More Heat than Light
Economics as Social Physics, Physics as Nature's Economics
by Philip Mirowski
Recommended by Eric Weinstein and Michael Mauboussin
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Should I read this?
Recommended by 4 sources and appears in Physics, Most Recommended Books, and Finance.
This is a history of how physics has drawn some inspiration from economics and how economics has sought to emulate physics, especially with regard to the theory of value. The author traces the development of the energy concept in Western physics and its subsequent effect on the invention and promulgation of neoclassical economics, the modern orthod...
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Why recommended
Recommended by 4 sources and appears in Physics, Most Recommended Books, and Finance.
Recommended by notable people
People and public figures who have recommended this book.
Recommendation Signals
Recommendation proof is sourced from public posts, interviews, reading lists, and cited references.
Michael Mauboussin
financial adviser
“2/Phil Mirowski's book, More Heat than Light, is 30 years old but still fascinating. A complementary read to @ole_b_peters work on "the progenitors of neoclassical economic theory boldly copied the reigning physical theories in the 1870s."”
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Not sure if this is the right fit?
Consider The Undoing Project by Michael Lewis. Recommended by 18 sources.
“Michael Lewis chronicles the friendship and intellectual partnership of Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky, who championed the idea that cognitive biases shape our choices. The narrative reads like a buddy story, weaving their discoveries into personal anecdotes and the drama of their collaboration. You'll grasp key ideas—loss aversion, framing—through their story, but the book focuses on biography, not application. Helpful for understanding behavioral economics' origins; less useful if you want actionable advice. The emotional arc of their relationship can overshadow the science.”
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Each recommendation is collected from a public source — interviews, articles, or curated lists — and linked to its original URL. Books with many verifiable recommendations from respected people rank higher.