The Accidental Theorist

December 20, 2009
Book of the Day: The Accidental Theorist and Other Dispatches from the Dismal Science, by Paul Krugman
Grade: C
First published: 1998
1-word review: Capital
6-word review: Economics really is a science, really!

Why do popular economics books always exaggerate the veracity of claims made by economists? Krugman manages to do this while at the same time insulting the many economists he disagrees with. How about just one mention of the generally recognized rule that an economic theory is considered to be a wild success if it can be shown to apply in just two-thirds of cases?

Krugman has become famous in recent years as a public intellectual, specifically a liberal one. Despite his liberalism, he is an ardent defender of capitalism, and many of these essays reflect that. His writing style is only adequate, and this book is pretty forgettable. And I was disappointed that Idaho didn't get a single mention.

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Disgrace

December 12, 2009 Book of the Day: Disgrace , by J.M. Coetzee Grade: A First published: 1999 1-word review: Brutal 9-word review: South Africa's still struggling in the aftermath of apartheid. A communications professor in Cape Town resigns his job after having a scandalous affair with a student. He visits his daughter on her ranch in the country, where they are viciously attacked and robbed in her home. The rest of the novel, in sparse and nearly perfect prose, deals with the aftermath of this attack, examining white guilt, police incompetence, and intellectual bankruptcy. Coetzee is a white South African who wrote a novel that depicts black on white violent crime in his country. As you may expect, this has generated quite some controversy, despite Coetzee's bona fide anti-apartheid status. Many critics have suggested that Disgrace should be read as an allegorical tale about the inadequacies of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, a body set up in South Africa to exam...

Breath, Eyes, Memory

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The Theory of the Leisure Class

December 30, 2009 Book of the Day: The Theory of the Leisure Class , by Thorstein Veblen Grade: A- First published: 1899 1-word review: Conspicuous 7-word review: It's all pecuniary conspicuity, you materialistic bastard. This is an interesting, sometimes funny, frequently profound, take on our consumer culture. There's a certain desire to achieve material success just to show others that we have achieved material success. Furthermore, our motivation comes from seeing the success of others. These factors lead to what Veblen calls "conspicuous consumption." We like other people to notice our stuff. Then there are those who try to try to wow you with their stuff when their stuff isn't all that impressive. Veblen refers to these people as "Boise State fans." Just a little love tap.

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