[Drakelet]

As title says. I know I should be doing some extended reading, but don't have enough time to read hundreds of books. Any recommendations? Mainly for economics (but also for the others).

[JohnKennedy]

read some galbraith, sen, stiglitz

[Economist1]

Originally Posted by Drakelet

As title says. I know I should be doing some extended reading, but don't have enough time to read hundreds of books. Any recommendations? Mainly for economics.

Wider reading is important, but do not put anything down on your personal statement unless you have read it fully and properly. Some good books to take a look it if you have not done so already are (by all means, you don't have to read them all - but I would recommend the top 4...trust me, that would be far more preparation than what most people do, which is just to read Freakonomics and the Undercover Economist):

1. The Truth About Markets - John Kay
2. Globalization and its Discontents - Joseph Stiglitz
3. Making Globalization Work - Joseph Stiglitz
4. The Dragon and the Elephant - David Smith
5. The Age of Turbulence - Alan Greenspan
6. The Accidental Theorist - Paul Krugman
7. The Armchair Economist - Stephen Landsburg
8. The Roaring Nineties - Jospeh Stiglitz
9. Why Most things Fail - Paul Ormerod
10. Butterfly Economics - Paul Ormerod
11. Everlasting Lightbulbs - John Kay (I think)
12. In Defense of Globalization - Jagdish Bhagwati
13. Development as Freedom - Amartya Sen

Also, if you want to take a look at Game Theory (these questions can come up in interview), I would suggest Thinking Strategically - Avinash Dixit and Barry Nalebuff.

Make sure you keep up to date with the news - the BBC website is pretty good in that respect. You can also have a look at the minutes of the Monetary Policy Committee's meetings which are published on the Bank of England's website on a monthly basis. Tutor2u is also an excellent resource. If you're reallly into it, there are a few good blogs out there too, such as Tim Harford's and Greg Mankiw's. Also, it goes without saying, but any serious candidate for admissions will have been reading the Economist regularly for a good few months at least before the interview.

[jabed786]

My 'first economics book' was Free Lunch by David Smith - its give a nice introduction to many things and there are no diagrams (although one or two would have been quite useful)

Im going to buy the 'Armchair Economist' in the half term holidays and Ive read its a good introduction, there is another book Im thinking of buying its by Adam or Alan someone (not sure).
Amazon have soom good reviews on books - so read them.

Hopefully when I become quite good at understanding economics and such I hope to read Amartya Sen's Development as Freedom

[02mik_e]

Originally Posted by Economist1

Wider reading is important, but do not put anything down on your personal statement unless you have read it fully and properly. Some good books to take a look it if you have not done so already are (by all means, you don't have to read them all - but I would recommend the top 4...trust me, that would be far more preparation than what most people do, which is just to read Freakonomics and the Undercover Economist):

1. The Truth About Markets - John Kay
2. Globalization and its Discontents - Joseph Stiglitz
3. Making Globalization Work - Joseph Stiglitz
4. The Dragon and the Elephant - David Smith
5. The Age of Turbulence - Alan Greenspan
6. The Accidental Theorist - Paul Krugman
7. The Armchair Economist - Stephen Landsburg
8. The Roaring Nineties - Jospeh Stiglitz
9. Why Most things Fail - Paul Ormerod
10. Butterfly Economics - Paul Ormerod
11. Everlasting Lightbulbs - John Kay (I think)
12. In Defense of Globalization - Jagdish Bhagwati
13. Development as Freedom - Amartya Sen

Also, if you want to take a look at Game Theory (these questions can come up in interview), I would suggest Thinking Strategically - Avinash Dixit and Barry Nalebuff.

Make sure you keep up to date with the news - the BBC website is pretty good in that respect. You can also have a look at the minutes of the Monetary Policy Committee's meetings which are published on the Bank of England's website on a monthly basis. Tutor2u is also an excellent resource. If you're reallly into it, there are a few good blogs out there too, such as Tim Harford's and Greg Mankiw's. Also, it goes without saying, but any serious candidate for admissions will have been reading the Economist regularly for a good few months at least before the interview.

I've just lent this book from the Library. It's on the AQA syllabus so I guess it should be good. Btw is it a good read?

[paddy__power]

it cant hurt, it will aid your overall understanding

[Drakelet]

Wow that was quick, thanks guys!! Much appreciated.

[Economist1]

Originally Posted by 02mik_e

Btw is it a good read?

It exposes some of the shortcomings of the way in which globalisation has been managed, and is particularly scathing about the IMF. It can be criticised for being a little one-sided at times, but it is definitely a compelling read.

