Fiction: The Economics of Ego Surplus by Paul McDonnold

The Economics of Ego Surplus, by Paul McDonnold, is a suspenseful story about Kyle Linwood, an economics instructor at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Kyle is pulled in to help with an investigation by the U.S. government of a possible financial terrorist attack on the American economy. The investigation leads him to some shady places in Dubai where he learns the truth and leaves a changed man.



What I like best about this book is that it used simple language, which allowed the two tracts of thought happening in the book (lessons on economy and a terrorist thriller) to be told more easily. The author was able to incorporate the financial lessons by weaving them in with anecdotes and historical information. The way it was done reminded me of the TV show "Num3ers" in that the main character would stop and explain his mathematical thinking with real life examples. Though this method did distract from the main story a little, I don't see a better way for the author to have achieved a good balance. If these explanations were not there, the reader would be left with a much shallower understanding of the overall story.

The book had good imagery, and the main character was likable. There could have been a bit more development on some of the characters, but overall the story was well written.

On a scale of 1-4, I give this book a 3. It was a well written piece but not quite as suspenseful as I'd hoped it to be.

This book was published by Starving Analyst Press.
ISBN: 978-0-9829038-0-3