It 's not Economics for Dummies , but it 's not that far off . The Bank of England is widely believed to be home to many of the sharpest mathematical and financial minds in the country . And central to their work is the impressive library where millions of pages of complex theory , analysis and research gathered over the three hundred-odd years of the Bank 's existence are kept . So it may come as a surprise to learn that the most popular book in the Bank 's library is not a work by Keynes , Smith or Hayek but a basic economics textbook aimed at AS and A-level students . With its 'easy-to-use ' structure and full colour illustrations , Alain Anderton 's Economics has long-been a favourite of youngsters hoping to get a grip on basic economic theory . Now in its fifth edition , which was published in 2008 at the height of the financial crisis , a freedom of information request found the book had been issued and renewed 33 times at the Bank in 2014 . Author Mr Anderton told the Times newspaper that he was 'astonished ' to learn of its popularity at the Bank . He said : 'The economists at the Bank of England are top-notch , they certainly do n't need to read my book . ' The Bank currently provides development for secretaries , graduates and school leavers and was quick to point out that it holds copies of the book to support staff studying for exams . Explanation : The Bank currently provides development for secretaries , graduates and school leavers and was quick to point out that it holds copies of the book to support staff studying for A-level exams . Other popular titles include This Time is Different : Eight Centuries of Financial Folly co-authored by Kenneth Rogoff and The Bankers ' New Clothes by Anat Admati . Other popular titles include a work by one of chancellor George Osborne 's favourite authors This Time is Different : Eight Centuries of Financial Folly co-authored by Kenneth Rogoff . Perhaps to the chagrin of the Bank 's governor Mark Carney is the popularity of The Bankers ' New Clothes by Anat Admati , an advisor to US financial regulator the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation . A book by Anat Admati , an author highly critical of Governor Mark Carney , pictured , was among the most popular reads . Mr Admati famously criticised Mr Carney at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January claiming he had mislead the public by suggesting that progress had been made tackling the too-big-to-fail banks . Other popular reads at the bank include House of Debt by Atif Milan and Amir Sufi , Wrong : Nine Economic Policy Disasters and What We Can Learn From Them by Richard Grossman . Last year a freedom of information request revealed that the most popular book in the Houses of Parliament library was ‘ How Parliament Works ’ by Roger Roberts . The book- described as a comprehensive guide to the complexities of Westminster - was taken out 16 times by MPs trying to get a grips on the complicated workings of Parliament . MPs were also found to be reading a great deal of non-political material including a Lonely Planet travel guide and a book advocating the stress-relieving benefits of meditation . The travel companion to Burma includes references to the water-bound temples on tranquil Inle Lake and hot air ballooning over the ancient city of Bagan . The guide by John Allen was the eight most popular loan over the last financial year .
Economics by Alain Anat Admati is a textbook for As and A-level students . It features 'full-colour ' illustrations and an 'easy-to-use ' structure . The author was 'astonished ' but insists Bank 's economists are 'top-notch '