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An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations
No book has done more to instruct, enlighten, and inform conservatives about economics than Adam Smith's undisputed classic.
352 pages, Paperback
Published November 15, 1993
About the author
Adam Smith
1,436 books2,367 followersFor other authors of this name, see Adam Smith.
Adam Smith FRSA FRS FRSE was a Scottish philosopher and economist who was a pioneer in thinking on political economy and a key figure during the Scottish Enlightenment. He wrote two classic works, The Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759) and An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations (1776). The latter, often abbreviated as The Wealth of Nations , is considered his magnum opus and the first modern work that treats economics as a comprehensive system and as an academic discipline.
Authorities recorded his baptism on 16 June 1723 at Kirkcaldy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Smith
Adam Smith FRSA FRS FRSE was a Scottish philosopher and economist who was a pioneer in thinking on political economy and a key figure during the Scottish Enlightenment. He wrote two classic works, The Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759) and An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations (1776). The latter, often abbreviated as The Wealth of Nations , is considered his magnum opus and the first modern work that treats economics as a comprehensive system and as an academic discipline.
Authorities recorded his baptism on 16 June 1723 at Kirkcaldy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Smith
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 16, 2010
Smith's magnum opus is an exceedingly important, fairly ponderous work. A must-read for anyone who wants to understand theories of capitalism or to be an informed critic of its present-day abuses, largely committed by people who claim to be capitalism's champions. One gets the feeling that most of the people who cite Smith to support their beliefs ahve never actually read Smith.
And, really, who would, unless they were assigned it or felt a burning need to understand economic ideas.
This abridged edition of Smith's work, edited by Laurence Dickey, is a worthy option for those of us who want knowledge, but aren't up to reading all of Smith. A lot of the original work is taken up discussing issues that had more currency in the 18th century (e.g., corn prices and arguments against mercantilism).
Dickey's contribution is to pick out Smith's underlying ideas. Surprisingly, they are more readable than I remember from my university days. Dickey also provides a descriptive essay of how Smith constructed his argument, as well as some really informative notes of his (Dickey's) own.
And, really, who would, unless they were assigned it or felt a burning need to understand economic ideas.
This abridged edition of Smith's work, edited by Laurence Dickey, is a worthy option for those of us who want knowledge, but aren't up to reading all of Smith. A lot of the original work is taken up discussing issues that had more currency in the 18th century (e.g., corn prices and arguments against mercantilism).
Dickey's contribution is to pick out Smith's underlying ideas. Surprisingly, they are more readable than I remember from my university days. Dickey also provides a descriptive essay of how Smith constructed his argument, as well as some really informative notes of his (Dickey's) own.
Read
November 30, 2008Helped me understand the fundamental framework for the ecomonic systems that are in place today (and breaking down). Looked for parallels in what needs to happen today to correct current economic woes. What is the new economy? Who are the new Adam Smith's?
March 25, 2024
I probably need to come back and reread this more thoroughly.
October 9, 2023
Economics, history, and life are not individual subjects.
All my life I’ve been bombarded with one economist versus another. Each time Adam Smith always showed up. So, after hearing snippets of his book and his ideas over and over and over again I thought “Ah, I know Adam Smith.”
Well, I might’ve been a tad premature in thinking that I knew Adam Smith. As you will too when you read this book, “An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.”
I figured that it was finally time to read Adam Smith for myself instead of taking snippets out of context.
At first, I began to think that I had made a big mistake. If you read the Constitution of the United States, then you would notice that you are always told the impressive parts as separate statements, and they leave out all the boring details and sometimes important minutia. Well, it looks like they did the same thing to poor Adam.
On the surface, as you start reading this book you start to wonder what makes Adam Smith so important, as it seems so primitive. Reading on, you realize that he came from an era that was way before the information age. His samples seem primitive and simple. He repeats and repeats and repeats himself. You start to wonder if this is the same Adam Smith that you studied in school.
You will want to hang in there though as soon you will realize that Adam Smith had to start with the fundamentals of history and primitive economics. After pages of history, he will finally get to his time.
