• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EST 06:33
CET 12:33
KST 20:33
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
RSL Revival - 2025 Season Finals Preview8RSL Season 3 - Playoffs Preview0RSL Season 3 - RO16 Groups C & D Preview0RSL Season 3 - RO16 Groups A & B Preview2TL.net Map Contest #21: Winners12
Community News
Weekly Cups (Dec 15-21): Classic wins big, MaxPax & Clem take weeklies3ComeBackTV's documentary on Byun's Career !11Weekly Cups (Dec 8-14): MaxPax, Clem, Cure win4Weekly Cups (Dec 1-7): Clem doubles, Solar gets over the hump1Weekly Cups (Nov 24-30): MaxPax, Clem, herO win2
StarCraft 2
General
ComeBackTV's documentary on Byun's Career ! Team TLMC #5: Winners Announced! What's the best tug of war? The Grack before Christmas Weekly Cups (Dec 15-21): Classic wins big, MaxPax & Clem take weeklies
Tourneys
OSC Season 13 World Championship $5,000+ WardiTV 2025 Championship $100 Prize Pool - Winter Warp Gate Masters Showdow Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament Winter Warp Gate Amateur Showdown #1
Strategy
Custom Maps
Map Editor closed ?
External Content
Mutation # 505 Rise From Ashes Mutation # 504 Retribution Mutation # 503 Fowl Play Mutation # 502 Negative Reinforcement
Brood War
General
BW General Discussion How soO Began His ProGaming Dreams Klaucher discontinued / in-game color settings BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ Recommended FPV games (post-KeSPA)
Tourneys
[BSL21] LB SemiFinals - Saturday 21:00 CET [BSL21] WB & LB Finals - Sunday 21:00 CET Small VOD Thread 2.0 [Megathread] Daily Proleagues
Strategy
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Game Theory for Starcraft Current Meta Fighting Spirit mining rates
Other Games
General Games
Mechabellum Nintendo Switch Thread Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Beyond All Reason Path of Exile
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
Mafia Game Mode Feedback/Ideas Survivor II: The Amazon Sengoku Mafia TL Mafia Community Thread
Community
General
12 Days of Starcraft US Politics Mega-thread The Games Industry And ATVI Russo-Ukrainian War Thread How Does UI/UX Design Influence User Trust?
Fan Clubs
White-Ra Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
Anime Discussion Thread [Manga] One Piece
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread Formula 1 Discussion
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
The Automated Ban List TL+ Announced Where to ask questions and add stream?
Blogs
National Diversity: A Challe…
TrAiDoS
I decided to write a webnov…
DjKniteX
James Bond movies ranking - pa…
Topin
Thanks for the RSL
Hildegard
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 1460 users

I'm looking for good Econ/PoliSci/Gov books, etc.

Blogs > ryanAnger
Post a Reply
1 2 3 4 Next All
ryanAnger
Profile Blog Joined April 2008
United States838 Posts
August 17 2011 20:40 GMT
#1
Hey guys. I've recently found out that I'm not going to be able to formally further my education for quite a while due to some unforeseen circumstances dealing with my job in the USAF. As such, I've taken it upon myself to learn everything that I would in a university, regardless. I want to study the following fields, in depth: Economics; Political Science; Government. In the future, I would also like to study Law, but that's not as big of a priority to me right now.

My problem is this: I have no idea what sort of texts to read, especially because of the inevitable bias found in all three of these subjects.

I would greatly appreciate it if anyone who has previously studied, or is currently studying, these subjects to direct me to some unbiased learning resources, whether they be books or websites or whatever.
On my way...
AndyG
Profile Joined July 2010
United States22 Posts
August 17 2011 20:43 GMT
#2
While I'm a Math/Computer Science head and have no idea what books to recommend, I just wanna commend you for taking this step. Self-education, especially at a college level, takes a lot of commitment, so this is really cool :D Good luck!
AcuWill
Profile Joined August 2010
United States281 Posts
August 17 2011 20:43 GMT
#3
mises.org

It has hundreds of free economy books on Austrian economics.

