Inspiration for Improving the World

by Howard Yaruss
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6 books
The world's problems seem to be multiplying. From war to climate change to political polarization to economic inequality, people are faced with daunting issues and often feel they cannot make a difference. The books on this list will not only show how one person can make a difference, but will also inspire readers to become that person.
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The Grapes of Wrath

John Steinbeck, 2011
As most people know, this classic novel is about poor farmers suffering during the Great Depression and trying to make their way to a better life in California. They endure drought, foreclosure, displacement, homelessness and, most heartbreakingly, indifference from those in a position to help. The protagonist’s resilience and determination to make the world a better place no matter the odds and regardless of the adversity he faces is truly an inspiration, particularly for those of us with so many fewer obstacles than he had.

Understandable Economics

Because Understanding Our Economy Is Easier Than You Think and More Important Than You Know
Howard Yaruss, 2022
More Americans than ever are frustrated by the direction in which our economy is headed. Understandable Economics aims to replace this frustration with a practical understanding of our economy and empower readers to identify and advocate for a better approach to the problems we face. The book breaks down our economic system in a straightforward way, avoiding jargon, formulas, graphs, and other technical material so common in books on this subject. Instead, it creates a comprehensive picture of our economy using accessible analogies, real-world observations, and entertaining anecdotes. It provides the context, tools, and foundational knowledge readers need to thoroughly understand our economy, determine which policies would work best, and champion those policies effectively.

Good Economics for Hard Times

Abhijit V. Banerjee, Esther Duflo, 2019
This book recommendation may not be as inspirational as some of the books on this list, but it makes up for that by providing real world information that can be useful to people trying to improve our world. This book shows how fresh thinking about economics can help solve some of the world’s most intractable problems. Innovative research, careful observation and plain common sense enable these two Nobel Prize winning MIT economists to upend a lot of conventional wisdom and develop interesting and compelling policy proposals, which they discuss in a particularly accessible way.

Poison Ivy

How Elite Colleges Divide Us
Evan Mandery, 2022
I believe education (what economists call “human capital”) is the key to a more productive, equitable and happier society. After all, many rich nations, like Switzerland, Japan and Israel, have almost no natural resources but do have well educated populations, and many poor nations, like the Congo, Venezuela and Nigeria, have extremely valuable natural resources but do not have well educated populations. Therefore, I am concerned about the state of education in America and am particularly troubled that our best universities may not be achieving as much for our society as they could. This book is a searing critique of their role and makes the case that we should expect so much more from them given their huge resources.

The Death and Life of Great American Cities

Jane Jacobs, 2016
Sometimes improving the world can begin at your own doorstep, literally. This book was written in the 1960s as city planners were razing huge swaths of urban centers and replacing them with banal, alienating towers that mostly destroyed the human scale of the lost neighborhoods. Jane Jacobs, by extensively walking urban neighborhoods, discerned what makes them vibrant. She coined the term “eyes on the street” and emphasized how street life and vibrant mixed uses enlivens a city. She forever changed the field of urban planning even though she had no formal urban planning credential.

Crabgrass Frontier

The Suburbanization of the United States
Kenneth T. Jackson, 1987
This book brings together economics, education and urban development by showing how our public policies advantaged wealthy suburbanites over less wealthy urban dwellers after World War II. Many people think there is a natural migration to the suburbs after couples have children. Jackson does a masterful job of showing why that is not the natural order of things. It is the result of specific policy choices such as how we fund infrastructure, what tax incentives we provide, who has access to credit, and how we draw political boundaries. His insights offer a blueprint for a more equitable society.