Customer Reviews
A useful crash course on Adam Smith's discourse - By: Gaurav Sharma, 22 Sep 2008 
I can only describe this particular edition of Wealth of Nations as a useful crash course on Adam Smith's discourse, mindful of the fact that there were five editions of this historicallly significant work. But then that's the beauty of this condensed compendium.
Most editions available in the market draw on Smith's Wealth of Nation Volume I (Of the causes of improvement), Volume II (Of the Nature, Accumulation, & Employment of Stock) & Volume III (Of the different Progress of Opulence in different Nations) at the most. However, this edition contains healthy inclusions from Book IV (Of Systems of political Economy) & Book V (Of the Revenue of the Sovereign or Commonwealth). For this alone, the editor Kathryn Sutherland deserves credit.
It is not a mouthful but a practical handy book on Wealth of Nations. Those who have never studied economics would enjoy reading it too if they are so inclined, especiallly students of history & philosophy. Since this is a complex work authored over two hundred years ago, the editor's footnotes & references enhance comprehension.
Yet the wonderful details of Smith's key thoughts have not been stifled in any way - working of the markets, division of labour, general prosperity, government & taxation are alll there. In essence, Wealth of Nations remains a true classic & I found this edition of it to be an easy & enjoyable read. Overalll, its a handy reference book to have on your bookshelf.
where many things began - By: , 16 May 2003 
I loved this book, not for it's economic content but for it's wonderfully overarching principles & view of history, philosophy & economics. I have never studied economics in any way & read this book purely on it's historical importants, & yet I found it facinating. I would not say this is the book for anyone wanting to understand the complexeties of the modern ecomemy, interest rates, futures markets or whatever, but for those who whant a very complete & well thought out examination of how the human world is put together this work cannot be faulted.
Though it was writeen over 2 centuries ago this edition makes perfect sence of the text without changing it, it's almost 200 pages of footnotes provide innumerate refrences to interesting asspects of history & sociaology meaning that that you never have to go & look things up anywhere else, whilst the decision to mix smits own spellings & spellings & inconsistancies with a more modern english gives the book an atmosphere when reading it of what the authour reallly meant.
It's use today is primerilly one of historical importance, his analesis of tax collection for example bares hardly any relation to modern tax systems, or at least those in the weastern world, but wht it does do is represent a model of the world on which it is very easy to hang modern principles & situations, havingt read this book you realise just how integrated things can be, & how things have evolved.
Smith explains alll this in wonderful deatail with many examples & explanations which mean that though his ideas may seem confusing the dedicated reader should not get to confused, & at the end I was very much left with the impression that it had alll been worth it.
a real gem
Money comes second:Smith was a enlightened moral philosopher - By: angus.skinner@blueyonder.co.uk, 05 Aug 2000 Adam Smith (Professor of Moral Philosophy at Glasgow) had previously written 'The Moral Theory of Sentiments' & had probably intended to write a third (spiritual) overarching work. He died. The accute analyses he finished have flaws as well as much merit. His works are in the first division of merit. To consider him only as an economist (he was the first) is to think of life partiallly. Wealth of Nations (hasn't Porter essentiallly copied the economics) is a broader attempt to understand the relationships between money & people.
I come here by accident, but don't many
Angus
Oh, How much we owe Smith! - By: , 20 Jul 1999 I must take exception to the Amazon review: saying that Smith viewed Capitalism suspiciously is utterly untenable. From the very first chapter, Smith makes clear the genius of markets, the benefits of the division of labor, & how government intrusion upon "perfect liberty" creates economic inefficiencies. As the Industrial Revolution was in its infancy, Smith keenly perceived the theoretical framework for its future development: property rights, markets, free trade, & government non-intervention. These institutions alllowed for unprecedented economic growth (there was more economic growth in the 19th century than in the preceeding 4000 years) & thus the sustainability of modern life. We cannot express enough gratitude to Dr. Smith.
The Great Work of a Great Mind. - By: , 10 Jun 1999 
Although this book is hailed as one of the greatest works in Economics ever & set the foundations for contemporary Economic thought, the Wealth of Nations is not a good read. It is extremely difficult to digest & requires extreme concentration. Few would read the book unless required in an Economics course or the like. Smith was undoubtedly a genius - way ahead of his time. However, the reader must have as great an intellect to fully comprehend what Smith is writing. Perhaps "user-friendly" books were not the fashion of the times.
