7/27/2019 Book Review the Wealth of Nation

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Book Review:

The Wealth of Nations

by Adam Smith"Adam Smith's enormous authority resides, in the end, in the same property thatwe discover in Marx: not in any ideology, but in an effort to see to the bottom of

things."--Robert L. Heilbroner

it is symbolic that Adam Smiths masterpiece of economic analysis, The Wealthof Nations , was first published in 1776, the same year as the Declaration of

Independence.

In his book, Smith fervently extolled the simple yet enlightened notion that

individuals are fully capable of setting and regulating prices for their owngoods and services. He argued passionately in favor of free trade, yet stood upfor the little guy.

The Wealth of Nations provided the first--and still the most eloquent--

integrated description of the workings of a market economy.

The result of Smiths efforts is a witty, highly readable work of genius filled

with prescient theories that form the basis of a thriving capitalist system. This

unabridged edition offers the modern reader a fresh look at a timeless andseminal work that revolutionized the way governments and individuals view

7/27/2019 Book Review the Wealth of Nation

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the creation and dispersion of wealth--and that continues to influence our

economy right up to the present day. It is symbolic that Adam Smiths masterpiece of economic analysis, The Wealth

of Nations , was first published in 1776, the same year as the Declaration of

Independence.

In his book, Smith fervently extolled the simple yet enlightened notion that

individuals are fully capable of setting and regulating prices for their own

goods and services. He argued passionately in favor of free trade, yet stood up

for the little guy. The Wealth of Nations provided the first--and still the most

eloquent--integrated description of the workings of a market economy.

The result of Smiths efforts is a witty, highly readable work of genius filled

With prescient theories that form the basis of a thriving capitalist system. This

unabridged edition offers the modern reader a fresh look at a timeless and

seminal work that revolutionized the way governments and individuals view

the creation and dispersion of wealth--and that continues to influence our

economy right up to the present day.

If you're wondering which Wealth of Nations to purchase, get the Bantam

paperback. This is Smith's complete and unabridged final version of the Wealth

of Nations. It provides footnotes on Smith's wording, the historical context,

and the differences between Smith's 5th edition and previous editions. In

addition, the margin of the pages contains useful notes which summarize

Smith's writing. For the price, this is clearly the superior choice.

Now, if you're wondering whether you should undertake such an endeavour,

let me just say that Adam Smith was a professor of rhetoric. He explains

everything so precisely, yet so comprehensible. Smith's writing is by no means

difficult; I actually found it a surprisingly easy read given its antique nature.

Once you get through the first chapter, you get quite used to Smith's writing

style. If you put adequate time and energy into it, it's not hard at all.