Ludwig von Mises was one of the greatest economists and political scientists of the 20th century, and at a time of economic crisis, this monograph makes it clear that Mises' work is highly relevant today. He revolutionized the understanding of money, inflation, and recessions; comprehensively refuted the arguments for socialism; and provided a devastating critique of the methodologies of mainstream economics. His contributions to the Austrian School laid the intellectual groundwork for thinkers such as F. A. Hayek, Murray Rothbard, and Israel Kirzner. In this book, Eamonn Butler provides a comprehensive yet accessible overview of Mises' outstanding achievements. While mainstream economics has been found wanting, the latest recession appears to have been entirely consistent with his analysis. The poor performance of state health and education services can be explained by Mises' Austrian theories. Nevertheless, Mises remains neglected by the economics profession, policymakers, and academics. This readable primer explains why his work should be at the core of economic thinking.