Basic Economics, by Thomas Sowell. My dad got it for me, for my birthday, and I've been loving it. It has no graphs, jargon, or equations... just straight economic theory, well-reasoned and well thought out. Suddenly, the economic collapse of the Soviet Union, the Great Depression, and the California energy problem makes sense! I haven't even finished it yet, but it's been a great read so far.

Yes, in case you're wondering, he is a conversative, free-market economist. He demonstrates by example and logic why he thinks price controls, top or bottom limits, don't work well and hurt the economy. It's a non-intuitive conclusion, and "fair prices" is still a common political phrase.

His style is readable, and enjoyable-taking economic principles decades, even centuries old, and applying them to recent events. Everyone ought to read it.

Mark"Happy Birthday to me"N