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Review
'What humankind needs second most (first is a cure for global warming), is a means of defusing the lethal ideological superstitions implanted in the educated masses by Samuelson/Mankiw type economics textbooks. Hill and Myatt's anti-textbook goes a long way toward providing it.' --Edward Fullbrook
'I highly recommend Hill and Myatt s Anti-textbook. It is not so much an outright rejection of traditional treatments of introductory microeconomics as it is an exercise in laying bare the premises on which they are based and then suggesting alternative assumptions and methodologies. This approach leaves the student with a much deeper understanding of economic theory and it shows our discipline for what it truly is: an ongoing conversation among competing paradigms. I urge instructors to amend their courses so that time can be made for this important critique.' --John. T. Harvey, Professor of Economics, author of Currencies, Capital Flows, and Crises: A Post Keynesian Analysis of Exchange Rate Determination; former director of the International Confederation of Associations for Pluralism in Economics
'Hill and Myatt's timely book should be compulsory reading for every student of economics. It gives vital answers to the question which ever more people are asking how did economics get it so wrong? A searching critique of the actual texts which figure on economics courses offers that vital product too long absent from the economics store cupboard a second opinion.' --Alan Freeman, coordinator, UK Association for Heterodox Economics
'I highly recommend Hill and Myatt s Anti-textbook. It is not so much an outright rejection of traditional treatments of introductory microeconomics as it is an exercise in laying bare the premises on which they are based and then suggesting alternative assumptions and methodologies. This approach leaves the student with a much deeper understanding of economic theory and it shows our discipline for what it truly is: an ongoing conversation among competing paradigms. I urge instructors to amend their courses so that time can be made for this important critique.' --John. T. Harvey, Professor of Economics, author of Currencies, Capital Flows, and Crises: A Post Keynesian Analysis of Exchange Rate Determination; former director of the International Confederation of Associations for Pluralism in Economics
'Hill and Myatt's timely book should be compulsory reading for every student of economics. It gives vital answers to the question which ever more people are asking how did economics get it so wrong? A searching critique of the actual texts which figure on economics courses offers that vital product too long absent from the economics store cupboard a second opinion.' --Alan Freeman, coordinator, UK Association for Heterodox Economics
Product Description
Mainstream textbooks present economics as an objective science free from value judgements; that settles disputes relatively easily by testing hypotheses; that applies a settled body of principles; and contains policy prescriptions supported by a consensus of professional opinion. The Anti-Textbook argues that this is a myth - one which is not only dangerously misleading but also bland and boring. It challenges the mainstream textbooks' assumptions, arguments, models and evidence. It puts the controversy and excitement back into economics to reveal a fascinating and a vibrant field of study - one which is more an 'art of persuasion' than it is a science. The Anti-Textbook's chapters parallel the major topics in the typical text. They begin with a boiled-down account of them before presenting an analysis and critique. Drawing on the work of leading economists, the Anti-Textbook lays bare the blind spots in the texts and their sins of omission and commission. It shows where hidden value judgements are made and when contrary evidence is ignored. It shows the claims made without any evidence and the alternative theories that aren't mentioned. It shows the importance of power, social context, and legal framework. The Economics Anti-Textbook is the students' guide to decoding the textbooks and shows how real economics is much more interesting than they let on.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Hill & Myatt have crafted the perfect accompaniment to your economics textbook. I say accompaniment as I didn't feel this book alone was enough-although it does essentially include most of typical textbook material plus a rigorous critique. I was reading Sloman's Essentials of Economics at the same time. Although I found it invaluable to have such a great digest of all the critical literature, I must say that sloman's textbook didn't display much of the myopia and hidden ideology that Hill & Myatt so expertly deconstruct. In that sense I did feel their stance was perhaps overly reactionary and hyperbolically critical. In addition the writers definitely have an opinion and aren't afraid to voice it but to their credit they at least flag up this bias early on and it is in fact one of their strengths as it makes difficult material far more engaging.
If you're looking to dig deeper behind the mainstream classroom economics or can't understand how a subject so unscientific and imprecise as economics continues to have such a firm hold over our lives then this book is for you. Now all I need is a guide to Macroeconomics that is this insightful. Come on guys!
