Rating: 
Summary: Only for basic economics
Review: This book is what I call "literary economics"; there is very little mathematical explination, which is good for students in the usual 100/200 level economics courses, but completely useless afterwords. I was assigned to read this in my junior year, and after the first ten chapters, reverted to another book, called 'MicrcoEconomics with Calculus'. I do not believe that the professors who recommend this book for juniors (or God forbid, seniors) have actually looked in it, for the math proofs are few and far between, and fairly simple. However, for Freshman/Sophomores, I recommend it; it is a good base of theory, from which you can (if you wish) continue later on with math proofs, which are vital for higher level economics.If you are in an advanced course and need help with math, I cannot recommend Alpha Chiang's 'Fundamental Methods of Mathematical Eocnomics' high enough. This book was a God-send to a economics student who needed to bring his understanding up quickly. Thank you, Alpha. -student in Scotland
Rating:
Summary: Only for basic economics
Review: This book is what I call "literary economics"; there is very little mathematical explination, which is good for students in the usual 100/200 level economics courses, but completely useless afterwords. I was assigned to read this in my junior year, and after the first ten chapters, reverted to another book, called 'MicrcoEconomics with Calculus'. I do not believe that the professors who recommend this book for juniors (or God forbid, seniors) have actually looked in it, for the math proofs are few and far between, and fairly simple. However, for Freshman/Sophomores, I recommend it; it is a good base of theory, from which you can (if you wish) continue later on with math proofs, which are vital for higher level economics. If you are in an advanced course and need help with math, I cannot recommend Alpha Chiang's 'Fundamental Methods of Mathematical Eocnomics' high enough. This book was a God-send to a economics student who needed to bring his understanding up quickly. Thank you, Alpha. -student in Scotland
Rating: 
Summary: Good, but not excellent
Review: This covers most aspects of microeconomics, but with a drawback of lacking details. I think the use of calculus should be incorporated in the main text, not just at the back of the chapters, and i need to refer to his graduate text Microeconomics Analysis for advanced topics. The writer has done an excellent job in explaining economic concepts. Clear, simple. Another good microeconomics text may be price theory and application by Hirshleifer. Also a very good book, but different focus.
Rating:
Summary: dull
Review: this is one of the dullest books I've read. the concepts are complicated and the workbook is full of weird and awkward examples. This author lacks imagination.
Rating:
Summary: More math please!
Review: This really is an excellent introduction to microeconomics, but its weakness is that it tries to be all things to all people. The author appears to be trying very hard not to scare away potential readers who might be intimidated by calculus. This is a shame, since the level required is not very difficult. All that is really needed is a quick review of the derivitative, and the chain rule in particular. Calculus is essential for any further study of economics, so relegating it to the back of chapters does not do students any service. Having said all that, the concepts are very clearly and thoroughly expained. I just wish the math were more 'up front.'
Rating: 
Summary: a great introduction into microeconomics
Review: Varian has done a great job. He got the balance between the math necessary for serious microeconomics, and the examples and jokes necessary to keep the students reading. Using the dual approach (household and producer behaviour), he introduces the reader into microeconomics at a level which makes it possible to move on to more esoteric books like his own 'Microeconomic Analysis', or 'Microeconomic Theory' by Mas-Colell, Whinston, Green. He manages to cover much more than Mankiw can, which is good and necessary to build a solid basis. Yet the book is accessible to anyone familiar with high school math (differentiation and optimization), and requires no economic prerequisites. He also covers several more advanced topics on a stand-alone basis (like economics of information, or game theory) which on the one hand is very useful, as it gives the reader an idea as to where one can head to, but on the other hand is not satisfying as these chapters are necessarily rather superficial. Apart from that, the book is great to built a rigorous basis for household and producer behaviour, and makes it rather easy to go on to much more advanced literature. The math is hidden in the appendices, so it is necessary for a serious understanding to cover these as well, but I don't see any problem with that. This book is as excellent as an introductory micro book can ever be.
Rating:
Summary: The best intermediate micro textbook
Review: Varian's intermediate micro book is the best. He gets straight to the point. He doesn't go off on confusing tangents. Also, this book doesn't have the annoying extra bits in the margins that most textbooks have. I feel sorry for undergrads whose courses don't use this book. It's worth the high price.
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