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Classic books, writers and sources

http://www.primeronmoney.com/classic%20books,%20writers%20and%20sources.html

ALL of the links here are working properly on March 12, 2010 (mrc)

Seven authors Before Adam Smith ( all classics )

  1. "A Primer On Money" by Wright Patman -- a 141-page .pdf file / This book inspired this website. ADDED 4/12/2010 -- Also see "Money Facts" on this list -- it is easier to read than the book. All the essential information is packed into 28 pages.
  2. Acton, Lord / "The History of Freedom in Antiquity" / A classic
  3. Allen, Gary / 1971 / "None Dare Call It Conspiracy"/ by Gary Allen, 1971 / Mr. Allen, a good writer -- was bitten by the conspiracy bug.
  4. Baker, Alexander "Ace" / Origin of Money / Based on the Austrian School of thought. Focuses on using gold as money or as backing for money. Another good writer bitten by the conspiracy bug.
  5. Bastiat, Claude Frederic / "The Law" / A classic
  6. Cox, Jim / Concise Guide To Economics (Introduction) /Chronology of Thought / Author / Classic Reference Books / Subject Matter / Schools of Thought
  7. Davies, Glyn / History of Money from Ancient Times to the Present Day / Monetary history in context from the dawn of civilization to the beginning of the twenty first century. Very comprehensive.
  8. Davies, Glyn / Origins of Money and of Banking: / What is Money? / Functions of Money / Causes of the Development of Money / Primitive Forms of Money / The Invention of Banking and Coinage / Greek Coinage / Money Exchange and Credit Transfer / The Royal Monopoly of Minting / Paper Money / Intangible Money / Noteworthy Points Regarding the Origins of Money
  9. Douglas, Clifford Hugh / (1924) / Social Credit Click through from section to section to read this interesting, influential and somewhat inscrutable book from 1924. It is another branch on the tree of economic thought. Douglas' theory includes annual "Social Dividend Payments of Money" to the public to increase their purchasing power. I personally find the theory hard to swallow. It had a great influence on the Canadian Government in the 1930's.
  10. Douglas, Major Clifford Hugh / "Social Credit" / A classic
  11. George, Henry / 1897 / Progress and Poverty / Progress and Poverty -- The entire book -- online. An important book on economics. It attempts to explain why poverty is virtually unknown in primitive societies but widespread wherever there is great wealth. George's logic is extremely powerful. Although everything he says may or may not be precisely accurate, it is difficult to find a flaw in his reasoning. This edition has been re-written in modern English. It is relatively easy to understand. Henry George might have been the third most well known man in the United States (behind Thomas Edison and Mark Twain)? / A classic
  12. Google books on economics --- over 4,000 links to some of the best books of all time. See:<<http://books.google.com/books?q=+subject:%22+Economics+%22&as_brr=3&rview=1&source=gbs_hplp_nofict>>
  13. Gouge, William / 1833 / Money system: "On The Principles Of The Money System" -- William Gouge was an advisor to President Jackson / 1833 / A 93 page book -- presented here to add historical perspective. This is a very dense and convoluted report -- practically impossible for an average person to understand. Note that it was written less than 50 years after the formation of the U.S.A. and is probably a good example of the less-than-clear understanding of the general understanding of "the principles of the money system" at that time (and perhaps today?). Click the link below to get to the book.
    http://74.125.155.132/search?q=cache:yd9GWDb6GFsJ:www.devvy.com/pdf/2006_October/GougeOnPaperMoney.pdf+%22On+The+Principles+Of+The+Money+System%22&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
  14. Hitler, Adolph / "Mein Kampf" / A classic
  15. Jefferson, President Thomas / Jefferson's prophecy
  16. Jefferson, President Thomas / Jefferson quotations: -- From a collection at the University of Virginia.
  17. Kaye, David / 9/19/08 / "The Federal Reserve has done remarkably well in managing the dollar these past 100 years, making it the second-most stable currency in the world. I think we will see in the coming months that the Fed will keep the American economic system from collapsing. Any other country in such similar straits would likely have collapsed into banana republic status by now.
  18. Louis Kelso (1913 - 1991) and Adler, Mortimer (1902 - 2001) Binary Economics / The Capitalist Manifesto (1958) download at <<http://www.kelsoinstitute.org/>>
