How an Economy Grows and Why It Crashes

This is one you can read with the kids. Peter Schiff gives us one of the most easy to understand and complete explanations of our economy ever written. His island and fish analogy may be a bit unconventional but it makes a great economics primer.

The Rational Optimist : How Prosperity Evolves

Whether you agree with Matt Ridley's views of society, his marriage of the forces of market systems, technology, and evolution are compelling and thought-provoking. Matt provides numerous examples in this book on economic development. It is a strong synthesis of history and the future. It is definitely worth the read.