Rhetoric of Economics

Deirdre N. McCloskey is the UIC Distinguished Professor of Economics, History, English, and Communication at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

“The most thoughtful book on economics in years.”—Philadelphia Enquirer“McCloskey takes aim at the ‘dismal science’s’ scientific pretensions in this pathfinding, elegantly written, and intellectually razor-sharp book.”—Washington Post“McCloskey must be credited with the singular achievement of introducing the major philosophers of the twentieth century into a discussion of the methodology of economics.”—Times Literary Supplement“McCloskey’s target is the pretentious scientism in which economists couch their mutual persuasions—a scientism that lingers on as the near-official language of economics discourse long after its inadequacies have been recognized by philosophers and scientists.”—New York Review of Books“The importance of McCloskey’s work cannot be overstated.”—Quarterly Journal of Speech