If you're looking to dig deeper behind the mainstream classroom economics or can't understand how a subject so unscientific and imprecise as economics continues to have such a firm hold over our lives then this book is for you. Now all I need is a guide to Macroeconomics that is this insightful. Come on guys!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Hill and Myatt's anti-textook is an easy to read, well organised critique of textbook micro-economics that can be read alongside any standard textboook. It is more a series of explorations than a coherent critique launched from one theoretical perspective; nevertheless, it exposes the limitations of modern economics well. It deserves a most careful reading and comparison with other credible studies of economics listed below.
It is similar to, but more direct and simpler to read than Steve Keen's Debunking Economics second edition, which taken overall is more comprehensive and a deeper more cogent critique. Both are essential to help grasp the weakness of positivist economics.
But, I would like to recommend a book that penetrates more deeply into the political and economic philosophy behind the modern "science" of economics by examining Hobbes, Locke, Smith, Marshall, Keynes, Hayek, Myrdal, and Rational Expectations Economics. That book is "Deductive Irrationality. A Commonsense Critique of Economic Rationalism" 073911624X) by Stephen McCarthy and David Kehl based on the teaching and writings of Dr. Richard W. Staveley here in Brisbane, Australia from the 1960s to the end of the last century.
Other books of interest reviewing economics include:
1. Debunking Economics 2nd ed. by Steve Keen;
2. The Skeptical Economist by J. Aldred;
3. Economics for the Rest of Us by Moshe Adler;
Happy reading!
It is similar to, but more direct and simpler to read than Steve Keen's Debunking Economics second edition, which taken overall is more comprehensive and a deeper more cogent critique. Both are essential to help grasp the weakness of positivist economics.
But, I would like to recommend a book that penetrates more deeply into the political and economic philosophy behind the modern "science" of economics by examining Hobbes, Locke, Smith, Marshall, Keynes, Hayek, Myrdal, and Rational Expectations Economics. That book is "Deductive Irrationality. A Commonsense Critique of Economic Rationalism" 073911624X) by Stephen McCarthy and David Kehl based on the teaching and writings of Dr. Richard W. Staveley here in Brisbane, Australia from the 1960s to the end of the last century.
Other books of interest reviewing economics include:
1. Debunking Economics 2nd ed. by Steve Keen;
2. The Skeptical Economist by J. Aldred;
3. Economics for the Rest of Us by Moshe Adler;
Happy reading!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3 reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Textbook Economics:Text and Anti-text
30 Oct 2011
Format:Paperback
Hill and Myatt's anti-textook is an easy to read, well organised critique of textbook micro-economics that can be read alongside any standard textboook as it parallels their structure and topics. It is more a series of explorations than a coherent critique launched from one theoretical perspective; nevertheless, it exposes the limitations of modern economics well. It deserves a most careful reading and comparison with other credible studies of economics listed below.
It is similar to, but more direct and simpler to read than Steve Keen's Debunking Economics second edition, which taken overall is more comprehensive and a deeper more cogent critique. Both are essential to help grasp the weakness of positivist economics.
But, I would like to recommend a book that penetrates more deeply into the political and economic philosophy behind the modern "science" of economics by examining Hobbes, Locke, Smith, Marshall, Keynes, Hayek, Myrdal, and Rational Expectations Economics. That book is "Deductive Irrationality. A Commonsense Critique of Economic Rationalism" 073911624X) by Stephen McCarthy and David Kehl based on the teaching and writings of Dr. Richard W. Staveley here in Brisbane, Australia from the 1960s to the end of the last century.
Other books of interest reviewing economics include:
1. Debunking Economics 2nd ed. by Steve Keen;
2. The Skeptical Economist by J. Aldred;
3. Economics for the Rest of Us by Moshe Adler;
Happy reading!
It is similar to, but more direct and simpler to read than Steve Keen's Debunking Economics second edition, which taken overall is more comprehensive and a deeper more cogent critique. Both are essential to help grasp the weakness of positivist economics.
