Bagehot, Walter, The Postulates of English Political Economy.

Brief Review

Diamond, Jared, Guns, Germs, and Steel.

Fascinating book with a sweeping scope postulating and providing evidence that the spread of civilization was most rapid in the hemispheric band of temperate climate and large east-west land masses for the movement of seeds and people. These conditions facilitated the most rapid spread of agricultural developments, animals, trade, germs, immunities, language, and technology. A little stridency in motive shows through at the beginning and end, but the book is so thought-provoking and memorable that it's easy to be grateful that someone had the incentive to think so broadly. Review by Brad DeLong.

Malthus, Thomas, An Essay on the Principle of Population, 1st edition and 6th edition.

Brief Review

Particularly Population, or Patty's Marriage. See also: Brief Review.

Solow, Barbara and Stanley Engerman, (eds.), British Capitalism and Caribbean Slavery: The Legacy of Eric Williams