The Best Book on the Market: How to Stop Worrying and Love the Free Economy [Hardcover]

"…Chancellor Geoffrey Howe…has endorsed a new tome by Adam Smith Institute boss Eamonn Butler on the power of free markets." (The Evening Standard, Monday 31st March 2008)

"...well written...full of rather good anecdotes about markets" (Dr Grumble Blog, September 26, 2008)

“The best book on markets ever! Buy this book or sink in the global economy!” TheMarketingHouse.org Monday 30 June 2008

“Eamonn Butler takes the reader on a tour de force around the realities of markets, providing practical guidance”. AdamSmithsLostLegacy.com Monday 2 June 2008

“…a very interesting read and a great introduction for anyone who wants an insight into the market economy.” BBC′s Working Lunch online

“A provocative read.” Total Politics August 2008

“Ideal for general readers, the book uses everyday examples and addresses social issues such as sweatshops and fair trade.”Moneywise June 2008

“Witty and easy to understand, it challenges the mathematic, quasi–scientific way that economics is often taught”InvisibleHand.nl Friday 25 April 2008

“Anything which educates the public and politicians…on how the free economy actually works…is always welcome. Dr. Butler does this in style.” Atlasusa.org Thursday 10 April 2008

“Anything which educates the public and politicians…on how the free economy actually works…is always welcome. Dr. Butler does this in style.” Atlasusa.org Thursday 10 April 2008

"A provocative read."

"The best book on markets ever! Buy this book or sink in the global economy!"

"...a very interesting read and a great introduction for anyone who wants an insight into the market economy."

"If you are ever blighted with a weird desire to see more taxes, subsidies and ministerial initiatives, Dr Butler's book will provide a handy antidote."

"If anyone can explain how markets work, it's Dr Eamonn Butler."

The free market makes the world go around. Maybe it’s time we all tried to understand it a little better. Luckily Eamonn Butler is the ideal teacher to get us all up to speed.

Markets are everywhere. But how many of us understand how they work, and why? What does a ‘free market’ really mean? Do free markets actually exist? Should we have more or less of them? Most of all – do we really need to know all this? Answer: Yes we do.

MAKING ECONOMICS SIMPLE SO THAT EVEN POLITICIANS CAN UNDERSTAND IT

If any mention of free markets sends your mind screaming back to your musty old school economics textbook, think again. The Best Book on the Market will keep you gripped, intrigued and well informed. Abandoning complicated mumbo–jumbo, Eamonn Butler, Director of the UK’s leading free market think–tank, demystifies the world of markets, competition, monopolies and cartels, prices and overspills. Using examples from our everyday lives Dr Butler explains how the markets we have, and the many more we need, can work to create a richer, freer and more peaceful world.

STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE FREE ECONOMY

He delves into the morality of markets and interrogates important issues such as why feckless rock–stars are paid much more than worthy nurses; whether we should worry about people trading in arms, water, healthcare etc; whether black markets are immoral; and questions of equality; sweatshops, and fair trade.

 

“This book is about the free market and how unfree it can be when there is a lack of belief in freedom itself. Eamonn Butler presents solid arguments against government attempts to ‘perfect’ the markets by regulation, controls, subsidies, or by adopting measures which obstruct competition and private ownership.”

Václav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic

 

“Vividly and simply explains competition, entrepreneurship and prices”.

 John Blundell, Director, Institute of Economic Affairs

  “A great little book that gets to the heart of how and why markets work, in a very engaging and easily understood way”.

Dan Lewis, Research Director, Economic Research Council 

  “I welcome this witty, lucid explanation of how entrepreneurs and business people make a positive contribution to our lives, and why economists often don′t”.

Andrew Neil , leading journalist and BBC presenter

“Anything which educates the public – and politicians  – on how the free economy actually works is always welcome.  Dr Butler does this in style”.

Lord Lawson, former UK Chancellor of the Exchequer

“Everyone in business would do well to understand the basic principles of markets which Dr Butler clarifies so well in this short book”.

Allister Heath, Editor of The Business and Associate Editor of The Spectator 

"This book does great justice to the vibrancy of markets and what makes them tick"

Ruth Richardson, former Finance Minister of New Zealand

"It′s refreshing to see an economist who understands the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship in pushing progress forward, and who can explain it in straightforward language."

Trevor Baylis OBE (inventor of the wind–up radio)

"I′m glad to see that Dr Butler stresses the role of innovators – and the importance of market structures that encourage innovation."

Sir Clive Sinclair (inventor)

"Dr Butler′s book is a welcome and very readable contribution on the mechanisms and morality of the free economy."

Sir John Major KG CH (former UK Prime Minister)

“′Market′ is one of the first six–letter words that every English–speaking child learns: as in ′This – little – piggy – went – to – market′”.

