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Lyn's Reviews > Trekonomics: The Economics of Star Trek
Trekonomics: The Economics of Star Trek
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Tea, Earl Grey, hot.
So spoke Sir Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard on many episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation. But economist and consummate Trekkie Manu Saadia explains how getting the Captain his tea was both simpler and more complicated than would be expected.
Exploring how the Star Trek universe existed in a post-scarcity society, where people no longer had to work to survive, Saadia shares his exceptional knowledge of both economic theory and all versions of the Star Trek story, from the Shatner-Nemoy origins, The Next Generation, the films, Voyager and Deep Space Nine.
Most compelling was Star Trek’s introduction of the replicator, a machine that could produce and recycle virtually anything, from meals to simple objects. By transferring matter form one form to another this effectively did away with Malthusian philosophy and crafted a utopian society.
So why work at all? Saadia gets into that and a lot more in this fun but sometimes tedious discourse. He sometimes got off track and strayed into the economy 101 classroom, but always returned to his theme of examining economics through the lens of the cool SF show.
Makes me want to go back and watch all the episodes.
So spoke Sir Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard on many episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation. But economist and consummate Trekkie Manu Saadia explains how getting the Captain his tea was both simpler and more complicated than would be expected.
Exploring how the Star Trek universe existed in a post-scarcity society, where people no longer had to work to survive, Saadia shares his exceptional knowledge of both economic theory and all versions of the Star Trek story, from the Shatner-Nemoy origins, The Next Generation, the films, Voyager and Deep Space Nine.
Most compelling was Star Trek’s introduction of the replicator, a machine that could produce and recycle virtually anything, from meals to simple objects. By transferring matter form one form to another this effectively did away with Malthusian philosophy and crafted a utopian society.
So why work at all? Saadia gets into that and a lot more in this fun but sometimes tedious discourse. He sometimes got off track and strayed into the economy 101 classroom, but always returned to his theme of examining economics through the lens of the cool SF show.
Makes me want to go back and watch all the episodes.
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Reading Progress
May 20, 2018
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Started Reading
May 20, 2018
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May 31, 2018
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Finished Reading
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Derek
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May 31, 2018 07:42AM
Saadia? That sounds like a Vulcan name. I guess they'd go for a nice non-emotional field like economics...
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I remember watching an episode where they explained why people work in this utopian society. It may have even been Picard himself.
I think he quoted that statement from Picard.
Sounds like an interesting book. I wonder if he mentioned any of the Ferengi's Rules of Aquisition - which I used to think were hilarious parodies until recent events.http://memory-beta.wikia.com/wiki/Fer...
My kid is doing just that - rewatching all episodes from the beginning. I watch along quite often - but my endurance is not like hers. One needs breaks from Shattner and the plotholes.
Ha! Yeah I started but may not be a dedicated project from beginning to end
Earl Grey? Quite right. But it must be Twinings.
Oh, no, Cecily. That's so ordinary. I generally drink Ahmad.
I've not noticed that, and Twinings doesn't taste as good as it used to (though still better than the main alternatives). Perhaps it's time to shop around.
Was in the Great Western Rail 1st class passenger lounge at Paddington this morning. They serve Tregothnan (grown in Cornwall) and the Earl Grey was not bad for a tea bag.
