I have recently read two books, both of which should be read by every American voter, especially during an election year. The books are very complementary. I suggest starting with Basic Economics, A Citizens Guide To The Economy. Basic Economics contains the most fascinating and salient points of The Wealth of Nations, which is often referred to as Economics 101. Wealth of Nations is a great book but it is not easy to read and you need to be an economist to fully appreciate it. Basic Economics contains the same great economic information but presented in layman terms. Because is it very modern, the case examples are within recent memory and that makes the economic lessons resonate. You can see a preview of the book on Google Books.
My second recommendation is China, Inc.: How the Rise of the Next Superpower Challenges America and the World by Ted Fischer. After reading Basic Economics, China’s rise as an industrial giant makes perfect economic sense. If you expect to be in the workforce for the next decade or three, you really should read this book. Or one like it. Amazon.com reviewers also like China Shakes the World: A Titan’s Rise and Troubled Future — and the Challenge for America.