Relevant reading for economics personal statement
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E3student
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Interested in studying economics at uni and have been advised to do some reading that can support my application. Does anyone know any interesting books that I could read?
Thanks
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econ.person
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In all honesty, you can read half a book and get a gist. I would mention 1 or 2 books in the personal statement. No more than 2.
Don’t just randomly talk about it though. Relate your understandings of the book to something in current affairs.
I would suggest avoiding cliche books like freakonomics or poor economics, though both great reads. Also avoid trying to be super niche.
I’m not going to give specific books to read, though some authors like Dan O’Reilly or Ha-Joon Chang (lovely guy) may be good to look into.
Don’t just randomly talk about it though. Relate your understandings of the book to something in current affairs.
I would suggest avoiding cliche books like freakonomics or poor economics, though both great reads. Also avoid trying to be super niche.
I’m not going to give specific books to read, though some authors like Dan O’Reilly or Ha-Joon Chang (lovely guy) may be good to look into.
Last edited by econ.person; 1 year ago
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MindMax2000
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(Original post by E3student)
Interested in studying economics at uni and have been advised to do some reading that can support my application. Does anyone know any interesting books that I could read?
Thanks
Interested in studying economics at uni and have been advised to do some reading that can support my application. Does anyone know any interesting books that I could read?
Thanks

The Ascent of Money by Niall Ferguson: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ascent_of_Money
The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wealth_of_Nations
The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money by John Keynes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ge...rest_and_Money
The Undercover Economist by Tim Harford: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Undercover_Economist
Freakonomics: a Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything, Allen Lane by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freakonomics (not sure about this one)
Superfreakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SuperFreakonomics (not entirely sure about this one)
The Economist magazine
Animal Spirits by George Akerlof and Robert Shiller: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Spirits_(book)
The recommended textbooks I would buy (when you do get onto the course and appears in your essential/recommended reading for the units you do) are:
Principles of Macroeconomics by Gregory Mankiw: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Principles-.../dp/1305971507
Mathematics for Economics and Business by Ian Jacques: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mathematics...s%2C154&sr=1-1 (if you haven't done further maths or maths at A Level)
Essential Mathematics for Economic Analysis by Knut Sydsaeter , Peter Hammond: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Essential-M...s%2C152&sr=1-1 (especially if you're doing mathematical economics modules)
Further Mathematics for Economic Analysis by Knut Sydsaeter, Peter Hammond: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Further-Mat...s%2C155&sr=1-1
Basic Econometrics by Damodar Gujarati: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Basic-Econo...s%2C144&sr=1-1
Recommended sources:
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-su...nomics-courses
http://www.econ.cam.ac.uk/ba/PrelimReadingList.pdf
https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/econom...-reading-list/
https://www.economics.ox.ac.uk/b.a.-...ics-management
https://www.tbgs.co.uk/wp-content/up...uggestions.pdf
https://www.tutor2u.net/economics/bl...vel-economists
https://www.ft.com/content/74448b70-...6-31f1eedf762e
https://www.ed.ac.uk/files/atoms/fil...ading_list.pdf
https://www.dur.ac.uk/natural.scienc...s/rlists/econ/
https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/student...ist/index.aspx
https://www.balliol.ox.ac.uk/admissi...t-reading-list
https://www.swansea.ac.uk/som/school...ks=is-expanded
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/economics/stud...sked-questions
https://study.soas.ac.uk/economics-i...-reading-list/
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econ.person
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(Original post by MindMax2000)
It's probably safer to stick to the recommended reading lists universities have for economics, but the following are some of books I'd look into:
The Ascent of Money by Niall Ferguson: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ascent_of_Money
The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wealth_of_Nations
The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money by John Keynes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ge...rest_and_Money
The Undercover Economist by Tim Harford: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Undercover_Economist
Freakonomics: a Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything, Allen Lane by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freakonomics (not sure about this one)
Superfreakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SuperFreakonomics (not entirely sure about this one)
The Economist magazine
Animal Spirits by George Akerlof and Robert Shiller: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Spirits_(book)
The recommended textbooks I would buy (when you do get onto the course and appears in your essential/recommended reading for the units you do) are:
Principles of Macroeconomics by Gregory Mankiw: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Principles-.../dp/1305971507
Mathematics for Economics and Business by Ian Jacques: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mathematics...s%2C154&sr=1-1 (if you haven't done further maths or maths at A Level)
Essential Mathematics for Economic Analysis by Knut Sydsaeter , Peter Hammond: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Essential-M...s%2C152&sr=1-1 (especially if you're doing mathematical economics modules)
Further Mathematics for Economic Analysis by Knut Sydsaeter, Peter Hammond: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Further-Mat...s%2C155&sr=1-1
Basic Econometrics by Damodar Gujarati: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Basic-Econo...s%2C144&sr=1-1
Recommended sources:
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-su...nomics-courses
http://www.econ.cam.ac.uk/ba/PrelimReadingList.pdf
https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/econom...-reading-list/
https://www.economics.ox.ac.uk/b.a.-...ics-management
https://www.tbgs.co.uk/wp-content/up...uggestions.pdf
https://www.tutor2u.net/economics/bl...vel-economists
https://www.ft.com/content/74448b70-...6-31f1eedf762e
https://www.ed.ac.uk/files/atoms/fil...ading_list.pdf
https://www.dur.ac.uk/natural.scienc...s/rlists/econ/
https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/student...ist/index.aspx
https://www.balliol.ox.ac.uk/admissi...t-reading-list
https://www.swansea.ac.uk/som/school...ks=is-expanded
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/economics/stud...sked-questions
https://study.soas.ac.uk/economics-i...-reading-list/
It's probably safer to stick to the recommended reading lists universities have for economics, but the following are some of books I'd look into:
The Ascent of Money by Niall Ferguson: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ascent_of_Money
The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wealth_of_Nations
The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money by John Keynes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ge...rest_and_Money
The Undercover Economist by Tim Harford: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Undercover_Economist
Freakonomics: a Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything, Allen Lane by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freakonomics (not sure about this one)
Superfreakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SuperFreakonomics (not entirely sure about this one)
The Economist magazine
Animal Spirits by George Akerlof and Robert Shiller: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Spirits_(book)
The recommended textbooks I would buy (when you do get onto the course and appears in your essential/recommended reading for the units you do) are:
Principles of Macroeconomics by Gregory Mankiw: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Principles-.../dp/1305971507
Mathematics for Economics and Business by Ian Jacques: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mathematics...s%2C154&sr=1-1 (if you haven't done further maths or maths at A Level)
Essential Mathematics for Economic Analysis by Knut Sydsaeter , Peter Hammond: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Essential-M...s%2C152&sr=1-1 (especially if you're doing mathematical economics modules)
Further Mathematics for Economic Analysis by Knut Sydsaeter, Peter Hammond: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Further-Mat...s%2C155&sr=1-1
Basic Econometrics by Damodar Gujarati: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Basic-Econo...s%2C144&sr=1-1
Recommended sources:
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-su...nomics-courses
http://www.econ.cam.ac.uk/ba/PrelimReadingList.pdf
https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/econom...-reading-list/
https://www.economics.ox.ac.uk/b.a.-...ics-management
https://www.tbgs.co.uk/wp-content/up...uggestions.pdf
https://www.tutor2u.net/economics/bl...vel-economists
https://www.ft.com/content/74448b70-...6-31f1eedf762e
https://www.ed.ac.uk/files/atoms/fil...ading_list.pdf
https://www.dur.ac.uk/natural.scienc...s/rlists/econ/
https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/student...ist/index.aspx
https://www.balliol.ox.ac.uk/admissi...t-reading-list
https://www.swansea.ac.uk/som/school...ks=is-expanded
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/economics/stud...sked-questions
https://study.soas.ac.uk/economics-i...-reading-list/
Stick with modern books.
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E3student
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#5
(Original post by MindMax2000)
It's probably safer to stick to the recommended reading lists universities have for economics, but the following are some of books I'd look into:
The Ascent of Money by Niall Ferguson: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ascent_of_Money
The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wealth_of_Nations
The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money by John Keynes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ge...rest_and_Money
The Undercover Economist by Tim Harford: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Undercover_Economist
Freakonomics: a Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything, Allen Lane by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freakonomics (not sure about this one)
Superfreakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SuperFreakonomics (not entirely sure about this one)
The Economist magazine
Animal Spirits by George Akerlof and Robert Shiller: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Spirits_(book)
The recommended textbooks I would buy (when you do get onto the course and appears in your essential/recommended reading for the units you do) are:
Principles of Macroeconomics by Gregory Mankiw: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Principles-.../dp/1305971507
Mathematics for Economics and Business by Ian Jacques: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mathematics...s%2C154&sr=1-1 (if you haven't done further maths or maths at A Level)
Essential Mathematics for Economic Analysis by Knut Sydsaeter , Peter Hammond: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Essential-M...s%2C152&sr=1-1 (especially if you're doing mathematical economics modules)
Further Mathematics for Economic Analysis by Knut Sydsaeter, Peter Hammond: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Further-Mat...s%2C155&sr=1-1
Basic Econometrics by Damodar Gujarati: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Basic-Econo...s%2C144&sr=1-1
Recommended sources:
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-su...nomics-courses
http://www.econ.cam.ac.uk/ba/PrelimReadingList.pdf
https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/econom...-reading-list/
https://www.economics.ox.ac.uk/b.a.-...ics-management
https://www.tbgs.co.uk/wp-content/up...uggestions.pdf
https://www.tutor2u.net/economics/bl...vel-economists
https://www.ft.com/content/74448b70-...6-31f1eedf762e
https://www.ed.ac.uk/files/atoms/fil...ading_list.pdf
https://www.dur.ac.uk/natural.scienc...s/rlists/econ/
https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/student...ist/index.aspx
https://www.balliol.ox.ac.uk/admissi...t-reading-list
https://www.swansea.ac.uk/som/school...ks=is-expanded
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/economics/stud...sked-questions
https://study.soas.ac.uk/economics-i...-reading-list/
It's probably safer to stick to the recommended reading lists universities have for economics, but the following are some of books I'd look into:
The Ascent of Money by Niall Ferguson: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ascent_of_Money
The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wealth_of_Nations
The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money by John Keynes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ge...rest_and_Money
The Undercover Economist by Tim Harford: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Undercover_Economist
Freakonomics: a Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything, Allen Lane by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freakonomics (not sure about this one)
Superfreakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SuperFreakonomics (not entirely sure about this one)
The Economist magazine
Animal Spirits by George Akerlof and Robert Shiller: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Spirits_(book)
The recommended textbooks I would buy (when you do get onto the course and appears in your essential/recommended reading for the units you do) are:
Principles of Macroeconomics by Gregory Mankiw: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Principles-.../dp/1305971507
Mathematics for Economics and Business by Ian Jacques: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mathematics...s%2C154&sr=1-1 (if you haven't done further maths or maths at A Level)
Essential Mathematics for Economic Analysis by Knut Sydsaeter , Peter Hammond: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Essential-M...s%2C152&sr=1-1 (especially if you're doing mathematical economics modules)
Further Mathematics for Economic Analysis by Knut Sydsaeter, Peter Hammond: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Further-Mat...s%2C155&sr=1-1
Basic Econometrics by Damodar Gujarati: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Basic-Econo...s%2C144&sr=1-1
Recommended sources:
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-su...nomics-courses
http://www.econ.cam.ac.uk/ba/PrelimReadingList.pdf
https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/econom...-reading-list/
https://www.economics.ox.ac.uk/b.a.-...ics-management
https://www.tbgs.co.uk/wp-content/up...uggestions.pdf
https://www.tutor2u.net/economics/bl...vel-economists
https://www.ft.com/content/74448b70-...6-31f1eedf762e
https://www.ed.ac.uk/files/atoms/fil...ading_list.pdf
https://www.dur.ac.uk/natural.scienc...s/rlists/econ/
https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/student...ist/index.aspx
https://www.balliol.ox.ac.uk/admissi...t-reading-list
https://www.swansea.ac.uk/som/school...ks=is-expanded
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/economics/stud...sked-questions
https://study.soas.ac.uk/economics-i...-reading-list/

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