A new book examines Alexander Hamilton's plan for public debt

In this comprehensive biography, journalist Ron Chernow describes the life and influence of Alexander Hamilton, arguing that Hamilton has been unfairly overlooked compared to other Founding Fathers. Though he never served as president, he had a profound impact on the structure of the American government and its economy. While Hamilton’s life ended in scandal and a fatal duel, Chernow believes that America today is the realization of Hamilton’s vision, far more so than that of his political rivals like Thomas Jefferson.

This guide will consider Hamilton’s life and legacy, including his unlikely ascension from a poor student from the Caribbean to a trusted advisor of George Washington and leader of one of the US’s earliest political parties. We’ll also discuss additional historical context for the 18th century, how the events of Hamilton’s life have influenced America today, historians’ responses to Chernow’s work, and the book’s adaptation into a hit 2015 musical.

The Federalist Papers are a unique window into the minds of the men who drafted the Constitution and founded the United States. This series of 85 essays, originally published at the time of the raging debate over ratification, make the case for a stronger national government and urge the adoption of the Constitution. This is one of the most important documents in American history, revealing what the Founding Fathers thought about human nature, civil society, and the relationship between government and liberty.

In The Deficit Myth, economist Stephanie Kelton contends that nearly all of the public discourse about national debts and deficits gets the facts entirely wrong. A leading proponent of Modern Monetary Theory (MMT), Kelton champions more aggressive deficit spending by arguing that the U.S. government could finance any program it wishes to create. She advocates a more holistic view of the economy—contending that we ought to focus on poverty reduction, combating climate change, and building a more just and equitable society as the true measures of economic success, rather than focusing solely on the narrow budgetary impacts of legislation.

This guide adds perspective from other economic experts—including voices from outside the MMT community who question Kelton’s theories—in order to present a more nuanced and balanced view of the economic ideas in the book.

In this comprehensive biography, journalist Ron Chernow describes the life and influence of Alexander Hamilton, arguing that Hamilton has been unfairly overlooked compared to other Founding Fathers. Though he never served as president, he had a profound impact on the structure of the American government and its economy. While Hamilton’s life ended in scandal and a fatal duel, Chernow believes that America today is the realization of Hamilton’s vision, far more so than that of his political rivals like Thomas Jefferson.

This guide will consider Hamilton’s life and legacy, including his unlikely ascension from a poor student from the Caribbean to a trusted advisor of George Washington and leader of one of the US’s earliest political parties. We’ll also discuss additional historical context for the 18th century, how the events of Hamilton’s life have influenced America today, historians’ responses to Chernow’s work, and the book’s adaptation into a hit 2015 musical.

In The Deficit Myth, economist Stephanie Kelton contends that nearly all of the public discourse about national debts and deficits gets the facts entirely wrong. A leading proponent of Modern Monetary Theory (MMT), Kelton champions more aggressive deficit spending by arguing that the U.S. government could finance any program it wishes to create. She advocates a more holistic view of the economy—contending that we ought to focus on poverty reduction, combating climate change, and building a more just and equitable society as the true measures of economic success, rather than focusing solely on the narrow budgetary impacts of legislation.

This guide adds perspective from other economic experts—including voices from outside the MMT community who question Kelton’s theories—in order to present a more nuanced and balanced view of the economic ideas in the book.

While Jekyll Island might sound like something out of horror fiction, the island is a real place—and popular resort—in the state of Georgia. But author Edward Griffin argues that it was also the birthplace of a horrifying finance cartel disguised as a government agency: the Federal Reserve System. Griffin believes the Fed destabilizes the economy and encourages banks to engage in fraudulent practices that harm the general public and benefit elite financiers.

In our guide to The Creature from Jekyll Island, we’ll consider Griffin’s theories about the conspiracy of financiers that he says created—and continues to control—the Federal Reserve. Then we’ll review his criticism of how the Federal Reserve actually operates and his arguments that it’s detrimental to regular citizens. Finally, we’ll consider Griffin’s proposed solution to the problems he identifies. Throughout, we’ll compare Griffin’s perspective with the perspectives of economists like Thomas Sowell (Basic Economics), Saifedean Ammous (The Bitcoin Standard), and Henry Hazlitt (Economics in One Lesson).

Have you ever wondered how the economy works - how millions of individuals can buy and sell goods and services without a master coordinator? Have you wondered why we use money, rather than bartering our services with each other? Why do some nations prosper, while others stay poor despite vast natural resources?

Basic Economics by Stanford economist Thomas Sowell is an incredibly useful, broad introduction to economics. Containing no math, it instead communicates intuitive principles that will help you understand how market transactions work and the effect of policies on the economy. Understand how prices for goods are set, why rent control has bad side effects, and the purpose of brand names.

In The Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith laid much of the groundwork for the field of economics. Published in 1776, this seminal book makes the case for free markets and individual self-interest as the best ways to grow a nation's economy.

Smith was an 18th-century Scottish philosopher who taught moral philosophy and is widely considered one of the founding fathers of capitalism. In this guide to The Wealth of Nations, we’ll explore his ideas on how markets regulate themselves through supply and demand, the importance of international trade, and the proper role of government in fostering a prosperous society. You'll also learn why wages vary so much by region and how governments can accidentally encourage smuggling. Throughout this guide, our commentary will compare Smith's ideas to modern economics and incorporate the perspectives of present-day economists and theorists, while grounding Smith’s arguments in their proper historical context.

The world order has changed numerous times in the past and will continue to do so—so argues Ray Dalio in Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order, in which he explains how he makes sense of human history in order to anticipate what’s coming next. Having studied the rises, peaks, and falls of over a dozen major empires, Dalio argues that history “rhymes” and that we can learn to recognize where we are in its repeating cycles. With that knowledge, we can make better decisions in life, business, and investing.

Dalio is an American billionaire investor and founder of Bridgewater Associates. Our guide explains his principles for understanding the large-scale patterns of cause-and-effect that drive history as well as his predictions for what’s next—which chiefly concern the unfolding relationship between the US, a major power on the decline, and China, a major power on the rise. In commentary, we explore additional perspectives on the patterns of history, and we offer numerous real-world examples of the concepts Dalio discusses.