Who would have thunk it? The economics profession is hot. From record number of undergraduates enrolled in economics programs, to best-selling non-fiction books, the dismal science has achieved some measure of popularity.

Roger Lowenstein in the New York Times, a noted author himself, finds economic books “getting better” and “tell little stories.” Lowenstein makes a point that we have been emphasizing.

“The economist’s job,” Mr. Harford says, “is to shine a spotlight on the underlying process.” Sounds reasonable, but that is not what most economists actually do. Most professional economists are paid to predict the future. This is why so much of economics writing is dull – and pretty silly. No one can predict the future, least of all an economist.

Lowenstein finds some quibbles with Harford’s book, “The Undercover Economist,” but by and large finds it a “book to savor.”

Elise Soukup at Newsweek wonders what sparked this trend, and does not find a good answer. The spate of economics books clearly had a role:

There’s no doubt that “Freakonomics” did its part in glamorizing the trade. The book, says Publishers Weekly senior editor Charlotte Abbott, is poised to inspire a slew of splashy knockoffs.

Speaking of economics books, Charles Batchelor at the FT.com queried a handful of investment executives which business books kept their attention this year.

This content, which contains security-related opinions and/or information, is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon in any manner as professional advice, or an endorsement of any practices, products or services. There can be no guarantees or assurances that the views expressed here will be applicable for any particular facts or circumstances, and should not be relied upon in any manner. You should consult your own advisers as to legal, business, tax, and other related matters concerning any investment.

The commentary in this “post” (including any related blog, podcasts, videos, and social media) reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints, and analyses of the Ritholtz Wealth Management employees providing such comments, and should not be regarded the views of Ritholtz Wealth Management LLC. or its respective affiliates or as a description of advisory services provided by Ritholtz Wealth Management or performance returns of any Ritholtz Wealth Management Investments client.

References to any securities or digital assets, or performance data, are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Charts and graphs provided within are for informational purposes solely and should not be relied upon when making any investment decision. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The content speaks only as of the date indicated. Any projections, estimates, forecasts, targets, prospects, and/or opinions expressed in these materials are subject to change without notice and may differ or be contrary to opinions expressed by others.

Please see disclosures here.

Please see the Terms & Conditions page for a full disclaimer.