Introduction: In praise of dead economists / Michael Lewis -- Adam Smith (1723-1790): an introduction to his life and work / Michael Lewis -- An inquiry into the nature and causes of the wealth of nations / Adam Smith -- Thomas Robert Malthus (1766-1834): an introduction to his life and work / Michael Lewis -- An essay on the principle of population / Thomas Robert Malthus -- David Ricardo (1772-1823): an introduction to his life and work / Michael Lewis -- Principles of political economy and taxation / David Ricardo -- Charles Mackay (1814-1889): an introduction to his life and work / Michael Lewis -- Selections from Memoirs of extraordinary popular delusions and the madness of crowds / Charles Mackay -- Thorstein Veblen (1857-1929): an introduction to his life and work / Michael Lewis -- The theory of the leisure class: an economic study of institutions / Thorstein Veblen -- John Maynard Keynes (1883-1946): an introduction to his life and work / Michael Lewis -- The general theory of employment, interest and money / John Maynard Keynes