Robert L. Heilbroner

Robert L. Heilbroner was an American economist and historian of economic thought, best known for his book "The Worldly Philosophers." Published in 1953, it became the second-best-selling economics text ever, with nearly four million copies sold.

Heilbroner viewed himself as a social theorist and "worldly philosopher," integrating history, economics, and philosophy in his work.

He was elected Vice President of the American Economic Association in 1972 and developed a system for classifying economies.

Heilbroner's final edition of "The Worldly Philosophers" included a critical view of economics' current state and a vision for incorporating social aspects of capitalism into economic thought.