Suggested Reading

The course emphasises learning by hearing and questioning, and neither extensive reading nor note-taking are essential (handouts distributed each week provide a record of the topics and principles covered). However, for students who would like to undertake background reading, the following titles are suggested:

NATURE OF SOCIETY
Leon MacLaren, The School of Economic Science
The author was the founder of the School of Economic Science. This book was written to explain the principles of economics upon which the teaching in the School is based and remains the most comprehensive and approachable account of them. Guided by a sense of truth and justice, the reader is led to the simplicity of the laws governing the relations in human society and to a vision of a world in which understanding of natural laws can lead to peace, prosperity and freedom for all.


BANKER TO THE POOR
The Autobiography of Muhammad Yunus, founder of the Grameen Bank
Muhammad Yunus with Alan Jolis, Aurum Press Ltd. 1999
ISBN 1 85410 664 3
A lively and entertaining account of the observations and events which led to the invention of micro-credit and to the foundation of the world’s first bank for very poor people. This book demonstrates the practical application of the principles of credit and at the same time exposes the shortcomings of modern banking systems and of international attempts to bring aid to poverty stricken regions and countries.


TAKEN FOR A RIDE
Trains, Taxpayers and the Treasury
Don Riley, Centre for Land Policy Studies 2001
ISBN 1 901202 00
Property developer Don Riley exposes the realities of public funding of infrastructure projects. This book shows how a public investment of £3.5 billion in London’s Jubilee Line underground extension created a £12.5 billion property bonanza for conveniently situated landowners. It also demonstrates the extraordinary lengths to which officialdom will go to avoid the issue of collecting the benefit of such projects so that they can pay for themselves.


ALSO:-
PROGRESS & POVERTY by Henry George
SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL by E.F. Schumacher
THE MYSTERY OF CAPITAL by Hernando De Soto
JUSTICE by Leon MacLaren
STEALING OUR LAND by Sir Kenneth Jupp