The foundation for all modern economic thought and political economy, The Wealth of Nations is the magnum opus of Scottish economist Adam Smith, who introduces the world to the very idea of economics and capitalism in the modern sense of the words. Smith details his argument in five books:
Book I. Of the Causes of Improvement in the Productive Power of Labour
Book II. Of the Nature, Accumulation, and Employment of Stock Introduction
Book III. Of the Different Progress of Opulence in Different Nations
Book IV. Of Systems of Political Economy
Book V. Of the Revenue of the Sovereign or Commonwealth
Taken together, these books form a giant leap forward in the field of economics. A product of the "Age of Enlightenment," The Wealth of Nations is a must for all who wish to gain a better understanding of the principles upon which all modern capitalistic economies have been founded and the process of wealth creation that is engendered by those principles.
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"The book is interesting and insightful. I am glad I listened, but in many ways it was also torture. It is a very long book. And despite all of the assurances regarding what a dynamic writer Smith is, it is still dry. After listening however, I would like a print copy on my shelf for reference purposes.After hearing Smith both praised and condemned, quoted and misquoted many times, I found many things said about the book and Adam Smith to be somewhat inaccurate. There is nothing like the impression that you gain when you engage with a classic yourself and the realization that more could be learned by returning to the text and pondering its ideas. "
— Plebian (4 out of 5 stars)
Adam Smith's enormous authority resides, in the end, in the same property that we discover in Marx: not in any ideology, but in an effort to see to the bottom of things.
— Robert L. Heilbroner" Another one of the most difficult reading experiences I have tackled. Adam Smith provides us with a great introduction into the history of modern economics and the political economy. "
— Aaron, 2/18/2014" This book is easier to read than to listen to, but I appreciated the opportunity to reinforce some of Smith's major points by listening to this edition during my commute. "
— Jonathan, 2/7/2014" Classic beginner text for all would-be economists. Very simple to understand. "
— Allie, 2/1/2014" I think Adam Smith is lucky to have been "the first" to write a book on economics such as this. I remember thinking how simple and obvious the work is. Easy to say from inside a culture based around this book i guess. Really not all that great, absurdly heralded as a great work in economics for seemingly political reasons. Near the top of my burn pile. "
— Nate, 1/26/2014" I read only the last chapter: "Public Debts" for school. It really helped me understand why debt is so harmful to both governments and individuals and how nations get in the huge amounts of un-payable debts they are in now. It was rather depressing, I admit, but very informative. It makes me trust government even less than I did before! : ) It also made me realize that money I spend or pay tax with just goes in an endless circle of chaotic meaninglessness. (Still, as Christians we are told by Jesus to "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's.) Only money I give back to God's kingdom purposes really makes an difference in the context of eternity. "
— Victoria, 1/12/2014" It was really interesting to compare how corporations ran everything then and how corporations are running most things today. It was also interesting to see the ways people manipulate the market. Not much has changed. "
— Mulhollandj, 1/9/2014" This is quite possibly the most boring book I have ever read. "
— Daniel, 1/4/2014" Not the easiest book to read with the subject matter and old English. None the less, after reading this book, one should begin to wrap their head around free market capitalism. The chapters on money supply and banking are incredibly pertinent for today's situation. "
— David, 11/27/2013" Dry to read, but really genius. I'm sure lots of it went over my head, but I appreciated the rest. "
— Amy, 11/23/2013" It's a slog, but everyone should read this in college... or as an independent, educated citizen. "
— J., 11/10/2013" This book is long but everyone should try to read this book before they die. "
— Hari, 10/19/2013" Not a light or easy read by any means. Great content though. "
— Melissa, 10/4/2013" An economics classic - it amazed me to see fundamentally sound, lasting, and relevant Adam Smith's theories are. "
— William, 9/29/2013" Nyerah baca book 5. Lanjut lagi nanti. "
— Ahmad, 9/22/2013" A must for anyone with a professed interest in Capitalism. "
— Geoff, 9/11/2013" what's there to say? Any man who calls himself a businessman or an economist should read this. "
— Ming, 6/25/2013" As an Economics student, I felt obliged to read this economic masterpiece (in my spare time). The book is too long and not all the chapters are worth reading. Honestly, I skimmed most chapters and only focused on the ones deemed important in grasping his ideas. "
— Abdul, 6/12/2013" Adam Smith's classical tect on international economy. Makes economic systems easier to comprehend "
— Fredrick, 6/10/2013" Adam Smith may have been an economics genius, but he cannot write worth a damn. This book droned on and on and on...I had to force myself to keep reading. "
— Eric, 4/1/2013" Quoting Adam Smith to shoot down Republican policy proposals is one of my favorite things. "You want an ownership society? You must be anti-capitalist then." "
— Joe, 3/31/2013" one of my favorites, a real insight of the economic life, and a crystal vision "
— Bahaa, 1/15/2013" I'm glad I read this book once, and I think it's important for educated people to read, since it is the framework that most macroeconomics are based on, but I wouldn't read it again. "
— Rob, 12/8/2012" Very long and tedious at parts, but there are nuggets that make it worth the read. "
— Brendan, 11/29/2012George H. Smith is an author, editor, educator, and speaker. His first book was the very popular Atheism: The Case against God. Smith began teaching in the 1970s and for nearly twenty years spent his summers instructing university students in political philosophy and American political and intellectual history at seminars sponsored by the Cato Institute and the Institute for Humane Studies. His many articles and book reviews have appeared in a wide range of publications, including Reason, the New York Times, and the Journal of Libertarian Studies.
Gildart Jackson’s acting credits span the stage and screen. He is most often recognized for his roles as Gideon on Charmed and Simon Prentiss on General Hospital. He has also starred in numerous television shows, including CSI and Vegas, and he played the lead in the highly acclaimed independent feature film You, directed by his wife, Melora Hardin.