Principles of Microeconomics (with Xtra!) [Paperback]

N. Gregory Mankiw (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0324171889 | ISBN-13: 978-0324171884 | Publication Date: February 27, 2003 | Edition: 3

In writing this textbook, Mankiw has tried to put himself in the position of someone seeing economics for the first time. The author's conversational writing style is superb for presenting the politics and science of economic theories to tomorrow's decision-makers. Because Mankiw wrote it for the students, the book stands out among all other principles texts by encouraging students to apply an economic way of thinking in their daily lives. Receiving such a praise as "perhaps the best ever" textbook in economic principles, it's no wonder Mankiw's prize project has quickly become one of the most successful books ever to be published in the college marketplace.

Editorial Reviews

Review

My opinion is that Mankiw's Principles of Microeconomics text is the best one on the market.

About the Author

N. Gregory Mankiw is Professor of Economics at Harvard University. As a student, he studied economics at Princeton University and MIT. As a teacher, he has taught macroeconomics, microeconomics, statistics, and principles of economics. He even spent one summer long ago as a sailing instructor on Long Beach Island. Professor Mankiw is a prolific writer and a regular participant in academic and policy debates. His research includes work on price adjustment, consumer behavior, financial markets, monetary and fiscal policy, and economic growth. His published articles have appeared in academic journals, such as the American Economic Review, Journal of Political Economy, and Quarterly Journal of Economics, and in more widely accessible forums, such as The New York Times, The Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Fortune. He has written two popular textbooks--the intermediate-level textbook "Macroeconomics" (Worth Publishers) and the introductory textbook "Principles of Economics" (South-Western/Thomson). Together, these two books have sold about a million copies and have been translated into seventeen languages. In addition to his writing, he is Director of the Monetary Economics Program at the National Bureau of Economic Research, a nonprofit think tank in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He is an advisor to the Congressional Budget Office and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. Greg is also on the ETS Test Development committee for the Advanced Placement exam in Economics, as well as the NBER Business Cycle Dating Committee.

Product Details

• Paperback: 576 pages
• Publisher: South-Western College Pub; 3 edition (February 27, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0324171889
• ISBN-13: 978-0324171884
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 8.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #235,857 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An outstanding introduction to economics., July 18, 2004

By 

Chad and Kristen - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Principles of Microeconomics (with Xtra!) (Paperback)

I don't normally bother reviewing textbooks, but this one was so good I felt compelled to. I had absolutely no background in economics, but this book explained the concepts and the principles underlying them so clearly that I picked the topic up very easily. Not only is it very clear, but it's very well-written and presents its information in a creative and sometimes even entertaining way.

Even though I'm not going to be taking Macroeconomics in college at all, I'm still planning to buys Mankiw's Macroeconomics book, too. His microeconomics book has made me want to learn more about a topic I previously had no interest in!

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Silberberg's 4th Edition much much better, December 10, 2005

By 

sjames1 (Salt Lake City, UT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Principles of Microeconomics (with Xtra!) (Paperback)

The 4th Edition of the Principles of Microeconomics by Eugene Silberberg, which I can't find on Amazon.com, is much much better at teaching the underlying issues. Mankiw can't resist interjecting personal political views (blatantly conservative) any chance he has. While Silberberg can hardly be classified as anything but conservative based on his writing, he emphasizes facts over politics, a lesson that Mankiw needs to learn.

12 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Principles of Microeconomics, 3rd Edition, by Mankiw, May 10, 2005

By 

K. Ennis (Tempe, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Principles of Microeconomics (with Xtra!) (Paperback)

This is an excellent high school level introduction to economics. It's an extremely easy read and does not tax the reader whatsoever. Speaking of taxes, behind the author's breezy prose is a very anti-government and anti-tax view, which works well in today's environment. There's not a single example of government doing anything right in this text. No "Harvard liberal" line here. It's hard to imagine using this book as a springboard to more substantive books, but one has to start somewhere. Excellent for what it is.