The True Believer by Eric Hoffer- written in 1953. Hoffer is a real blue collar intellectual and this book is a very thoughtful look at mass movements and the people they attract. Should be required for any political understanding.

The Origin of Financial Crisis by George Cooper.  The premise is that the efficient market hypothesis applies to markets for goods and services but not financial assets.  The fed should  focus more on credit creation and management than the money supply.  Our inability to absorb short term pain by accepting short term recession leads to bigger more painfull bubbles like the housing crisis. Better to have unstable growth than stable stagnation.

Sway by Ori and Rom Brafman –  examines how smart people can make  irrational decisions

The Culture of the New Capitalism by Richard Sennett- An academic examines how capitalism’s developemnt and application to mass production has impacted our culture, society and politics.

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