The Wealth of Nations
About this product
The landmark work that changed how the world understands wealth, trade, and economic prosperity. First published in 1776, Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations remains one of the most influential books ever written on economics. In this foundational work of classical economic theory, Smith examines how individuals, businesses, and nations create wealth—and why productive labor, specialization, competition, and voluntary exchange are essential to a flourishing economy. Smith challenges the idea that a nation’s prosperity is determined simply by the amount of gold and silver it possesses. Instead, he explores how the division of labor increases productivity, how prices and wages develop, how capital is accumulated, and how commerce can improve living standards throughout society. Inside this enduring classic, readers will explore: • The division and specialization of labor
• The origin and use of money
• The real and nominal prices of goods
• Wages, profits, and rent
• The accumulation and employment of capital
• Domestic and international trade
• Taxation, public works, and the role of government This edition also includes helpful annotations that provide added clarity while allowing Smith’s original ideas to remain at the center of the reading experience. Essential reading for students, investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and anyone interested in economics, capitalism, free markets, political philosophy, or the forces that shape national prosperity. Discover the timeless economic classic that continues to influence how we think about work, markets, government, and wealth today. Read more
Editor's Take
Amazon reviewers say this edition of The Wealth of Nations is highly informative and eye-opening, with many praising it as a classic foundational economics text and good value. Some reviewers also mention the print quality and legibility are good, while others note mixed experiences with formatting and reading ease, calling it tedious or difficult to get through.
Goodreads and StoryGraph readers echo the same split: many describe the book as a major, important work with lasting relevance, but a significant number say it is dense, slow-paced, and challenging for modern readers. On Amazon, a few reviewers specifically appreciate that the edition is complete and unabridged, while some criticize the absence of an index or the overall reading experience.
On YouTube, review videos about this exact title describe it as a classic and essential economics book, but also emphasize that it is long, dense, and difficult to read in full. One video found is a book review by Mere Mortals, and another is a review titled Book Review - The Wealth of Nations | Adam Smith.
- Amazon reviewers: informative, eye-opening, classic, but sometimes tedious.
- Goodreads readers: historically important, widely respected, often hard to read.
- StoryGraph reviewers: reflective and informative, but frequently slow-paced and slog-like.
- YouTube reviewers: essential economics text, but dense and challenging.
Price History
Specifications
| Publisher | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform |
| Publication date | December 31, 2013 |
| Language | English |
| Print length | 426 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 1494844737 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1494844738 |
| Item Weight | 2.24 pounds |
| Dimensions | 8 x 0.96 x 10 inches |
| Best Sellers Rank | #337,575 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #199 in Government & Business #213 in Free Enterprise & Capitalism #414 in Theory of Economics |
| Customer Reviews | 4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars (381) |
