Tyler Cowen
Economist at George Mason University and co-author of the blog Marginal Revolution.
From the Front Line, Stalingrad-Treblinka-Berlin 1941-1945 by Vasily Grossman
Self-recommending, the best third of this volume is just stunningly good.
on marginalrevolution.com · 8 Aug 2026
Let Us Believe in the Beginning of the Cold Season by Forough Farrokhzad
I usually do not enjoy poetry in translation, but this is so fiery and full of passion that I am happy to recommend it.
on marginalrevolution.com · 8 Aug 2026
Nadja by André Breton
It is short, and fun enough to read.
on marginalrevolution.com · 8 Aug 2026
Servus: How Slavery Made the Roman Empire by Emma Southon
A very good and aggressively readable book about how terrible slavery was in the Roman Empire.
on marginalrevolution.com · 8 Aug 2026
Wireheads: An Unnatural History of Technology in the Brain by Mike Jay
An excellent book, substantive on every page, and it will make you want to read some of the works he cites.
on marginalrevolution.com · 8 Aug 2026
Monumental: Great Buildings of the World Through the Hands and Eyes of a Stonemason by Simon Warrack
An engaging book about the beauties of stonemasonry, with case studies of Venice, Angkor Wat, Lalibela, Zimbabwe and other locales.
on marginalrevolution.com · 1 Jul 2026
So You Want to Own Greenland? by Elizabeth Buchanan
A useful and dispassionate overview of the relevant history and issues.
on marginalrevolution.com · 1 Jul 2026
The Shortest History of Ireland by James Hawes
From a useful series, even if some of the claims are wrong and the judgments intemperate.
on marginalrevolution.com · 1 Jul 2026
The Traveler: One Man's Epic Quest for Discover Our Shared Humanity by Andrea Wulf
This book meets her usual high standards.
on marginalrevolution.com · 1 Jul 2026
Democratic Drain: Global Migration and the Struggle for Democracy by Justin Gest
Justin Gest, Democratic Drain: Global Migration and the Struggle for Democracy is a political economy argument that widespread immigration can drain home countries of their democracy supporters to some extent.
on marginalrevolution.com · 22 Jun 2026
Demographic Headwinds: The Economic Consequences of Lower Birth Rates and Longer Lives by Melissa S. Kearney and Luke Pardue (eds.)
A short volume, to the point, worry is in order.
on marginalrevolution.com · 22 Jun 2026
James Joyce: A Political Life by Frank Callanan
An excellent book, and it truly induces us to revalue Joyce and understand him in a new light.
on marginalrevolution.com · 22 Jun 2026
Sea of Treasures: A Cultural History of Ancient Indian Ocean Trade by Jeremy A. Simmons
And there is Jeremy A. Simmons, Sea of Treasures: A Cultural History of Ancient Indian Ocean Trade
on marginalrevolution.com · 22 Jun 2026
What Should My Children Do?: How to Flourish in the Age of AI by Daniel Susskind
Daniel Susskind, What Should My Children Do?: How to Flourish in the Age of AI is a book that needed to be written.
on marginalrevolution.com · 22 Jun 2026
Worth the Risk: The Seven Myths that Keep Us from Taking the Chances We Need to Take by Allison Schrager
Allison Schrager is very good, including her new book Worth the Risk: The Seven Myths that Keep Us from Taking the Chances We Need to Take
on marginalrevolution.com · 22 Jun 2026
Beyond Beauty: A Portrait of John Singer Sargent by Devon Cox
There is also Devon Cox, Beyond Beauty: A Portrait of John Singer Sargent
on marginalrevolution.com · 6 May 2026
Preparing for War: The Making of the Geneva Conventions by Boyd van Dijk
A very good look at the negotiations behind the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and just how driven by national self-interest they were, including colonial motives from the major colonial powers, who wished to retain stronger rights to put down uprisings.
on marginalrevolution.com · 6 May 2026
The Cherokees in War & at Peace 1670-1840 by David Narrett
An excellent book, one of the two best books on a single Native American tribe I have read.
on marginalrevolution.com · 6 May 2026
Where the Music Had To Go by Jim Windolf
An excellent and engaging book, which even serious fans can learn from.
on marginalrevolution.com · 6 May 2026
Where the Music Had To Go: How Bob Dylan and the Beatles Changed Each Other — and the World by Jim Windolf
An excellent and engaging book, which even serious fans can learn from.
on marginalrevolution.com · 6 May 2026
Exit Stalin: The Soviet Union as a Civilization 1953-1991 by Mark B. Smith
This one is well written, broad in scope, and yet rich in detail, treating the covered era as a living, breathing time in human history.
