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.
(reviewed 22 days after purchase)