TBH read different baised views and draw your own conclusions. Truly sterile text-books that are not biased in any fashion and try to appease everyone are so watered down you won't get anything of real value.

Caloooomi
Profile Joined July 2010
Scotland188 Posts
August 17 2011 20:44 GMT
#4
Best of luck, I struggle to motivate myself even at the best of times.
Booga booga booga~
ryanAnger
Profile Blog Joined April 2008
United States838 Posts
August 17 2011 20:45 GMT
#5
On August 18 2011 05:43 AndyG wrote:
While I'm a Math/Computer Science head and have no idea what books to recommend, I just wanna commend you for taking this step. Self-education, especially at a college level, takes a lot of commitment, so this is really cool :D Good luck!


Thanks. I've always been an autodidact, but most of my self-learning has been random and disjointed, and mostly web-based, so this whole "go to the library and get some textbooks" thing is brand new to me.
On my way...
Hider
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
Denmark9408 Posts
August 17 2011 20:46 GMT
#6
On August 18 2011 05:43 AcuWill wrote:
mises.org

It has hundreds of free economy books on Austrian economics.

TBH read different baised views and draw your own conclusions. Truly sterile text-books that are not biased in any fashion and try to appease everyone are so watered down you won't get anything of real value.



This isn't really that you will learn at a university. Never the less this is real economics.
Zeri
Profile Joined March 2010
United States773 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-08-17 20:48:40
August 17 2011 20:47 GMT
#7
[image loading]

Michael Sandel is a political philosopher and a well known professor at Harvard. This book is absolutely great. Its essentially his famous class at Harvard called 'Justice' condensed into a book!
You can think I'm wrong, but that's no reason to quit thinking.
KaiserReinhard
Profile Blog Joined October 2008
United States554 Posts
August 17 2011 20:49 GMT
#8
If you're looking for some good sleep aids I'd go with some rum or brandy instead.

I kid, I kid, good on ya for studying for the hell of it.
twitch.tv/imkirok
ryanAnger
Profile Blog Joined April 2008
United States838 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-08-17 20:52:25
August 17 2011 20:50 GMT
#9
On August 18 2011 05:46 Hider wrote:
Show nested quote +
On August 18 2011 05:43 AcuWill wrote:
mises.org

It has hundreds of free economy books on Austrian economics.

TBH read different baised views and draw your own conclusions. Truly sterile text-books that are not biased in any fashion and try to appease everyone are so watered down you won't get anything of real value.



This isn't really that you will learn at a university. Never the less this is real economics.


I don't necessarily want something that will be taught to me at university, I just want something that will give me an excellent understanding and comprehension of the topics at hand.

EDIT: To the guy who recommended "Justice" above, I found that there are full episodes of his "Justice" lectures online. Definitely going to be taking a look at them. Thanks.
On my way...
Myles
Profile Blog Joined March 2010
United States5162 Posts
August 17 2011 20:54 GMT
#10
On August 18 2011 05:50 ryanAnger wrote:
Show nested quote +
On August 18 2011 05:46 Hider wrote:
On August 18 2011 05:43 AcuWill wrote:
mises.org

It has hundreds of free economy books on Austrian economics.

TBH read different baised views and draw your own conclusions. Truly sterile text-books that are not biased in any fashion and try to appease everyone are so watered down you won't get anything of real value.



This isn't really that you will learn at a university. Never the less this is real economics.


I don't necessarily want something that will be taught to me at university, I just want something that will give me an excellent understanding and comprehension of the topics at hand.


