Hello all,
I have seen more and more people asking about economics. How to learn, where to learn and even why to learn it. Most people will give you a book or something vague.
I just want to try to go a little deeper and give you some links, books and insight to how I started learning Austrian economics.
If this helps one person get interested in this subject I would be very happy.
There are tons of sites to go on to learn this subject but I would start with these three, in this order. I love all of them but I think FEE will be the easiest to navigate and will lead you the broadest insight on the subject of economics.
The amount of free reading material on these sites are unmatched.
I would personally start with economics in one lesson by Henry Hazlitt ( https://fee.org/resources/economics-in-one-lesson/ )
Robert Murphy's book may be even easier to grab it is made for high school students and beginners. https://mises.org/sites/default/files/lessons_for_the_young_economist_murphy_0.pdf
Economics has so much to do with history and philosophy. Ludwig Von Mises is amazing but is not the easiest person to start with. Murray Rothbard is unmatched in this field in my eyes and he speaks so eloquently that anyone can grasp it with a little determination. On the philosophy behind the his views Anatomy of the State ( https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjLi96b6PTZAhXr7YMKHThNC-IQFgg0MAE&url=https%3A%2F%2Fmises.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2FAnatomy%2520of%2520the%2520State_3.pdf&usg=AOvVaw12UgqPHTO0UWqs29DWwMAH ) is a good place to start. Thomas Paine, common sense and the rights of man will absolutely help you in this journey. Both are amazing books by an amazing person. You can google it and find free copies of both. Adam Kokesh has an awesome book ( https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiT4YqM8vTZAhVp7IMKHZt5AqcQFgg4MAM&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FFreedom-Adam-Kokesh%2Fdp%2F1508814775&usg=AOvVaw0KC8E6Mu_X4MnC8sC8Xamx )
but certainly not least Frederic Bastiat The Law ( https://www.google.com/url? sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjLi96b6PTZAhXr7YMKHThNC-IQFgg0MAE&url=https%3A%2F%2Fmises.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2FAnatomy%2520of%2520the%2520State_3.pdf&usg=AOvVaw12UgqPHTO0UWqs29DWwMAH ) is an absolute must read for any economist. Actually fuck that... for any human.
A few examples of why philosophy is important to economics: Adam Smith wrote philosophy books before he wrote his masterpiece the Wealth of Nations. F.A. Hayek won a Nobel Prize in economics but he also taught classes on philosophy. Ludwig Von Mises's book Human Action is one of the best philosophy books I've ever read.
I personally look at philosophy as engineering society.
Novels: As much as Ayn Rand ignites joy or hatred in the population... I would think it would be great for you to read Atlas Shrugged. Showing you what could (is) happen (happening) if we keep going this direction. This also will illustrate her home-brew philosophy of objectivism better than she or anyone else could ever explain it to you.
Podcasts:
Tom Woods https: https://tomwoods.com/podcasts/
Murray Rothbard Lectures http://enemyofthestate.podomatic.com
Kinsella http://www.stephankinsella.com/kinsella-on-liberty-podcast/
Podcasts... I could list about 50. If you'd like other ideas please contact me.