Where to start learning the basics of economics?

[FieldHound]

I've been reading 'A Very Short Introduction to Economics' but it still feels very heady even just being an introduction? What are the best absolute beginner books/documents on the subject? Understanding the terminology and such...I'm open to 'Introduction to...' sort of books aswell as early/pioneering documents that might shed light...Adam Smith maybe?

I want to read more of Marx stuff but it seems written for people that already have a decent understanding, and even books meant as an introduction to reading Marx's Capital are still quite confusing. I was about to start Proudhon's Philosophy of Poverty but having looked at the content I feel I might have similar problems. I understand that the nature of the topic is itself complex and I'm not trying to treat it superficially, but if anybody has some good reading recs for total beginners I'd appreciate that.

[cyu]

Depending on their political perspective, different economists would have you start with different people - kind like how different religious leaders would have you start with different books, depending on their religious perspective.

For me, my introduction into economics wasn't based on economics at all, but kind of came accidentally when I was reading an archeological website about the use of gold by the Sumerians. The long and short of that was the realization that gold is basically worthless.

So if gold is worthless, how come it plays such a key role in the world economy? For the answer to that, I looked into the start of the banking industry, beginning with the transformation of goldsmiths into bankers, and eventually into the writing of checks and the main way banks make their money today, as compared to their original role.

The fact that gold is still considered "valuable" also led me to start questioning the value of "priceless" paintings - it would appear certain things are intentionally advertised as "valuable" by the wealthy since they are trying to distract attention away from the fact that they depend on the working class for their very lives - and the only thing that has "intrinsic value" is the working class themselves.

[mojo.rhythm]

I highly, highly recommend Richard Wolff. His YouTube channel has video educationals on Marxian economics. Start with him.

Economics is better to discuss rather than passively learn IMO (as with everything, I guess). You will gain knowledge much quicker that way. Feel free to PM me or any other economics nerd on RevLeft.

[Tim Salerno]

I enjoy listening to Richard Wolff's "Economic Update" each week . . . very enlightening, educational - and always relevant. (rdwolff dot com)

[robbo203]

There is some good basic Marxian economics here which Ive come across recently...

http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/education/study-guides/guide-value-price-and-profit

http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/education/depth-articles/economics/where-do-profits-come

http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/education/depth-articles/economics/introduction-marxian-economics-1-labour-theory-value

[Ocean Seal]

I've been reading 'A Very Short Introduction to Economics' but it still feels very heady even just being an introduction? What are the best absolute beginner books/documents on the subject? Understanding the terminology and such...I'm open to 'Introduction to...' sort of books aswell as early/pioneering documents that might shed light...Adam Smith maybe?

I want to read more of Marx stuff but it seems written for people that already have a decent understanding, and even books meant as an introduction to reading Marx's Capital are still quite confusing. I was about to start Proudhon's Philosophy of Poverty but having looked at the content I feel I might have similar problems. I understand that the nature of the topic is itself complex and I'm not trying to treat it superficially, but if anybody has some good reading recs for total beginners I'd appreciate that.
Adam Smith is rather dense and it is something that you should read but not yet, you should try to get a sense of what bourgeois economics are from some kind of courseware, and I also reccomend Richard Wolf (also i'm pretty sure we have some straightforward resources on revleft itself). That being said don't be afraid to contact any of the members.

[Anglo-Saxon Philistine]

Wolff, seriously? Wolff is a market socialist.

Generally, and I think this is an important point, you won't find a politically neutral introduction to Marxist economy. Personally, I would recommend Mandel's An Introduction to Marxist Economic Theory (http://www.marxists.org/archive/mandel/1967/intromet/index.htm) but you have to keep in mind the theory of "long-waves" and "neo-capitalism" is a bit on the light side of empirical confirmation, and just so happens to explain why Mandel's IS/USec did nothing at certain crucial junctures.