But, I would like to recommend a book that penetrates more deeply into the political and economic philosophy behind the modern "science" of economics by examining Hobbes, Locke, Smith, Marshall, Keynes, Hayek, Myrdal, and Rational Expectations Economics. That book is "Deductive Irrationality. A Commonsense Critique of Economic Rationalism" 073911624X) by Stephen McCarthy and David Kehl based on the teaching and writings of Dr. Richard W. Staveley here in Brisbane, Australia from the 1960s to the end of the last century.
Other books of interest reviewing economics include:
1. Debunking Economics 2nd ed. by Steve Keen;
2. The Skeptical Economist by J. Aldred;
3. Economics for the Rest of Us by Moshe Adler;
Happy reading!
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
What? No Reviews Yet for this Excellent Book?
4 Jun 2011
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Every student of economics and those with an interest in economics should read this excellent book. It is unfortunate that as I write this, the price is out of reach of many students. Nonetheless, this provides a heterodox perspective of economics and reveals the legerdemain employed by the authors of introductory economics textbooks. For students who feel the lessons being taught don't ring true, this provides some reasons why. For those just wanting to engage classroom conversation replete with controversy, this is the place to start.
Though the Economics Anti-Textbook does not delve into deep details (although an introductory student may argue contrariwise), Hill and Myatt set the table and provide fodder for thought and directions to take whilst providing resource references for further elucidation. As as instructor of undergraduate economics and policy, there is a dearth of texts that don't force-feed ideological and fundamentalist perspectives under some pretext that "most economists believe" or some such.
The book begins by asking the question, "What is Economics?" and introduces economic models, explaining how the most popular ones are the most irrelevant. It goes on to explain how markets function in an imaginary world (where most intro texts stop), and goes on to show how this is not relevant to the real world. It discusses people as consumers and then goes on to explain firms and market structures with commentary of efficiency and so-called "perfect competition" and marginal productivity theory, only to remind us that most markets fail, which is where governments and regulation come into play. Finally, they ask the reader to remove the rose-coloured glasses and take a new look at trade and globalisation. As digestifs, they present a case study on the global financial meltdown of 2008, the repercussion of which we are still feeling today.
I also recommend these books: 23 Things They Don't Tell You About Capitalism and The Fifteen Biggest Lies about the Economy: And Everything Else the Right Doesn't Want You to Know about Taxes, Jobs, and Corporate America
Though the Economics Anti-Textbook does not delve into deep details (although an introductory student may argue contrariwise), Hill and Myatt set the table and provide fodder for thought and directions to take whilst providing resource references for further elucidation. As as instructor of undergraduate economics and policy, there is a dearth of texts that don't force-feed ideological and fundamentalist perspectives under some pretext that "most economists believe" or some such.
The book begins by asking the question, "What is Economics?" and introduces economic models, explaining how the most popular ones are the most irrelevant. It goes on to explain how markets function in an imaginary world (where most intro texts stop), and goes on to show how this is not relevant to the real world. It discusses people as consumers and then goes on to explain firms and market structures with commentary of efficiency and so-called "perfect competition" and marginal productivity theory, only to remind us that most markets fail, which is where governments and regulation come into play. Finally, they ask the reader to remove the rose-coloured glasses and take a new look at trade and globalisation. As digestifs, they present a case study on the global financial meltdown of 2008, the repercussion of which we are still feeling today.
I also recommend these books: 23 Things They Don't Tell You About Capitalism and The Fifteen Biggest Lies about the Economy: And Everything Else the Right Doesn't Want You to Know about Taxes, Jobs, and Corporate America
Not a left-wing trash book
22 April 2012
Format:Paperback
This is a great book for the smart undergraduate student who really wants to understand microeconomics on a somewhat deeper level. In encourages the reader to be skeptical and ask for empirical evidence.
I do not understand why the authors have positioned the book as broadly belonging to the anti-capitalist camp. Their critique is quite balanced and mostly concerns how economics is taught.
I do not understand why the authors have positioned the book as broadly belonging to the anti-capitalist camp. Their critique is quite balanced and mostly concerns how economics is taught.
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