The Choice: A Fable of Free Trade and Protection

It won't win any literary awards, but this is a novel way to explain economic concepts (no pun intended). Late British economist David Ricardo guides the protagonist like a Dickensian ghost of economic present and alternate futures. Along the way, their dialogue hits on a variety of topics related to free trade and protectionism: comparative advantage, outsourcing, tariffs and quotas, trade deficits, fair trade, and globalization. It's a quick read, which may help you understand economics better than traditional teaching methods.

The Choice by Russell Roberts is a short parable on the dangers of protectionism as an economic system. Throughout you'll recognize a mix of storytelling frameworks made popular by "It's a Wonderful Life" and "A Christmas Carol"—i.e. being led through alternate timelines to witness the consequences of one's choices.

It's a worthy read even though most of the pro-protectionist crowd—those who would benefit the most from the book's message—aren't even aware of what protectionism is or why it's problematic, and are unlikely to ever check out The Choice.

Revised and updated from the 1993 edition.