The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and MoneyThe General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money
Score Classic
What it's about
Written in the depths of the Great Depression, John Maynard Keynes's book argued that economies don't automatically recover, and that unemployment can persist for years unless governments spend to boost demand. It overturned classical economics and shaped economic policy for decades.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Modern Library's list of the 100 best nonfiction books. It's one of the most influential economics books ever written.
You'll love it if you liked
Capital in the Twenty-First Century
The Affluent Society
1929Good to know
It's very technical.
By the numbers
- Readers17 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics83 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller5 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #64 of the 85 self-help and business books we rank
- #92 of the 119 science and ideas books we rank
- #496 of the 762 classics we rank
- #1724 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Practical, Thought-provoking
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Science and ideas booksTop 25 · 119 ranked
Self-help and business booksTop 25 · 85 ranked
Classic booksTop 25 · 762 ranked
Books of the 1930sTop 25 · 41 ranked
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Mysteries and thrillersTop 25 · 555 ranked
Literary novelsTop 25 · 309 ranked
Memoirs and biographiesTop 25 · 290 rankedQuick answers
Is The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Modern Library's list of the 100 best nonfiction books. It ranks #1,724 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 66.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money about?
Written in the depths of the Great Depression, John Maynard Keynes's book argued that economies don't automatically recover, and that unemployment can persist for years unless governments spend to boost demand. It overturned classical economics and shaped economic policy for decades.
How long does it take to read The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money?
About 10 hours (403 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money?
If you liked it, try Capital in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Piketty, The Affluent Society by John Kenneth Galbraith or 1929 by Andrew Ross Sorkin.