Takes readers inside the wily world of late seventeenth- and early eighteenth-century pirates. With swashbuckling irreverence and devilish wit, this book uncovers the hidden economics behind pirates' notorious, entertaining, and sometimes downright shocking behavior.

"A fresh and provocative take on the Golden Age pirates. Leeson writes with clarity and the depth of his research is impressive."--Colin Woodard, author of "The Republic of Pirates"
"Peter Leeson has brought the economists' toolkit to the Spanish Main. Piracy is not just a great topic for Walt Disney movies, but also an important economic phenomenon. Leeson's excellent book helps us to understand who pirates were, and why they chose their infamous occupation. He uses economics to make sense of walking-the-plank and the Jolly Roger. This is a fun book, but also a volume rich with insights and analysis."--Edward Glaeser, Harvard University
"Light of touch and truly eloquent, "The Invisible Hook" is a terrific read on a fascinating topic. This is a beautifully written book."--Geoffrey Brennan, Duke University and University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

"[W]ell-documented and very readable . . . covers pirates from bow to stern. In addition to some descriptions of high seas navigation, maneuvers and stealth that border on high adventure, Leeson supplies plenty of counterintuitive, even surprising, revelations about pirates. . . . And Leeson explains it all with economics. . . . Bottom line: Peter T. Leeson's The Invisible Hook is an insightful hoot, and scores a couple of extra points for originality. Economics-minded readers who enjoy historical adventure or relish over-the-top 'freakonomics' should get a hearty yo-ho-ho out of this book. Not to mention a 360-degree brain twist before diving into that new Michael Crichton novel."