Economics and its Enemies: Two Centuries of Anti-Economics

Our review of Economics and its Enemies argues this book is best for readers who want a historical, critical overview of opposition to mainstream economic thought. William Coleman traces anti-economics from the Enlightenment to modern debates, showing how critics of Smith, Ricardo, Mill, Walras, Keynes and Hicks reappeared in varied forms. The single biggest reason to read this book is its panoramic treatment of opposing currents - from Right and Left anti-economics to Moralist, Aesthetic and Environmental strands - which helps readers understand how dissent shaped economic ideas over two centuries.

Key Features

• Historical sweep: The book maps anti-economics from the Eighteenth century through to recent thinkers, giving readers a long-term perspective on recurring criticisms.
• Connections to canonical figures: Coleman links anti-economics directly to Smith, Ricardo, Mill, Walras, Keynes and Hicks, clarifying how mainstream theory and its opponents interacted.
• Typology of opposition: The author analyzes distinct forms - Right, Left, Nationalist, Historicist - helping readers distinguish political and intellectual motives behind critiques.
• Cultural angles: By discussing Irrationalist, Moralist and Aesthetic critiques, the book situates economic dissent within broader cultural debates.
• Environmental perspective: Environmental anti-economics is addressed, making the work relevant to contemporary ecological critiques of economic theory.

Who It's For

This book is aimed at students, scholars and informed readers who want a rigorous, historically grounded account of critiques levelled at mainstream economics. It suits those who appreciate intellectual history and wish to see how dissenting ideas interacted with major theorists.

Readers seeking a textbook introduction to economic methods or a practical guide to econometrics should look elsewhere, since the book focuses on intellectual history and conceptual debate rather than methods, data or policy prescriptions.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Comprehensive historical coverage that clarifies long-term patterns in opposition to mainstream economics.
• Clear links to major economists, which help situate anti-economics in relation to canonical theory.
• Nuanced typology of critics that distinguishes political, cultural and methodological motives.

Cons

• Not a methods or policy manual, so readers wanting technical instruction will find it limited.

Specifications

Title	Economics and its Enemies: Two Centuries of Anti-Economics
Author	William Oliver Coleman
Subject focus	History of economic thought and critiques of mainstream economics
Historical range	Eighteenth century to present
Major figures discussed	Smith, Ricardo, Mill, Walras, Keynes, Hicks
Key themes	Right, Left, Nationalist, Historicist, Moralist, Aesthetic, Environmental anti-economics

Our Verdict

Economics and its Enemies is a valuable read for anyone interested in intellectual history and the contest between mainstream economics and its critics. Its broad chronological scope and careful typology make it good value for readers who want to understand how dissenting currents shaped economic thought, though those seeking technical instruction will need a different resource.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the book cover modern environmental critiques?
Yes, Coleman explicitly treats Environmental anti-economics as one of the contemporary strands within the wider story of dissent.

Is this a textbook on economic methods?
No, the book is a work of intellectual history focused on critiques and their relation to major economists rather than on technical methods.

Which historical figures receive the most attention?
The book discusses key figures including Smith, Ricardo, Mill, Walras, Keynes and Hicks and shows how critics engaged with their ideas.