded retelling of Italy’s past, from Caesar and Augustus to da Vinci and Michelangelo, tracing the story of a country with prodigious global influence―from a foremost author of historic Italy. The Shortest History books deliver thousands of years of history in one riveting, fast-paced read. The calendar. The Senate. The university. The piano, the heliocentric model, and the pizzeria. It’s hard to imagine a world without Italian influence―and easy to assume that inventions like these could only come from a strong, stable peninsula, sure of its place in the world. In this breakneck history, bestselling author Ross King dismantles this assumption, uncovering the story of a land rife with inner uncertainty even as its influence spread. As the Italian tale unfolds, prosperity and power fluctuate like the elevation in the Dolomites. If Rome’s seven hills could talk, they might speak of the glorious time of Trajan―or bemoan the era of conquest and the Bubonic Plague that decimated Rome’s population. Episodes of wealth like the First Triumvirate and the time of the Medicis are given fresh life alongside descriptions the Middle Ages, the early days of Venice, the invasion of Napoleon, and the long struggle for unification. With illustrations and maps to reinforce key details, King paints a colorful, fascinating portrait of a country that remains compelling not just to tens of millions of Italian Americans, but to the millions of Americans who visit Italy every year. With black-and-white images throughout

Discover the aesthetic traditions, political resilience, and modern economic might of this singular island nation. Zen, haiku, martial arts, sushi, anime, manga, film, video games . . . Japanese culture has long enriched our Western way of life. Yet from a Western perspective, Japan remains a remote island country that has long had a complicated relationship with the outside world. Japan—an archipelago strung like a necklace around the Asian mainland—is considerably farther from Asia than Britain is from Europe. The sea has provided an effective barrier against invasion and enabled the culture to develop in unique ways. During the Edo period, the Tokugawa shoguns successfully closed the country to the West. Then, Japan swung in the opposite direction, adopting Western culture wholesale. Both strategies enabled it to avoid colonization—and to retain its traditions and way of life. A skilled storyteller and accurate historian, Lesley Downer presents the dramatic sweep of Japanese history and the larger-than-life individuals—from emperors descended from the Sun Goddess to warlords, samurai, merchants, court ladies, women warriors, geisha, and businessmen—who shaped this extraordinary modern society. The Shortest History books deliver thousands of years of history in one riveting, fast-paced read.

An evolutionary history of sex that reveals how two billion years of genetic ancestry―from the first aquatic creatures to primate societies―influences human sexuality today. The Shortest History books deliver thousands of years of history in one riveting, fast-paced read. From the first exchange of DNA to Tinder and sexbots―how did sex begin, and how did it evolve to be so varied and complex in humans? What influence do our genetic ancestors have on our love lives today? And what might sex look like in the future? The Shortest History of Sex traces where all the facets of human sexuality came from, starting at the creation of sex approximately two billion years ago and chasing it down our evolutionary family tree―from dinosaurs to primates and the earliest humans―until we arrive at the present, revealing why humanity’s baffling array of passions, impulses, and fetishes are the way they are. From the basic chemical process of two microbes sharing DNA to the modern phenomena of online dating, author David Baker guides the reader toward a clear understanding of one of the deepest and most abiding forces of human nature. The Shortest History of Sex looks at how sex changed for humans across the foraging, agrarian, and modern eras, and how we arrived at a period in history where the present nature of our sex lives has no historical or evolutionary precedent. The result is a revealing and utterly unique insight into history and human behavior―and the dance between nature and nurture in society. With 43 black-and-white images & charts