Robert H. Frank

4.21255 learners

Robert H. Frank’s *The Economic Naturalist* turns dry economic theory into a captivating exploration of everyday life. Using relatable real-world examples—from why ATM keyboards have braille to why bars serve free peanuts but charge for water—Frank demystifies core principles like cost-benefit analysis, supply-demand dynamics, property rights, and signaling theory. Unlike traditional textbooks relying on abstract models, this book teaches readers to think like "economic naturalists": observing the world around them to uncover hidden decision-making logic behind seemingly trivial choices. Drawing on his Cornell University teaching experience, Frank shows how economic thinking isn’t just for experts—it’s a tool to understand product design, workplace rules, relationship dynamics, and social norms. By the end, readers gain a new lens to interpret the world, making smarter decisions and recognizing the economic forces shaping their daily lives.

Tu Zipei

01083 learners

From the U.S. founding fathers tying population data to republican governance to the rise of smart cities, *The Pinnacle of Data* traces data’s extraordinary journey as a transformative force in politics, business, and society. Starting with the 1787 Constitutional Convention’s Great Compromise and the controversial 3/5 Clause, the book unpacks how census data balanced state power and shaped early American democracy. It moves through pivotal eras: the Civil War, where data fueled debates over slavery and guided Lincoln’s military strategies; the Gilded Age, where Herman Hollerith’s punch-card tabulator birthed IBM; the Progressive Era, where cost-benefit analysis sparked ethical debates over life valuation; and the sampling revolution that propelled Gallup’s polls and Deming’s quality management, which revitalized Japan’s economy. The book also explores data openness movements, the explosion of big data, and smart city initiatives in both the U.S. and China, revealing how data evolved from a political tool to a core driver of modern governance, innovation, and equitable progress.