Tyler Cowen is an economist, and a well-known one at that. His hefty list of accomplishments might even evoke the word genius: PhD from Harvard, over a dozen books on a variety of economic topics, and an incredible number of fascinating papers in his field. If that weren't work enough, Cowen also writes a food blog. Tyler Cowen's Ethnic Dining Guide is updated frequently, and covers the dining scene in the D.C. area. He has an eye for a good restaurant and a good deal, and much experience tasting the local fare.

These dining recommendations and insights are Cowen's food specialty, and ostensibly the focus of his new book, An Economist Gets Lunch: New Rules for Everyday Foodies. Dining and cooking should probably have been this book's sole focus. Chapters like "Barbecue: The Greatest Slow Food of All"; "The Finding Great Food Anywhere Encyclopedia"; and "The Stuff and Values of Cooking at Home" provide a perspective to challenge the "foodie" who believes high quality inherently means high price. Cowen's economics background drives him to find the best deal and figure out exactly why good restaurants succeed. This aspect of the book is amusing, lighthearted, and helpful.