The 'problem' is that there are distinct groups in economics that have very different ideas. You will spend a lot of time and energy learning about the differences between Neo-Classical, Austrian, and Keynesian economics if you really want a strong understanding and comprehension. If you just want a basic understanding of Ecomics like you would get in an econ 101 class, just get any basic college textbook.
Moderator
BluePanther
Profile Joined March 2011
United States2776 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-08-17 20:57:52
August 17 2011 20:54 GMT
#11
Labor and Monopoly Capital by Braverman
The Rise and Decline of Nations by Olson (one of my personal faves, brilliant guy)
The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith (very dry, but gives a fundamental background in economics)
The Prince by Machiavelli

It also doesn't hurt to mix a few extremist views, such as:
The Communist Manifesto by Marx
We the Living by Ayn Rand



If you knocked out these books, I think you'd be able to talk on an educated level about those topics. I think this list would also give you a wide view instead of tunnel vision.
Bartuc
Profile Joined October 2010
Netherlands629 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-08-17 20:57:49
August 17 2011 20:56 GMT
#12
Can't really give you any specific suggestions, but something I always like to do when self-studying topics such as these is to take many different philosophies and compare them objectively, not narrowing down too much on a specific one. It may sound obvious, but the act of comparing is a valuable learning tool and also helps you prevent becoming biased from only looking for reading material from perspectives you already posess.
It is a sign of strength to cry out against fate, rather than to bow one's head and succumb.
darmousseh
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States3437 Posts
August 17 2011 20:59 GMT
#13
For economics I recommend, Economics in One Lesson. http://www.amazon.com/Economics-One-Lesson-Shortest-Understand/dp/0517548232
It is the fastest way to learn basic economic principles and fallacies.

As far as politics and government, that is a lot more broad. Do you want to learn about political philosophies? Or how the government operates? There are too many categories to cover.
Developer for http://mtgfiddle.com
ryanAnger
Profile Blog Joined April 2008
United States838 Posts
August 17 2011 21:00 GMT
#14
On August 18 2011 05:54 Myles wrote:
Show nested quote +
On August 18 2011 05:50 ryanAnger wrote:
On August 18 2011 05:46 Hider wrote:
On August 18 2011 05:43 AcuWill wrote:
mises.org

It has hundreds of free economy books on Austrian economics.

TBH read different baised views and draw your own conclusions. Truly sterile text-books that are not biased in any fashion and try to appease everyone are so watered down you won't get anything of real value.



This isn't really that you will learn at a university. Never the less this is real economics.


I don't necessarily want something that will be taught to me at university, I just want something that will give me an excellent understanding and comprehension of the topics at hand.


The 'problem' is that there are distinct groups in economics that have very different ideas. You will spend a lot of time and energy learning about the differences between Neo-Classical, Austrian, and Keynesian economics if you really want a strong understanding and comprehension. If you just want a basic understanding of Ecomics like you would get in an econ 101 class, just get any basic college textbook.


The goal would be to learn all of them (Neo-Classical, Austrain, Keynesian, etc.) I'm the kind of person who can just read something once, and then it's in my head for good.

Also, to the above poster, I've already read the Communist Manifesto, and the Prince, years ago. I guess I should have probably clarified, I'm not ignorant to any of the subjects I want to study, and that my desire to study them in depth comes from my interest in them, despite (or perhaps because of) my limited understanding of them.
On my way...
BluePanther
Profile Joined March 2011
United States2776 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-08-17 21:06:11
August 17 2011 21:04 GMT
#15
On August 18 2011 06:00 ryanAnger wrote:


Also, to the above poster, I've already read the Communist Manifesto, and the Prince, years ago. I guess I should have probably clarified, I'm not ignorant to any of the subjects I want to study, and that my desire to study them in depth comes from my interest in them, despite (or perhaps because of) my limited understanding of them.


