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