on marginalrevolution.com · 3 Apr 2026
The Bomb: South Africa's Nuclear Weapons Programme by Nic von Wielligh and Lydia von Wielligh-Steyn
I had been looking for a book on this topic for a long time, and finally I found the right one in a South African bookshop.
on marginalrevolution.com · 3 Apr 2026
The Four Heavens: A New History of the Ancient Maya by David Stuart
We keep on learning lots about the Maya, and this is the best book to follow what has been going on.
on marginalrevolution.com · 3 Apr 2026
The Mind of South Africa: The Story of the Rise and Fall of Apartheid by Allister Sparks
Definitely recommended, written at the very end of the apartheid era which gives it yet another angle of interest.
on marginalrevolution.com · 3 Apr 2026
The Proof is in the Code: How a Truth Machine is Transforming Math and AI by Kevin Hartnett
A very useful book about the history of proving math theorems by computer.
on marginalrevolution.com · 3 Apr 2026
Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better by David Epstein
A good popular look at what the subtitle promises.
on marginalrevolution.com · 9 Mar 2026
The Driver's Seat by Muriel Spark
If you like her at all, you will be entranced by this one.
on marginalrevolution.com · 9 Mar 2026
The New Byzantines: The Rise of Greece and Return of the Near East by Sean Mathews
Anexcellent and original book, somewhere between a history and travel book.
on marginalrevolution.com · 9 Mar 2026
Villa and Zapata: A History of the Mexican Revolution by Frank McLynn
The best book on its topic, and one of the best books on Mexican history flat out.
on marginalrevolution.com · 9 Mar 2026
Planet Money: A Guide to the Economic Forces that Shape Your Life by Alex Mayyasi
Alex Mayyasi, Planet Money: A Guide to the Economic Forces that Shape Your Life is a useful introduction to economic concepts.
on marginalrevolution.com · 4 Jan 2026
The Elements of Power: A Story of War, Technology, and the Dirtiest Supply Chain on Earth by Nicolas Niarchos
Nicolas Niarchos, The Elements of Power: A Story of War, Technology, and the Dirtiest Supply Chain on Earth is a good treatment of minerals issues as they relate to the Congo today.
on marginalrevolution.com · 4 Jan 2026
The King and I: The Uncensored Tale of Luciano Pavarotti's Rise to Fame by his Manager, Friend, and Sometime Adversary by Herbert Breslin and Anne Midgette
This one actually is fantastically fun.
on marginalrevolution.com · 4 Jan 2026
Why Immigration Policy is Hard and How to Make it Better by Alan Manning
Alan Manning, Why Immigration Policy is Hard and How to Make it Better is a thoughtful and balanced look at its topic, recommended.
on marginalrevolution.com · 4 Jan 2026
Colors of Asia: A Visual Journey, Photos and Design by Kevin Kelly
There is Kevin Kelly, Colors of Asia: A Visual Journey, Photos and Design
on marginalrevolution.com · 22 Dec 2025
Everything We Do is Music: How 20th-Century Classical Music Shaped Pop by Elizabeth Alker
A very good and readable book on this interaction, with excellent discussions of Donna Summer, Stevie Wonder, La Monte Young, and Penderecki, among many others.
on marginalrevolution.com · 22 Dec 2025
Religions of Early India: A Cultural History by Richard H. Davis
A very useful background read for understanding later Indian history and religions, as well as the more general spread of religion throughout the southern regions of Asia.
on marginalrevolution.com · 22 Dec 2025
The Wage Standard: What's Wrong in the Labor Market and How to Fix It by Arindrajit Dube
A good overview of his work in labor economics.
on marginalrevolution.com · 22 Dec 2025
Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson
Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, Abundance
on marginalrevolution.com · 22 Nov 2025
Breakneck: China's Quest to Engineer the Future by Dan Wang
Dan Wang, Breakneck: China's Quest to Engineer the Future
on marginalrevolution.com · 22 Nov 2025
John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs by Ian Leslie
Ian Leslie, John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs
on marginalrevolution.com · 22 Nov 2025
Open Socrates: The Case for a Philosophical Life by Agnes Callard
Agnes Callard, Open Socrates: The Case for a Philosophical Life
on marginalrevolution.com · 22 Nov 2025
The Optimist: Sam Altman, OpenAI, and the Race to Invent the Future by Keach Hagey
Keach Hagey, The Optimist: Sam Altman, OpenAI, and the Race to Invent the Future
on marginalrevolution.com · 22 Nov 2025
The Scaling Era: An Oral History of AI, 2019-2025 by Dwarkesh Patel and others
Dwarkesh Patel, and others, The Scaling Era: An Oral History of AI, 2019-2025
on marginalrevolution.com · 22 Nov 2025
Everything Tyler Cowen recommends — not just books — on rcmnd →