How Markets Fail: The Logic of Economic Calamities. By John Cassidy

A wonderful book, one of the best I read in a long time (at least in this past year).

Don´t be fooled by the title, the author goes a long way before explaining the 2008 subprime crisis. The book is a very complete (but accessible) introduction to the history of economics.

Definitely, a "must read".

It was released in 2009, so you might think it is outdated. Not at all, just look around and see the aftermath of the 2008 crisis all over the world.

Links to two good reviews follow.

http://www.economist.com/node/14843529

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/bookreviews/6719474/How-Markets-Fail-the-Logic-of-Economic-Calamities-by-John-Cassidy-review.html