The Essential Milton Friedman is a new book about one of the most influential economists of the 20th century. It is an easily accessible overview of Friedman’s extraordinary contributions to economic theory, measurement and policy.

Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1912, Friedman’s career began in earnest at the University of Chicago where he did most of his pioneering academic work. His 1962 bestseller Capitalism and Freedom (alongside his regular column in Newsweek magazine) made him a household name, and he won the Nobel Prize for economics in 1976. He died in 2006 at the age of 94. At the time of his death, he was still researching and writing—the Wall Street Journal published his final column the day after he died.

In the United States, Friedman helped broaden educational choice, change the regulatory climate and end military conscription. Worldwide, most central banks now follow policies grounded in Friedman’s insights and recommendations, which have helped make the world richer and people more prosperous.

Written by Steven Landsburg, professor of economics at the University of Rochester, The Essential Milton Friedman also includes a new video series exploring Friedman’s key insights.