* The Undercover Economist takes on the world - the new book from global bestseller Tim Harford

'A highly readable argument . . . Very impressive' Nassim N. Taleb, author of The Black Swan

When faced with complex problems we have become accustomed to looking to our leaders for grand visions that blaze a path to success. But in this ground-breaking book, Tim Harford shows us that in fact, the more we fail, the more likely we are to succeed.

'Sometimes a writer comes up with such a compelling idea, you will him to succeed page after page . . . He shows that the key to success is constant experimentation . . . Adapt is an excellent book' John Arlidge, Sunday Times

'Tim Harford's terrific new book urges us to understand and profit from our muddling . . . Harford is a gifted writer whose prose courses swiftly and pleasurably. He has assembled a powerful combination of anecdotes and data to make a serious point: companies, governments and people must recognise the limits of their wisdom and embrace the muddling of mankind' Edward Glaeser, FT

'If you think economics is boring, or beyond you, you haven't read Tim Harford . . . He splashes his text with memorable nuggets' David Phelan, Time Out

[jpegs of Dear Undercover Economist, Dear Economist, The Logic of Life]

Everything we know about solving the world's problems is wrong.

Out: Plans, experts and above all, leaders.

In: Adapting - improvise rather than plan; fail, learn, and try again

In this groundbreaking new book, Tim Harford shows how the world's most complex and important problems - including terrorism, climate change, poverty, innovation, and the financial crisis - can only be solved from the bottom up by rapid experimenting and adapting.

From a spaceport in the Mojave Desert to the street battles of Iraq, from a blazing offshore drilling rig to everyday decisions in our business and personal lives, this is a handbook for surviving - and prospering - in our complex and ever-shifting world.