I can't recommend this book highly enough. I own multiple copies so that I can lend them out; it highlights fundamental economic fallacies, and introduces holistic/systems thinking to the general population by reminding the reader to focus on all those affected.
Seconded. It's a bit idealistic but is also very simply and dramatically demonstrates how poorly most people understand economics. Politicians are especially serious offenders, possibly because even if they know better, solutions that are economically silly are often publicly popular. For example, the "Cash for Clunkers" car programs are not a good idea. Although this book was written years ago, the exact same boneheaded policies are implemented today, advanced by the exact same nonsensical arguments.
This book will make you very frustrated when you have to listen to politicians talk about economics. :-)
the idea of politicians as people who learn about all the impacts and nuances of legislation so we don't have to has been proven false for thousands of years. the greeks knew that this representative democracy idea was crap. for an example of a functioning government please see the Venetian Republic (the birth place of proto-capitalism).
It's a fantastic book - changed my outlook on economics and politics. The rent control chapter was really, really illuminating. If anyone here is in favor of rent control, I strongly recommend this. It's only a 5 minute read or so, very worth it:
