This was, conceptually, a magnificent book! You need only the most basic background in economics to be able to nicely read it. The authors explain things as they go, and they give references as they go.

While well done, some obvious editing errors crept in. One graph's axis was mislabled. The great dragon in "The Hobbit" is named "Smaug," not "Smaud." Finally, I can't exactly confirm it, but I think the Purchasing Power Parity exchange rate example was incorrect in Chapter 12. I mention these not to damn the book at all, but if these are the errors I caught, I worry what I might not of, and hope these are corrected in a deserved second edition.

The book's last chapter, where the authors present an argument for the relevancy of virtual economies and their study as they relate to national economies, is a tour de force.

Truly a landmark book for anyone interested in World of Warcraft, Second Life, EVE Online, game design, virtual economies, and the future of national economies!