If economists are so smart, why aren't they more wealthy? If economics is a science, why did it fail to predict the global crisis of 2008? If it is not a science, what exactly is it? In the modern world, economics has acquired an almost religious aura with its specific dogmas and zealous acolytes. This book demystifies economic ideas by showing how they were born and how they have developed through the ages. Covering more than two thousand years of history, it untangles the links between economics and areas as diverse as theology, physics, the theater, and war. It describes the dangers of economic fundamentalism and offers a fresh perspective on modern debates on politics and economy in a language that is accessible to readers from all backgrounds.