Yes, this book is ancient, and the examples are not usually relevant today. However just as you decide that you made a horrible mistake in reading “An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations,” small jewels of insight into not only economics, and history but life itself reveal themselves in his everyday descriptions and observations.
I had to buy a book on the English poor laws as the aforementioned as everybody knew about them. Many other subjects and reference books all of a sudden appeared on my desk as I realized that with all the depth of Adam Smith, this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Yes, sometimes Smith can get boring and very redundant. However, whatever you do, do not skip any pages just as soon as you know what is going to say he comes up with another interesting angle.
He not only covers economics from his version of a practical view, but soon he covers the history of education and many other subjects besides commerce. I found that he covers the effect of religions on people and people on religions. He covers schools and how they got started and their potential for modifying society. He covers the economics of war and other major world-changing phenomena.
Just as you think he is talking about his world and his time. You pick up a newspaper and see the very same type of events and economic arguments.
For me of all things I was able to get a new view of the national debt and it changed my view from a necessary evil to an excellent opportunity.
You too will find new insights or views on economics that you were already sure you had under your belt.
So, enjoy reading Adam Smith not as a necessity but for the fun of getting new views directly from the author.
All my life I’ve been bombarded with one economist versus another. Each time Adam Smith always showed up. So, after hearing snippets of his book and his ideas over and over and over again I thought “Ah, I know Adam Smith.”
Well, I might’ve been a tad premature in thinking that I knew Adam Smith. As you will too when you read this book, “An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.”
I figured that it was finally time to read Adam Smith for myself instead of taking snippets out of context.
At first, I began to think that I had made a big mistake. If you read the Constitution of the United States, then you would notice that you are always told the impressive parts as separate statements, and they leave out all the boring details and sometimes important minutia. Well, it looks like they did the same thing to poor Adam.
On the surface, as you start reading this book you start to wonder what makes Adam Smith so important, as it seems so primitive. Reading on, you realize that he came from an era that was way before the information age. His samples seem primitive and simple. He repeats and repeats and repeats himself. You start to wonder if this is the same Adam Smith that you studied in school.
You will want to hang in there though as soon you will realize that Adam Smith had to start with the fundamentals of history and primitive economics. After pages of history, he will finally get to his time.
Yes, this book is ancient, and the examples are not usually relevant today. However just as you decide that you made a horrible mistake in reading “An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations,” small jewels of insight into not only economics, and history but life itself reveal themselves in his everyday descriptions and observations.
I had to buy a book on the English poor laws as the aforementioned as everybody knew about them. Many other subjects and reference books all of a sudden appeared on my desk as I realized that with all the depth of Adam Smith, this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Yes, sometimes Smith can get boring and very redundant. However, whatever you do, do not skip any pages just as soon as you know what is going to say he comes up with another interesting angle.
He not only covers economics from his version of a practical view, but soon he covers the history of education and many other subjects besides commerce. I found that he covers the effect of religions on people and people on religions. He covers schools and how they got started and their potential for modifying society. He covers the economics of war and other major world-changing phenomena.
Just as you think he is talking about his world and his time. You pick up a newspaper and see the very same type of events and economic arguments.
For me of all things I was able to get a new view of the national debt and it changed my view from a necessary evil to an excellent opportunity.
You too will find new insights or views on economics that you were already sure you had under your belt.
So, enjoy reading Adam Smith not as a necessity but for the fun of getting new views directly from the author.
February 9, 2017
Great foundational book for an economist. I can see where many of his ideas flourished into current theories and practices. I personally enjoyed his advocating for agriculture as the basis of an economy.
Read
November 18, 2008Oft quoted seldom read.
January 5, 2009
Not what you would normally call a "pleasure read," which is what I base my stars off of. In terms of economic benefit, 5 stars; literary merit gets the 3.
August 10, 2020
one of the most important economic books ever written, and, yes, it's often quite dull. but it's one of the most important economic books ever written!
Marx up next :)
Marx up next :)
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews