Ec•o•nom•ics: A Simple Twist on Normalcy

Review by: Christina Leigh Pritchard on Sep. 10, 2012 :
The author tells us in her novel that Freakonomics and SuperFreakonomics are the two books which inspired the author to write hers and I'm happy she did!

I don't normally read nonfiction but I was able to enjoy this book because of how the author used realistic examples to explain her theories and points. My favorite being about tobacco. I didn't realize how high the death rate was for cigarette users ("I'll Quit Tomorrow") and of course, I knew cigarettes can be addicting but I enjoyed seeing the economics behind such a product. This was a great find and I hope to see more from this author in the near future!!

Kelly's book is written in a clever way but it is still full of depth and examples that provoke you to think about each situation. It took me awhile to read this book, a chapter at a time, to fully grasp what was being said. (I do take awhile to read things in general) E.co.nom.ics will make you look at things in a different light that or give a greater understanding of how things work.

Note: I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.The above review is based on my opinions.

Christina Leigh Pritchard
Author of the C I N Series

Review by: Douglas Hord on Aug. 10, 2012 :
Enthusiastically written and presented. I find that the connection between economic theory and pop culture/pop psychology was exceedingly weak. An entertaining overview of economics for a beginner, certainly.

I found the vocabulary to be suitable for a work about economic theory.

Review by: Tammy Dewhirst on Aug. 6, 2012 :
The author is a big fan of "Freakonomics" by by Steven Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. She suggests the work as a prerequisite to reading her treatise on the topic. I, like the author, read the book in college as a requirement for a class I was taking. I was not as blown away by it as she but this work, which not a lot like the one named, could be a sister of the popular book of economic articles.

As I read the book, I knew Kelly's concepts and found her examples relatable. As textbooks go, I think if you have a child having trouble understanding the basic economic concepts entailed, "ec·o·nom·ics`` is a good text for them. Kelly relates the concepts to current models in a conversational way (if a little advanced in language for a high school child).

One example contained in the narrative: Starbucks is expensive and a luxury in a changing economy (the price of coffee here in Canada is even higher than Kelly lists using the American example) so McDonalds saw the future and changed their menu to fit the times expanding to the McCafe line. I stopped when reading and reflected on how this example relates directly to me. I bought a Starbucks drink every Friday on the way to work but as the price climbed to more than $6 per beverage, I stopped using Starbucks in favor of McCafe. In the last two years I believe I've had one Starbucks coffee whereas I've had countless McCafe's which Kelly cites an example of a changing market. Kelly also relates us to inelastic principles - cigarettes for smokers. I could go on but I won't because I believe that example makes my point.

Kelly, in the title, offers to simplify economics for us and she does in the text. Would I read this again? No. I will, however, recommend this book as an introduction to economic principles. This work is well written and simplified and I think anyone will understand the principles within once they finish reading.

Review by: Parents' Little Black Book Reviews on July 16, 2012 :
Ms. Kelly has brought us a book on economics that makes sense to those of us who did not study it in school or college. Easy to read and understand, Ms. Kelly presents the theory and practice of economics in a straightforward method taking one small step at a time building knowledge in the same way a building is constructed, one brick at a time.

Each chapter builds on the previous chapters leading to an easy understanding of complex principals. For the first time someone has written a book on the subject that people will want to read.

This should be required reading in a classroom's across America. Not only does it explain the economy it explains how America works each day and why.

Karen Bryant Doering,
Parents' Little Black Book

Review by: Connie McElfresh on July 9, 2012 :
Really a very interesting book makes one think about things which is not a bad thing. I would recommend it to anyone.

Review by: Can Write Will Write on June 25, 2012 :
Great fun and highly educational too! Along with the Freakenomics series, Ec.o.nom.ics explains in straightforward language just how economics in the USA actually works.
Buy it for your teenage kids (but read it your self first) and watch them discover that economics actually matters.
Look forwards to volume two.