Book excerpt: Intellectual advances in economics often come from debates that have been long forgotten but which offer context, depth and clarity to contemporary study. Essential Readings in Economics makes available in a single volume some of the seminal papers in the areas of microeconomics and macroeconomics for intermediate courses in economic principles. The readings are organised in two groups: Microeconomics and Macroeconomics. Part 1 looks at topics ranging from 'The Theory of Demand' and 'The Firm and Supply' to 'The Economics of Uncertainty and Information'. In Part 2 the wide ranging debates over the last 55 years are illustrated with contributions from Keynes, Friedman, Phillips and other leading Economists. This vigorous and accessible collection of readings is intended to supplement and extend the understanding students could obtain from conventional introductory textbooks.