Demystifying Economics, The Book That Makes Economics Accessible to Everyone: Expanded Third Edition

Demystifying Economics: Expanded Third Edition is a survey of basic economics written in simple language with the use of concrete examples that relate economics to ordinary daily life. The content includes most of the topics covered in an introductory college level economics course, but the material is presented in a very reader-friendly format. Dr. Karen S. Conway of the University of New Hampshire economics department described the first edition of this book as follows: Demystifying Economics does an amazing job of explaining the basics...and relating them to real world issues and problems...an excellent way for the layperson to learn about the workings of the economy, a superb reminder of what the study of Economics is all about. Dr. John A. Miranowski, of the Iowa State University economics department said this about the first edition. Demystifying Economics provides an excellent lay-oriented primer on economics in our everyday lives. I cannot think of another effort to write such a book that has been nearly so successful. In this third edition, the author has restructured the organization to make the flow of information smoother and more connected, but he has placed a high priority on maintaining the clarity of presentation that made the previous editions so popular.

Dr. Allen W. Smith has devoted much of his adult life to the cause of trying to make economics accessible to everyone. He taught economics to college students for 30 years before retiring as Professor of Economics at Eastern Illinois University in 1998 to become a full-time writer. His first book, UNDERSTANDING INFLATION AND UNEMPLOYMENT, became an alternate selection of Fortune Book Club, and his high school textbook, UNDERSTANDING ECONOMICS, published by Random House, was used in more than 600 schools in 48 states. From 1990 to 1993, Smith wrote a widely-read syndicated column on the economy, and for the past eleven years, Smith has written a weekly philosophical newspaper column, "Contemplating Life." Smith holds a B.S. in Education degree from Ball State University and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in economics from Indiana University. Others book by Allen W. Smith include The Alleged Budget Surplus, Social Security, and Voodoo Economics; The Looting of Social Security; and Social Security: The Attempt to Kill It.