Planet Money: A Guide to the Economic Forces That Shape Your Life

Mayyasi and his fellow contributors to NPR’s Planet Money podcast have written an accessible, nonpartisan survey of economic concepts using real-world examples. The book’s initial section covers markets, prices, trade, and public goods. The remaining sections explore work and career, love and family, saving and investing, and leisure. Inspired by the podcast’s format, topics such as equity, the future value of money, market design, inflation, and automation are explained in the context of news stories that provide just enough detail to explain both the specific circumstances and the broader economic concepts. Well-designed graphics and sidebars illuminate related subtopics. Some content is drawn from past episodes of Planet Money, but any reader—whether newcomer or devoted listener—can appreciate how the information is organized into a cohesive whole. Back matter includes notes, credits, and an index.