I wasn't implying you were ignorant, I was just giving you a group of books that would be a good place to start. I have a deep interest in economic sociology (have a BS in this), so your desire to learn more is not alone

I'm also former Air Force and a current law student.
Wesso
Profile Joined August 2010
Netherlands1245 Posts
August 17 2011 21:05 GMT
#16
My advice is not to read books, but to find online lectures and listen to them. I don't have an example for you, the ones I know of the top of my head are math/physics related.
MisterD
Profile Blog Joined June 2010
Germany1338 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-08-17 21:07:06
August 17 2011 21:06 GMT
#17
for science with political aspects check out the berkley lecture physics 10 "Physics for future Presidents" -> http://www.youtube.com/user/UCBerkeley?blend=3&ob=4#g/c/095393D5B42B2266

pretty good stuff, and muller does a really good job at lecturing!

probably not exactly what you're looking for, but hella good nontheless.
Gold isn't everything in life... you need wood, too!
ryanAnger
Profile Blog Joined April 2008
United States838 Posts
August 17 2011 21:08 GMT
#18
On August 18 2011 06:06 MisterD wrote:
for science with political aspects check out the berkley lecture physics 10 "Physics for future Presidents" -> http://www.youtube.com/user/UCBerkeley?blend=3&ob=4#g/c/095393D5B42B2266

pretty good stuff, and muller does a really good job at lecturing!

probably not exactly what you're looking for, but hella good nontheless.


Anything works, thanks!!!
On my way...
xDaunt
Profile Joined March 2010
United States17988 Posts
August 17 2011 21:09 GMT
#19
I disagree with him vehemently (a quick glance at the title will tell you why), but you should read Howard Zinn's "A People's History of the United States."
Milkis
Profile Blog Joined January 2010
5003 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-08-17 21:10:26
August 17 2011 21:10 GMT
#20
On August 18 2011 05:46 Hider wrote:
Show nested quote +
On August 18 2011 05:43 AcuWill wrote:
mises.org

It has hundreds of free economy books on Austrian economics.

TBH read different baised views and draw your own conclusions. Truly sterile text-books that are not biased in any fashion and try to appease everyone are so watered down you won't get anything of real value.



This isn't really that you will learn at a university. Never the less this is real economics.


Since when was austrian economics "real" economics? -_-???

austrian economics is a religion
1 2 3 4 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Next event in 8h 27m
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
Lowko367
SortOf 139
Rex 66
StarCraft: Brood War
GuemChi 2278
Shuttle 889
Jaedong 877
Larva 369
firebathero 326
Last 242
Light 223
hero 158
Sharp 103
Rush 99
[ Show more ]
ggaemo 94
Movie 20
Terrorterran 11
Dota 2
XcaliburYe870
Fuzer 221
League of Legends
JimRising 446
C9.Mang0368
Counter-Strike
allub193
Heroes of the Storm
Khaldor192
Other Games
summit1g10056
Grubby4460
singsing1669
B2W.Neo1571
Organizations
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 12 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• StrangeGG 68
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
League of Legends
• Jankos2411
Upcoming Events
BSL 21
8h 27m
Sziky vs eOnzErG
Sparkling Tuna Cup
22h 27m
Krystianer vs Classic
TriGGeR vs SKillous
Percival vs Ryung
ByuN vs Nicoract
OSC
1d 6h
BSL 21
1d 8h
Cross vs Dewalt
Replay Cast
1d 21h
Wardi Open
2 days
OSC
3 days
Solar vs MaxPax
ByuN vs Krystianer
Spirit vs TBD
OSC
6 days
Korean StarCraft League
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Escore Tournament S1 - W1
WardiTV 2025
META Madness #9

Ongoing

C-Race Season 1
IPSL Winter 2025-26
BSL Season 21
CSL Season 19: Qualifier 2
eXTREMESLAND 2025
SL Budapest Major 2025
ESL Impact League Season 8
BLAST Rivals Fall 2025
IEM Chengdu 2025
PGL Masters Bucharest 2025
Thunderpick World Champ.
CS Asia Championships 2025

Upcoming

CSL 2025 WINTER (S19)
Escore Tournament S1 - W2
Escore Tournament S1 - W3
BSL 21 Non-Korean Championship
Acropolis #4
IPSL Spring 2026
Bellum Gens Elite Stara Zagora 2026
HSC XXVIII
Big Gabe Cup #3
OSC Championship Season 13
Nations Cup 2026
ESL Pro League Season 23
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026
IEM Kraków 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter Qual
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate marketing links that support TLnet.

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2025 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.