"Three Books ..." is a series in which we invite writers to recommend three great reads on a single theme.

I never set out to become a financial journalist. Even if I'd had it in mind, I wouldn't have started on the eve of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.

But here I am, watching the stock market swooning around below 9000 and waiting for McCain and Obama to debate tonight on the miserable economy.

Meanwhile, I get to wrestle with questions like this one from my friend Jack. He says, "Hey, I've listened to your shows, but I still don't get it. Can you tell me exactly what a derivative is?" I can, mostly, but only because I've been slogging through a book by economist Satyajit Das.

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