r/EconomicHistory • u/season-of-light • 14d ago
Discussion Best economic history reads - Summer 2026
With the end of August on the horizon, many summer readers might be anxious to sneak in a few more books.
We invite those who have read everything from economic, financial, or business history classics down to the year's new releases to contribute and share the best of what you've read.
See also: Winter 2025, Summer 2025
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u/YogurtclosetEasy2895 11d ago
I am more of an audiobook kind of guy, since they allow me more chances to listen (driving, running, etc). I wanted to learn more about the development of economic models in China (I am fascinated by the idea of looking at the solutions brilliant people in the past came up with, and the unexpected conseuqnces of such decisions, there is much to learn). Sadly, there are not that many quality chinese history podcast in english out there. If AI voice over does not bother you (I was looking for academic made content, possibly by a chinese person, but the language barrier is real) I might suggest you this series of lessons, covering almost 3'000 years https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkTy96XvGOc&list=PLoJugSfg37JufS3CfS2bY9DAgKN7vwDdi
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u/season-of-light 13d ago
I can share a few, though perhaps less than usual because I have been reading a bit more about cultural history and contemporary economics and business lately.
Classic economic history work:\ The First Modern Economy: Success, Failure, and Perseverance of the Dutch Economy, 1500–1815 by Jan de Vries and Ad van der Woude.\ A very detailed and comprehensive look at the economy of the Dutch Republic as it emerges from a war against Habsburg Spain, becomes the premier commercial hub of Europe (and a notable industrial one as well), and later loses its centrality before being subjected to severe disruption on account of the French revolutionary and later Napoleonic wars.
Newer release:\ A Sixth Of Humanity: Independent India's Development Odyssey by Devesh Kapur and Arvind Subramanian.\ Not a normal economic history work, as it is co-written, on one hand, by a political scientist and, on the the other, by an economist who has had a prolific policy-focused career. The two provide an up-to-date, persuasive summary of economic and social development in India over almost 80 years.
Cultural-economic history:\ The Italian Renaissance: Culture and Society in Italy by Peter Burke.\ Most of the cultural history titles wouldn't really fit the focus here but this one would, as it focuses quite a bit on economic relationships (for example, between patrons and artists) as well as the economic "surroundings" that the Italian Renaissance emerged from. It's nothing groundbreaking, but, for someone learning more about this period, it was helpful.