Greg MankiwModify

The Invite

2026-06-24 05:52:07

Over the past week, I have been watching some films at the Nantucket Film Festival. The best I saw was The Invite, a dramedy about a couple (played by Seth Rogen and Olivia Wilde) in a dysfunctional marriage who invite their neighbors (Ed Norton and Penelope Cruz) over for dinner. It is very funny and very poignant, often at the same time.

It will be out in theaters in the next few weeks. 

What I've been reading

2026-06-21 23:24:19

If you want to understand wealth in America, a good place to start is The Everywhere Millionaire by Owen Zidar and Eric Zwick. It offers a fact-filled analysis of the role of pass-through businesses, where many

wealthy people make their millions. A great balance of illustrative anecdotes and comprehensive data. My only objection is when the authors depart from their mostly positive analysis and insert their normative judgments. (The call in the epilogue for national health insurance and a higher minimum wage, whether you agree or not, comes off like a non sequitur--as if the authors had suddenly admonished the reader to eat more vegetables.) But overall, the book is excellent. 

Thank you to Eric for getting me a pre-publication copy. The book comes out in September. Book review editors: Take note.

What I've been reading

2026-05-31 16:23:18

I am in the middle of How to Win a Trade War by Soumaya Keynes and Chad Bown. It is always smart, sometimes irreverant, and timely. I plan to use it as one of the readings for my Harvard freshman seminar in the fall. It should generate a great class discussion.

What I've been reading

2026-05-24 23:38:34

I am a bit late to this party, but I finally got around to reading Dan Wang's Breakneck. It is a thoughtful and very readable book that taught me a lot about the Chinese economy and political system. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the topic.

What I've been reading

2026-04-20 23:01:00

I just finished the new book by my ertswhile colleague Al Roth. Highly recommended! The subtitle is a good summary.

My Broadway Debut

2026-04-15 22:47:00

Last week, I saw the play Every Billiant Thing, which was absolutely fantastic. As this NY Times article describes, audience participation is central. In our performance, I was picked to play the father. Here I am with the star, Daniel Radcliffe, backstage after the play, along with my wife and younger son.