Recommended Reading Part Two: Social Sciences

Last week I made some pre-university recommended reading suggestions for those considering a degree in arts and humanities subjects. This week it’s the recommended reading of social sciences – encompassing law, politics, international studies, economics, accounting and finance, statistics and sociology. 

23 Things They Don’t Tell You About Capitalism, by Ha-Joon Chang

Accessible and thought-provoking examination of the foundations and myths surrounding free-market capitalism.

The Wealth and Poverty of Nations: Why Are Some So Rich and Others So Poor? by David S Landes

This question is more often asked in an ethical context, but Landes takes a historical approach, analysing the industrial, cultural and attitudinal factors that have made some nations rich and others poor.

Triumph of the City: How Our Greatest Invention Makes Us Richer, Smarter, Greener, Healthier, and Happier, by Edward Glaeser

As the title suggests, this is a book in defence of cities, which Glaeser argues are not the dirty, overcrowded, polluted congestion zones they’re often represented as.

Letters to a Law Student: A Guide to Studying Law at University, by Nicholas J McBride

Written by an experienced law tutor who has taught at Oxford and Cambridge, this is an all-round guide for those preparing to start a law course – covering the full experience, from choosing a course and a university, through to exam preparation and career planning.

Outliers: The Story of Success, by Malcolm Gladwell

A hugely popular and highly readable examination of the ingredients that add up to success – from cultural influences to birth dates, and from CEOs to the Beatles.

Theories of International Politics and Zombies, by Daniel W Drezner

Drezner’s approach to explaining various theories of international politics is unusual: he imagines how different types of government would respond to the threat of zombie invasion. Widely acclaimed, informative and highly entertaining!

(If you’re interested in zombies, check out Mansoor’s interview with zombie university expert, Dr Arnold T. Blumberg.)

Have you read any of these books? Do you have any other recommended reading for social sciences subjects? Leave a comment below.