[AG27]

If applying for Economics at a top university, would it be recommended to try and read broadly around the whole subject area or to try and go in depth in a particular aspect (such as game theory)?

[jabed786]

Originally Posted by AG27

If applying for Economics at a top university, would it be recommended to try and read broadly around the whole subject area or to try and go in depth in a particular aspect (such as game theory)?

I would say read broadly AND read into a particular topic.
Search paulwhy on the TSR search bar, he has some very good threads with choc loads of great advice.

[Economist1]

Originally Posted by AG27

If applying for Economics at a top university, would it be recommended to try and read broadly around the whole subject area or to try and go in depth in a particular aspect (such as game theory)?

Depends upon whether you are applying to Oxbridge or not (ie. will you have an interview). I think that for interviews it would probably be a good idea to read broadly around the whole subject. That said, feel free to go into greater depth on a specific aspect if you like it. I mentioned game theory on my personal statement and my SAQ, but was not asked any game theory questions at interivew. Thinking retrospectively, keeping up to date with the news and securing a good understanding of A-level macroeconomics would probably be better preparation than trying to decipher Kenneth Binmore's magnum opus.

[AG27]

Cheers, jabed786 and Economist1.

Economist1- in your Cambridge interview were you basically asked about your views on present economic issues and did you have to try and defend those views as the interviews ask questions?

[Economist1]

Originally Posted by AG27

Cheers, jabed786 and Economist1.

Economist1- in your Cambridge interview were you basically asked about your views on present economic issues and did you have to try and defend those views as the interviews ask questions?

I was given an article about an hour before my second interview, which mainly dealt with issues to do with the implications of the present crisis in the USA and the associated policy alternatives.

[SouthernFreerider]

globalisation and its discontents was very badly written in my opinion.

it had some good theory and ideas in it, but just put me off with the horrible style of writing.

[AG27]

Are there any interesting books on game theory that a keen A Level Economics student should be able to read?

[Origami Bullets]

For Politics, read a good quality daily newspaper (Guardian, Times, Telegraph or Independent). If you don't have the time to do that then at least read one of the good quality Sunday papers.

[Parker007]

Originally Posted by Economist1

Wider reading is important, but do not put anything down on your personal statement unless you have read it fully and properly. Some good books to take a look it if you have not done so already are (by all means, you don't have to read them all - but I would recommend the top 4...trust me, that would be far more preparation than what most people do, which is just to read Freakonomics and the Undercover Economist):

1. The Truth About Markets - John Kay
2. Globalization and its Discontents - Joseph Stiglitz
3. Making Globalization Work - Joseph Stiglitz
4. The Dragon and the Elephant - David Smith
5. The Age of Turbulence - Alan Greenspan
6. The Accidental Theorist - Paul Krugman
7. The Armchair Economist - Stephen Landsburg
8. The Roaring Nineties - Jospeh Stiglitz
9. Why Most things Fail - Paul Ormerod
10. Butterfly Economics - Paul Ormerod
11. Everlasting Lightbulbs - John Kay (I think)
12. In Defense of Globalization - Jagdish Bhagwati
13. Development as Freedom - Amartya Sen

Also, if you want to take a look at Game Theory (these questions can come up in interview), I would suggest Thinking Strategically - Avinash Dixit and Barry Nalebuff.

Make sure you keep up to date with the news - the BBC website is pretty good in that respect. You can also have a look at the minutes of the Monetary Policy Committee's meetings which are published on the Bank of England's website on a monthly basis. Tutor2u is also an excellent resource. If you're reallly into it, there are a few good blogs out there too, such as Tim Harford's and Greg Mankiw's. Also, it goes without saying, but any serious candidate for admissions will have been reading the Economist regularly for a good few months at least before the interview.

Thanks for your list, its brilliant. I hope you don't mind me asking a bit off topic but have you chosen Cambridge or LSE as your firm? Can't imagine making such a decision Well done!

[MathsGirl]

hey OP
If you want some background reading on maths, Try some of Ian Stewarts books. they are really easy to read. Also Might sound stupid But alice in wonderland/annotated alice because it was written by a oxbridge mathematician. also Fermats Last theorem is good. Cant really help with the others. sorry.

[Economist1]

Originally Posted by Parker007

Thanks for your list, its brilliant. I hope you don't mind me asking a bit off topic but have you chosen Cambridge or LSE as your firm? Can't imagine making such a decision Well done!

You're wolcome. I went for Cambridge in the end, although it was a tough decision for me to make. I'm really looking forward to university (grades permitting).

[Parker007]

Originally Posted by Economist1

You're wolcome. I went for Cambridge in the end, although it was a tough decision for me to make. I'm really looking forward to university (grades permitting).

Nice Good luck!