Books about economics/politics

[indjaseemun]

I like reading, but I've never read books on politics or economics. Thus I feel really bad when people start talking about those things, because they're important, and I understand nothing of it. I think it's time I jump right in

Can anyone recommend books that explain the basics of those two topics, and important well-know books dealing with those, to a person who doesn't know what the economy is, what is the marketplace, knows nothing about politics, etc.

I guess I have to read a lot of history books too, right?

There is one book in my house, "The time of uncertainty" (title translated from portuguese, may not be the original one) by Kenneth Gailbraith. Does anyone recommend that?

[zebra bodine]

"ABC of Economics" by Ezra Pound is an interesting read from a non-economist perspective.

[mandrake]

Rothbard's  "Man, Economy, and State"

[Mithrandir]

Decision Points - George W. Bush' ghostwriter

[indjaseemun]

Thanks

[Nimbostratus]

The first volume of Das Kapital by Marx, seriously. Lot of things he says at least in the first chapters, can be traced back to Aristotle and others, but he makes a good recapitulation, to subsequently bring a coherent critic of capitalism, that still applies in some points today.

On the other hand, here is a book that defends capitalism, in the Austrian school style, by George Reisman.