Alan Greenspan, The Age of Turbulence

WOW. If you want a coherent explanation of how economies work, both planned and open market, this is a MUST READ. It is written so a lay person can read it, and understand what is going on. What a study in the human condition, and how free market capitalism is lubricated and driven by that human condition. While he certainly leans agnostic, and seems to have failed finding the source of who we are and why we act the way we do, he certainly is a fine student of the end results, and able to apply those end results across the worldwide economic landscape. I couldn't put the book down, it seemed, and I highly recommend it to anyone who would like to understand how this seemingly chaotic free market economy works, how our culture affects it and how it affects our culture. The rule of law (and its arguably Biblical premise) weighs heavily in the success of the US economically (Greenspan's primary focus). Fascinating book.