I never took economics in college, so I ordered the book you suggested (in hopes that I can respond in a more educated manner to these blasted CEO threads ;))- Economics in One Lesson by Henry Hazlitt. I also ordered a Helene Grimaud plays Brahms Opus 115 - 119. Can't wait! Jodi

Brings back old memories. Back in the early 1980s I took part in a conspiracy to smuggle a single copy of Robert J. Samuelson's "Principles of Microeconomics" into the Soviet Union. An university student there wanted to know how the rest of the world thought econ worked. Heh, we were successful.

Great, Jodi, I think you'll enjoy it. It originally came out in 1946, I think, but I see that it's recently been updated.

Of course, after you finish that one don't forget the palate-cleansing "Eat the Rich." I don't know if you enjoy P.J. O'Rourke's writing, but I love it. It's truly both a funny and enlightening book, where he goes around the world and reports about four case studies, "Good Capitalism," "Bad Capitalism," "Good Socialism" and "Bad Socialism." In his roamings, he explains a bit about the NYSE that I found very interesting, and he also discusses the currently relevant topic of "making too much money."

"Eat the Rich" is as I said, misleadingly titled, but a great book. Another of O'Rourke's books, a compilation of some of his essays written over 25 years(some great, some so-so) carries maybe my all-time favorite book title: "Age and Guile Beat Youth, Innocence, and a Bad Haircut."

jodi,

did you order the Brahms Op.116-119 under the Erato label? If it is it's a second recording of Grimaud playing this repertory. Her first recording is even better. I remember I asked her about her own favorite among all her recordings. She picked out the first recording of Brahms. I heartily agree. Actually that's the first recording I ever had by this promising pianist. What a great surprise to me!

I don't know, Andrew - I ordered whatever came up on amazon.com I'll have to check. So does that mean the Intermezzo #2 that I fell in love with is on the OTHER recording? Jodi

Well, jodi,

to each his/her own. It looks like you will have her 2nd recording which I have also. Try it against the other one that you have and see if you FEEL the difference. Who knows you might like both or even the 2nd one. If in the event you prefer her first and can't get it just let me know.

Thank you, Andrew - it will be interesting to compare them. I adore the way she plays Brahms, I can't wait for the CD. Jodi