The Wealth of Nations (Part 1 of 2) (Library Edition) [Audiobook, Unabridged] [Audio Cassette]

Adam Smith (Author), Michael Edwards (Reader)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1997

[This is Part 1 of a 2-part Audiobook CASSETTE Library Edition in vinyl case.]

First published in 1776, this work is the classic statement of economic liberalism or the policy of laissez-faire. Several fundamental principles or ''axioms'' were introduced in this work, including the division of labor, supply-and-demand, and free market capitalism as some of the most obvious. Smith's political economy is primarily individualistic: self-interest is the incentive for economic action. However, he shows that universal pursuit of self-interest contributes to the public interest, a concept probably best encapsulated by John F. Kennedy when he remarked, ''a rising tide raises all boats.''

Editorial Reviews

Review

''Edwards enunciates with unusual clarity, which helps with a book published in 1776.'' --Talking Book Review

About the Author

ADAM SMITH was born in a small village in Kirkcaldy, Scotland in 1723. He entered the University of Glasgow at age fourteen, and later attended Balliol College at Oxford. After lecturing for a period, he held several teaching positions at Glasgow University. His greatest achievement was writing The Wealth of Nations (1776), a five-book series that sought to expose the true causes of prosperity, and installed him as the father of contemporary economic thought. He died in Edinburgh on July 19, 1790.

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.; Unabridged edition (August 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786100834
• ISBN-13: 978-0786100835
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.8 x 2.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,156,127 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than modern economics, July 22, 1998

By 

Ken Carpenter ([e-mail]) (Dayton, Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Wealth of Nations (Part 1 of 2) (Library Edition) (Audio Cassette)

Adam Smith obviously thought deeply about economics, and then traveled widely to find support for his ground-breaking theories. The result is a very long book that is incredibly nuanced. Such popular excerpts as "the pin factory" and "like an invisible hand" do little justice to the book -- just like quoting "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn." does not substitute for reading "Gone with the Wind" or seeing the movie.

It is difficult to getting a good economic education today. The endless flow of government money in social science departments has twisted the subject. While modern economists use very precise methods to arrive at wildly inaccurate results, Smith dug and dug through economic records to find key patterns but did not seek the unrealistic equations that currently characterize the profession.

One final note on the reading: Work your way through a Jane Austin novel before attempting to read "The Wealth of N! ations." The language has changed in the past 200 years.