An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations

Smith, Adam, 1723-1790Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

Rating 4.9

Word count: 2.5M words
Chapters: 247

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations by Garnier and SmithAuthor: Smith, Adam, 1723-1790,Language: English, Class: HB: Social sciences: Economic theory, Demography, Release Date: Dec 3, 2011

Editor's review

This classic work by Adam Smith is a text no one can bypass in the history of modern economic thought. It systematically discusses division of labour, exchange, money, value, distribution, and the functions of the state, showing how the author builds an overall explanation of the mechanisms of national wealth growth from everyday commercial phenomena. The Project Gutenberg edition preserves the original language and structure of the book, making it a direct reader for understanding the origins of classical economics. Its value lies not in finding ready-made conclusions but in observing how the argument unfolds: how concepts are defined, how examples support judgments, and how macro problems are broken down into discussable components. For readers today concerned with discussions of markets, institutions, and public policy, this book offers a sense of historical depth that helps identify the origins of much economic discourse. Because of its length and density, it is better suited to readers patient enough for slow reading and note-taking than to those seeking a quick introductory manual.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in the history of economic thought who wish to read the classic original directly
University students who need to understand the basic concepts and argumentative methods of classical economics
General readers concerned with markets, division of labour, and institutional issues who are willing to read systematically
Teachers and organizers who wish to use this book as course supplementary material or a reading group text

Not a good fit for

Complete beginners who hope to gain introductory economic conclusions in a short time
Readers unaccustomed to long English sentences and dense argumentation in the original
Those who only want to find contemporary policy cases or the latest data

Reading tips

Start with the table of contents and introductory chapters to grasp the overall framework, then select key chapters by theme.
Prepare a notebook and record core concepts and examples as you read, making it easier to review the chain of argument.
When encountering unfamiliar historical background, mark it first rather than stopping at every point, and keep overall momentum.
Read alongside introductory works on the history of economics to help situate concepts in their historical context.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book suitable for readers with no economics background at all?

It can be read, but expectations need adjusting. It is not a concise primer; the argumentation is dense and historical examples are numerous. Beginners willing to read slowly with background materials can gain an intuitive understanding of classical economics; those who only want quick key points are advised to read introductory works first and then return to the original.

What are the features of the Project Gutenberg edition?

This edition is a free e-book provided by Project Gutenberg, preserving the content of the English original and making it easy to read and search on electronic devices. It is not a modern scholarly annotated edition, so readers need to supplement historical background and concept explanations themselves; it suits readers who focus on the original text.

Should this book be read in order from beginning to end?

Linear cover-to-cover reading is not necessary. First look at the table of contents and opening sections to establish a framework, then read selectively by themes such as division of labour, value, money, and the functions of the state. For especially dense chapters, take notes or skim; maintaining overall understanding is more important than completing every word.

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

Smith, Adam, 1723-1790 Author

Adam Smith (1723–1790) was a major thinker of the Scottish Enlightenment, known for his works on economics and moral philosophy. Three of his works are held in this collection, including An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations (commonly known as The Wealth of Nations), another edition of the same work, and The Essays of Adam Smith. Because public information is limited, his early life and specific positions are not discussed here. In his writings, Smith is skilled at analyzing the division of labor, market exchange, value, and the growth of wealth through systematic reasoning and abundant historical examples, with a style that combines philosophical speculation and empirical observation. The Wealth of Nations has had a profound influence on later economics and is regarded as a foundational work of modern economics; his works on moral philosophy focus on sympathy and the ethical judgments of the impartial spectator.