Episode · EconTalk · 2019-08-19
Books mentioned on Tyler Cowen on Big Business
Author and economist Tyler Cowen of George Mason University talks about his book, Big Business, with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Cowen argues that big corporations in America are underrated and under-appreciated.
Russ Roberts discussed Big Business by Tyler Cowen, Anarchy, State, and Utopia by Robert Nozick, Stubborn Attachments by Tyler Cowen, and Stillness Is the Key by Ryan Holiday. Tyler Cowen discussed Philosophical Explanations by Robert Nozick.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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Big Business
Big Business by Tyler Cowen is an economic defense of large corporations that challenges conventional criticisms and highlights the immense societal benefits generated by major companies.
Discussed“our topic today is his latest book big business a love letter to an American antihero”
Where to get it
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Anarchy, State, and Utopia
Anarchy, State, and Utopia by Robert Nozick is a foundational 1974 political philosophy book that defends libertarianism and introduces famous thought experiments like the pleasure machine.
Discussed“yeah I read anarchy state utopia by Nozick when I was I think I was 22 21 22 I just graduated from college and it just it electrified Bank you know that's the that I'm here”
Where to get it
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Philosophical Explanations
Discussed“is it philosophical explanations is that the name of it that's correct that's the big long book I feel a lot of that book fails”
Where to get it
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Stubborn Attachments
Stubborn Attachments by Tyler Cowen is a philosophical and economics book that argues sustained long-term economic growth is a moral imperative essential for human flourishing.
Discussed“and I thought of you when I was reading that because in your book stubborn attachments that we talked about in a recent episode of econ talk you made the case for growth as a welfare human flourishing requirement but but advocating for it and you make a very powerful case for it”
Where to get it
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Stillness Is the Key
Stillness Is the Key by Ryan Holiday is a popular book exploring the ancient philosophical concept of stoicism and how achieving inner stillness can lead to a more balanced and successful life.
Discussed“I'm gonna be interviewing Ryan holiday soon on his book stillness is the key and stillness is way down”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (5) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“this one point in the book I present a comparison between for-profit and nonprofit hospitals and statistically speaking it's really hard to tell them apart from each other in terms of what they do how they act what they charge”
“I wrote a book based on fieldwork I went many times to a rural Mexican village and wrote a book on how they support themselves and I export their artworks through global markets but I know at least one part of rural Mexico really quite well what school what book is that markets and cultural voices it came out about”
“I wrote a book based on fieldwork I went many times to a rural Mexican village and wrote a book on how they support themselves and I export their artworks through global markets but I know at least one part of rural Mexico really quite well what school what book is that markets and cultural voices it came out about”
“and my book is just trying to set the record straight by looking at the facts”
“I give in my book and I say as much in the book the book is not pro-business per se the book is prow evidence”