A Little History of Economics by Niall Kishtainy Summary
Overview of A Little History of Economics
Journey through 40 captivating chapters of economic thought - from money's invention to behavioral economics. A New York Times audio bestseller that transformed "economics fear" into fascination. What complex theory could this little book make crystal clear for you?
Similar books to A Little History of Economics
Feel the book through the author's voice
Turn knowledge into engaging, example-rich insights
Capture key ideas in a flash for fast learning
Enjoy the book in a fun and engaging way
Key takeaways
When Gold Ruled the World and Monks Counted Coins
What if the greatest economic revolution wasn't the internet or industrialization, but the moment our ancestors planted a seed instead of searching for one? Around 10,000 years ago, agriculture transformed everything. Suddenly, people could produce more food than they immediately needed. That surplus became the foundation for cities, writing, and eventually, economic thought itself. In ancient Mesopotamia, the earliest writing systems emerged not for poetry or history, but to track who owned what-the first balance sheets carved in clay. The Greeks took this further. Plato imagined a perfect society where philosopher-kings ruled and commerce was minimized, fearing that wealth pursuit would corrupt the soul. His student Aristotle disagreed, noting that people take better care of what they personally own-an insight that would echo through centuries. He distinguished between natural exchange (selling your surplus) and unnatural profit-seeking, condemning moneylending as the worst economic sin. Money breeding money, he argued, violated the natural order. Yet despite philosophical warnings, trade flourished across Alexander's empire and Roman territories. When Rome fell, economic thinking found an unlikely home: Christian monasteries, where monks would wrestle with questions of fairness, profit, and God's will in commerce. Medieval Europe faced a profound tension: How could Christians engage in commerce without losing their souls? The Bible portrayed work as punishment for original sin, and Jesus warned that pursuing wealth could lead people away from God. Thomas Aquinas, the era's most influential thinker, developed the concept of the "just price"-not the highest amount a desperate buyer would pay, but what was normally charged without deception. This wasn't naive idealism but practical ethics for functioning markets. Aquinas condemned usury with theological precision: money was "barren" and couldn't reproduce like livestock or crops. When you lend $100 and demand $110 back, where does that extra $10 come from? To medieval thinkers, it represented an unnatural extraction from the borrower's labor. But as Venice and Florence flourished through international trade, reality pressed against doctrine. Merchants stored coins with money-changers who facilitated transfers and provided loans-becoming the first bankers. Insurance emerged to manage shipping risks. The church gradually softened its stance, recognizing that reasonable interest rates were necessary for banking to function. By the late medieval period, merchants increasingly believed they could serve both "God and profit." This wasn't abandoning morality but adapting it to economic complexity-a shift that would open the door to modern capitalism while maintaining ethical constraints on ruthless behavior.
The Invisible Hand and the Birth of Modern Economics
When Progress Created Misery and Revolution Seemed Inevitable
The Hidden Failures of Free Markets and Status-Seeking Consumption
The Bathtub Economy: How Keynes Saved Capitalism from Itself
The Fog in Our Minds: Why We're All Irrational Economists
Economics That Serves Humanity: From Theory to Human Flourishing
Quick Summary Mode - Read or listen to A Little History of Economics Summary in 10 Minutes
Break down key ideas from A Little History of Economics into bite-sized takeaways to understand how innovative teams create, collaborate, and grow.
Flash Card Mode - Top 10 Insights from A Little History of Economics in a Nutshell
Distill A Little History of Economics into rapid-fire memory cues that highlight Pixar’s principles of candor, teamwork, and creative resilience.
Fun Mode - A Little History of Economics Lessons Told Through 25-Min Stories
Experience A Little History of Economics through vivid storytelling that turns Pixar’s innovation lessons into moments you’ll remember and apply.
Personalize Mode - Read or listen to A Little History of Economics Summary in 0 Minutes
Ask anything, pick the voice, and co-create insights that truly resonate with you.
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
Get the A Little History of Economics summary as a free PDF or EPUB. Print it or read offline anytime.