  19. Kurland, Norman G. / A New Look at Prices and Money: The Kelsonian Binary Model for Achieving Rapid Growth Without Inflation
  20. Lincoln, President Abraham / 1865 / Lincoln's Monetary Policy ... He was a smart, courageous guy. It may have cost him his life.
  21. Marx & Engels / "The Communist Manifesto" / A classic
  22. McElroy, Wendy / "Individualist Anarchism v. Communist Anarchism and Libertarianism" / A classic
  23. Money Facts -- a supplement to "A Primer on Money" by Wright Patman -- easier to read than the book. 29 pages, printed one-side
    in the form of 169 Questions and Answers - This site is based on this book and this article. DO NOT FAIL TO READ IT.
  24. Mitchell, Rodger Malcolm / Current as of 10/08 / "Free Money: A plan For Prosperity" / http://www.rodgermitchell.com/ ... This is from a very interesting website ... Mitchell has lots of ideas on money and related issues, such as the Federal Budget ... Offhand, it seems as though his ideas are, in general, worthwhile ...
  25. Norris, Floyd -- Hold on -- we are on a roller-coaster ride / Another Crisis, Another Guarantee
  26. Orwell, George / "1984" / A classic
  27. Orwell, George / "Animal Farm" / A classic
  28. Paine, Tom / On Economics / "Paine grasped an essential truth underlying the science of political economy: 'Lands are the real riches of the habitable world, and the natural funds of America ... "
  29. Paine, Tom / "Common Sense" / A classic
  30. Patman's "A Primer On Money" -- a 141-page .pdf file / This book inspired this website. ADDED 4/12/2010 -- Also see "Money Facts" on this list -- it is easier to read than the book. All the essential information is packed into 28 pages.
  31. Paxton, Tom / (1931) What did you learn in school today? / Shame on us (10/20/08)
  32. Harburg, Yip (1931) Brother, can you spare a dime? / Sad memories (10/20/08)
  33. Petter, Andrew / "Federalism and the Myth of the Federal Spending Power" / A classic
  34. Proudhon, Pierre Joseph / "What is Property?: An Inquiry into the Principle of Right and of Government" / A classic
  35. Rockwell, Llewellyn H. Jr. / 9/13/08 / The Social Imperative of Sound Money A justified attack on our system. Very well written.
  36. Rothbard, Murray N. / 1983 / Banking, The Mystery of / A quite important book that is aligned with the Austrian School of economic thought. Book is available at scribd >> http://www.scribd.com/doc/7657768/The-Mystery-of-Banking-by-Murray-Rothbard << Click on "read in classic mode" at the link to read online. 322 pages / A .pdf link is at this URL.
    This writer, Martin R. Carbone, finds the book and the Austrian School wide but shallow: they cover lots of ground but often skip details. I find the arguments that (paraphrasing) "an increase in the money supply (their main concern?) will always lead to inflation" very unconvincing. If new money is introduced into the system in such a way as to increase true wealth, that new money should not lead to inflation. I don't think they allow for that possibility of "wealth creating" money. The book is dedicated to, among others, Thomas Jefferson. You can find various quotations from Jefferson here. Note that at 1.3 of these quotations, Jefferson writes "It would be best that our medium should be so proportioned to our produce". That statement seems to acknowledge that our money supply can be kept in balance with our "produce". That acknowledgment seems to be at odds with most of the Austrian school of thought Next link is from Wikipedia -- Austrian School of Economics: Exponents of the Austrian School hold that the only valid economic theory is logically derived from basic principles of human action. (from wikipedia)
  37. Rousseau, Jean-Jacques / "The Social Contract" / A classic
  38. Smith, Adam / A brief look at Adam Smith's "Wealth of Nations". This is an important book on economics. The complete book is here -- http://www.mondopolitico.com/library/wealthofnations/mpintro.htm
  39. Smith, Adam / "An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations" / A classic
  40. Soddy, Frederick / 1926 / Nobel prizewinner in Chemistry and author of "Wealth, Virtual Wealth and Debt". Its subtitle - 'The Solution to the Economic Paradox'. Another theory, another book and another branch on the tree of economic theory. This is a 1988 article about Soddy and his "Doctrine of Virtual Wealth" by J. MARTIN HATTERSLEY. <<http://nesara.org/articles/soddy88.htm>>
  41. Various Authors / Great, Classic Books on Economics and Politics / Full Text / <<http://www.mondopolitico.com/library/>> Find links to the full text of various books.