An excellent overview of the current sorry state of the dismal science an the positive and laudable efforts to improve it.

A lot of ink has been spilled in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis on the shortcomings of economics as an academic subject. One of the reasons this books jumps out from that wave of writing and commentary is that it is written by a number of economics students who were dissatisfied with their experience during their respective degrees and organised themselves and raised their voices. Good for them. However, this could be one of the reasons I didn't think the book contains a lot of new or unexpected points of criticism (another reason could be that the book is almost 7 years old by now and that I have heard/read most points multiple times elsewhere by now). It's also very a much a negative approach: it describes (again and again) what is wrong with the field of economics but is a bit light on what direction it would need to go in to improve. Economics is too mathematic-y and needs to be more pluralist. Sure. But when asked what kind of new directions etc to be explored more it's the usual collection of marxist and feminist economics etc and it is never really convincingly explained what kind of refreshing insights these (currently indeed fairly niche) fields would provide us with (behavioural economics doesn't get mentioned until the appendix).

Puts you right into the thick of it.

Listened on Audiobook: I didn't study economics, but I heart one of the authors talking on a podcast and found their diagnosis of how economics is taught having implications on our democracy really interesting. The book doesn't disappoint – while it slides into inside baseball at times, how they discuss university education rings true, and their proposed solutions – while bold – are worth considering.

This book makes some good points, and the economics curriculum is in dire need of radical reform, but overall the book lacks punch. It doesn't say anything too new and most of what it does say is very mild. This isn't a revolution, it's a polite request for change. As a result it doesn't capture the imagination or push hard for change.

This was dope. Way more education based than expected. Fascinating case studies into economic education in the UK system and how it feeds into a loop of closed off field of study. Huge brain. Also the empowering of citizens?? Clear link between these issues and how it effects democracies??? So hot.