Geoffrey Howe, former UK Chancellor of the Exchequer

"This book is about the free market and how unfree it can be when there is a lack of belief in freedom itself. Eamonn Butler presents solid arguments against government attempts to `perfect' the markets by regulation, controls, subsidies, or by adopting measures which obstruct competition and private ownership."
Václav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic

"Vividly and simply explains competition, entrepreneurship and prices".
John Blundell, Director, Institute of Economic Affairs

"A great little book that gets to the heart of how and why markets work, in a very engaging and easily understood way".
Dan Lewis, Research Director, Economic Research Council

"I welcome this witty, lucid explanation of how entrepreneurs and business people make a positive contribution to our lives, and why economists often don't".
Andrew Neil , leading journalist and BBC presenter

"Anything which educates the public - and politicians - on how the free economy actually works is always welcome. Dr Butler does this in style".
Lord Lawson, former UK Chancellor of the Exchequer

"Everyone in business would do well to understand the basic principles of markets which Dr Butler clarifies so well in this short book".
Allister Heath, Editor of The Business and Associate Editor of The Spectator

"This book does great justice to the vibrancy of markets and what makes them tick"
Ruth Richardson, former Finance Minister of New Zealand

"It's refreshing to see an economist who understands the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship in pushing progress forward, and who can explain it in straightforward language."
Trevor Baylis OBE (inventor of the wind-up radio)

"I'm glad to see that Dr Butler stresses the role of innovators - and the importance of market structures that encourage innovation."
Sir Clive Sinclair (inventor)

"Dr Butler's book is a welcome and very readable contribution on the mechanisms and morality of the free economy."
Sir John Major KG CH (former UK Prime Minister)

"'Market' is one of the first six-letter words that every English-speaking child learns: as in 'This - little - piggy - went - to - market'".
Geoffrey Howe, former UK Chancellor of the Exchequer

'Market' was the sixth word I ever learnt - after 'This little piggy goes to...' But I learnt first hand about the market as I watched my father serving customers at his car repair shop. And yet more as my mother added up the countless rows of pounds, shillings and pence in the business's ledgers.

So when I studied economics at St. Andrews University in Scotland, I knew something wasn't right. The textbook writers were trying to make their subject a science, like mechanics. They treated people like robots, not human beings. By stripping out every trace of human psychology - irrationality, generosity, habit, ignorance - they stripped out everything that makes markets actually work.

Now I'm Director of one of the world's leading free-market policy think-tanks, and at last I can explain why college economics is just wrong. And more importantly, how most of what politicians build on this crumbling foundation is wrong too.

I wanted something that everyone - even politicians - could understand, so I've cut out the jargon to show how markets really work through my own story, and the stories of countless others of people in real-world markets. Because markets are only human.

Eamonn Butler

The best book on the market makes economics so simple that even politicians can understand it.

"It′s refreshing to see an economist who understands the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship in pushing progress forward, and who can explain it in straightforward language." – Trevor Baylis

"Everyone in business would do well to understand the basic principles of markets which Dr Butler clarifies so well in this shot book." – Allister Heath

"I′m glad to see that Dr Butler stresses the role of innovators – and the importance of market structures that encourage innovation." – Sir Clive Sinclair

"Creating and protecting a free market economy is vital for every country. it is easier to do this when we have Dr Butler′s easily–understandable book to help us". – Mart Laar

"This book is about the free market and how unfree it can be when there is a lack of belief in freedom itself. Eamonn Butler presents solid arguments against government attempts to ′perfect′ the market by regulation, controls, subsidies or by adopting measures which obstruct competition and private ownership." – Vaclav Klaus

"Vividly and simply explains the ABC of markets." – John Blundell

"A great little book that gets to the heart of how and why markets work, in a very engaging and easily understood way." – Dan Lewis

"This book does great justice to the vibrancy of markets and what makes them tick." – Ruth Richardson

Are you ready for the truth about markets?

These pages will change the way you think about the world...

Markets are everywhere. But how many of us understand how they work, and why? What does a free market′ really mean? Do free markets exist – and should we have more or less of them? most of all – why should any of this matter to me?

Using crisp, non–technical language and examples from our everyday lives, Eamonn Butler explains how the markets we have, and the many more we need, can work to create a richer, freer and more peaceful world.

Discover how the freedom to choose benefits us all.

If you′ve ever wondered why governments′ attempts to fix the market usually end up making things worse, what makes black markets tick or how your economics textbook got it all wrong,  you need The Best Book on the Market.

"Dr Butler′s book is a welcome and very readable contribution on the mechanisms and morality of the free economy." – Sir John Major KG CH, former UK Prime Minister

"Anything which educates the public – and politicians – on how the free economy actually works is always welcome. Dr Butler does this in style." – Lord Lawson, former UK Chancellor of the Exchequer

If anyone can explain how markets work, it′s Dr Eamonn Butler. As director of the Influential UK think–tank, the Adam Smith Institute, he has spent three decades privatizing state industries, reforming public administrations and instructing government leaders around the world on market economics. He is the doyen of Britain′s free–market policy analysts, and led the initiative to build a world monument to the pioneering Scottish economist, Adam Smith, in Edinburgh.

With degrees in Economics, Psychology and Philosophy from St Andrews University, Dr Butler is superbly qualified on the mechanics, mentality and morals of markets. He is a board member of the Mont Pelerin Society, the distinguished international association of free–market economists and activist founded in 1947. He has won the Freedoms Foundation  deal and is advisor to a number of international economic–policy bodies.

Dr Butler′s highly readable introductions to free–market thinkers including Adam Smith, Ludwig von Mises, and Nobel economists F A Hayek and Milton Friedman have won wide acclaim and been translated into many languages. He is also the author of several books on IQ testing (with Dr Madsen Pirie) and of Forty Centuries of Wage and Price Controls (with Robert L Schuettinger).