[Sonny M]

I need a little help from a nice freeper out there. Does anyone know a good book on either finance or economics that would be easy to read and follow for an student in the 8th grade. Long story short, friend of mine wants to teach her son some economics and also some finance, since all he hears is socialist dribble in school. Its got to be a short, simple to read and easy to follow book. I recommened one book (wall street guide to personal finance), but that book if definatley dull, but still easy to follow, any one have any recommendations?

[nravoter]

Economics in One Lesson, by Henry Hazlitt. Not too long, brilliant, but easy for most readers, and, surprising for a book about economics, interesting. Hazlitt uses everyday examples to debunk a lot of socialist "thinking" in economics. Retails on Amazon for $10 or $15, I believe. I just bought four copies a couple of weeks ago, because I've given so many copies away to friends. Hope this helps!

[Red Jones]

milton friedman's 'Free To Choose' is always a good one. It's easy to read, about 200 pages I think, very popular.

[Check_Your_Premises]

Thomas Sowell put out a basic economics book recently.

That is good that your friend is endeavoring to teach his children basic economics. Econ 101 was the first influence that turned me from a MASH and All In The Family watching indoctrinated lefty to a conservative.

The law of supply and demand alone refutes about 60% of leftist arguments.

[elk]

I would recommend the books by Robert Kiyosaki. I apologize that I can't remember the exact titles. One is something like "Rich Dad, Poor Dad," and the other is has the words "Cashflow Quadrant" in its name. You can probably find them in the library (that's why I can't remember the title -- I borrowed, as opposed to buying the books!), or at the Elijah Company website (a homeschool resource place- easy to look up on the web). The Kiyosaki books address the exact issue you mention -- explicitly educating kids on finance, and the old fashioned American free market notions. Kiyosaki also has a Cashflow game for adults, one for kids, which looks like something I'll invest in when my kids are older --hands-on way to teach financial wherewithall.

The Elijah company also lists several other similar resources on the finance front and for other topics. I think you will find a wealth of info for the enterprising parents seeking to combat socialist indoctrination in that Elijah Company catalogue (it's good reading, in and of itself). I apologize I don't have the website address, but a quick search should get you there. The catalogue is free.

[AdamSelene235]

I need a little help from a nice freeper out there. Does anyone know a good book on either finance or economics that would be easy to read and follow for an student in the 8th grade.

Investment Biker by Jim Rogers.....An around the world motorcycle adventure and economics lesson all in one book.

David Friedman (far more articulate than his father Milton) - Hidden Order is an excellent economics text. The Machinery of Freedom is probably the best political/economic text I've ever read.

Now if you really want to corrupt the boy, get him Robert Heinlein's The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. (not an economics text per se, but my favorite for corrupting the youth...heinlein should be a controlled substance)

[MattinNJ]

Ditto's on the recommended Friedman\Sowell. Friedman not only single handedly debunked Keynesian socialist economic policy but most of his stuff is a nice easy read. I echo the sentiments that reading Friedman turned me into a conservative overnight.

[sangoo]

Whatever Happened to Penny Candy by Richard J. Maybury is a great book for explaining economics to both young and old. My children have learned alot from it, as have I. It is an easy read, about 120 pages long. A couple of quotes on the back cover......"Must reading for anyone who wishes to understand the basics of our free enterprise system" (William E. Simon, former U.S. Secreteary of the Treasury...and...."Probably the best short course in economics around (Doug Casey).

[LS]

An OK one is "Economics in One Lesson" by Henry Hazlitt, although it dribbles off some after the first few chapters. "Free to Choose" by Milton Friedman explains the market pretty well, while "Economists on Trial" by Mark Skousen is also pretty good.

For a general history of the U.S. economy, see my book, "The Entrepreneurial Adventure: A History of Business in the U.S." (Harcourt, 2000)

[Stand Watch Listen]

some economics and also some finance,

FYI...

Here's a site that has many financial definitions/applications and links to further discussions http://biz.yahoo.com/edu/ (YAHOO-FINANCE

Features

	Investing 101 Beginning Investing, Bonds, Choosing a Broker, DRIP & DSPP Plans, Investment Clubs, Mutual Funds, Options, Stocks		Personal Finance 101 Banking, Choosing a Broker, Insurance, Loans, Managing Debt, Real Estate, Retirement, Taxes
	Financial Dictionaries Financial Glossary, Bonds, Insurance, Options, Taxes		Finance Bookstore General, Business, Finance, Investing, Personal Finance

 

[babble-on]

can't go wrong with Milton Friedman. Free to Choose was written to educate the masses. a little out of date maybe, but the principles haven't changed.

[demkicker]

Whatever book you choose, make sure there's a chapter on the value of compounding interest.

[ovrtaxt]

Email Ilana Mercer at http://www.ilanamercer.com . She can probably recommend something. Also, try a search for the Ludwig Von Mises foundation, and try searching for Swiss economic theory. Very solid information on money and common sense.

[TheMole]

Nothing against the other recommendations, but I say you want this one:

Basic Economics: A Citizen's Guide to the Economy

I read it myself and it's a model of communication.

[fight_truth_decay]

Youth resources on http://www.daveramsey.com/(conservative too ;))

[fight_truth_decay]

will attempt this again http://www.daveramsey.com/ Youth resources ..simple common sense investing etc.

[Caipirabob]

A book that was recommended to me was: Young Person's First Book of Wealth. Click on the link. I don't have more details but it's been highly recommended by several Nestle and Pfzier executives and some of their CPA's.

[L,TOWM]

A have a textbook at home titled "New Ideas for Dead Economists" that would do the trick. I don;t remember the editor. I hesitate to recommend "The Affluent Society" by Gallbreath, but it is readily available.