Capital In the Twenty-First Century tops Amazon charts

Professor Thomas Piketty'sCapital In the Twenty-First Century has stormed Amazon, and is currently sitting at the top of the book giant's bestseller list.

We thought we caught a sense of something unique when sniffing the ether for the French academic's new work; now it seems that our initial thoughts were fairly sensible.

The 696 page title, released last month, deals with the central issue of economic inequality. And it is, Ryan Cooper of The Week believes:

...a brilliant, surprisingly readable work that synthesizes a staggering amount of careful research to make the case that income inequality is no accident.

Obviously some interest in economics will be needed to consider purchasing the title, but Capital has so far managed to impress critical reviewers and many readers with its unique and striking approach to capitalism and the inequality around us.

Admittedly, we're not particularly economically minded - indeed we're looking forward to reading the book ourselves! -  so here's Prof. Piketty explaining the title far better than we ever could.

A readable book on economics?

Economy-focused titles might generally be thought quite inaccessible.  But Professor. Thomas Picketty is apparently challenging the norm The French professor's new book, Capital in the Twenty-First Century isn't a short one, but its pages are said hold the burden of an economic revelation.

That is, as Picketty has told The Guardian, "I have proved that under the present circumstances capitalism simply cannot work."

If that seems like a read which might not be up your street, you may yet be convinced. New Yorker contributor Branko Milanovic (formerly a senior economist at the World Bank) believes the title is "one of the watershed books in economic thinking".

Not the most persuasive perhaps, but that the title is currently causing a stir in academic and wider circles, hints at the strength of a book which The Guardian's Andrew Hussey calls "surprisingly readable".

And that's a relief. At 640 pages, and costing £30 in its hardback form, it's probably not a book to tempt everyone. But Prof. Picketty does hope it will reach more than the usual audience for economics-themed titles:

"I did deliberately aim the book at the general reader", Picketty has said. Adding, "although it is obviously a book which can be read by specialists too, I wanted the information here to be made clear to everyone who wants to read it."

Because here's  a man who knows inequality simply won't do.