
- 256 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub
On the Wealth of Nations
About this book
The #1
New York Times–bestselling political humorist reads Adam Smith's classic economic treatise—so you don't have to.
Recognized almost instantly on its publication in 1776 as the fundamental work of economics, The Wealth of Nations was also recognized as really long. The original edition totaled over nine hundred pages in two volumes—including the blockbuster sixty-seven-page "Digression concerning the Variations in the Value of Silver during the Course of the Four last Centuries," which, to those uninterested in the historiography of currency supply, is like reading Modern Maturity in Urdu.
Although daunting, Adam Smith's tome is still essential to understanding such current hot topics as outsourcing, trade imbalances, and Angelina Jolie. In this witty, approachable, and insightful examination of Smith and his groundbreaking work, P. J. O'Rourke puts his trademark wit to good use, and shows us why Smith is still relevant, why what seems obvious now was once revolutionary, and why the pursuit of self-interest is so important.
"If there is anyone on the planet who can make Adam Smith as entertaining and informative as he was prophetic, it's P. J. O'Rourke." — The Weekly Standard
"Hilarious . . . Learning history while better understanding the current economy—and laughing while doing it? Hard to ask for more." — Rocky Mountain News
Recognized almost instantly on its publication in 1776 as the fundamental work of economics, The Wealth of Nations was also recognized as really long. The original edition totaled over nine hundred pages in two volumes—including the blockbuster sixty-seven-page "Digression concerning the Variations in the Value of Silver during the Course of the Four last Centuries," which, to those uninterested in the historiography of currency supply, is like reading Modern Maturity in Urdu.
Although daunting, Adam Smith's tome is still essential to understanding such current hot topics as outsourcing, trade imbalances, and Angelina Jolie. In this witty, approachable, and insightful examination of Smith and his groundbreaking work, P. J. O'Rourke puts his trademark wit to good use, and shows us why Smith is still relevant, why what seems obvious now was once revolutionary, and why the pursuit of self-interest is so important.
"If there is anyone on the planet who can make Adam Smith as entertaining and informative as he was prophetic, it's P. J. O'Rourke." — The Weekly Standard
"Hilarious . . . Learning history while better understanding the current economy—and laughing while doing it? Hard to ask for more." — Rocky Mountain News
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can cancel anytime from the Subscription tab in your account settings on the Perlego website. Your subscription will stay active until the end of your current billing period. Learn how to cancel your subscription.
No, books cannot be downloaded as external files, such as PDFs, for use outside of Perlego. However, you can download books within the Perlego app for offline reading on mobile or tablet. Learn more here.
Perlego offers two plans: Essential and Complete
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
We are an online textbook subscription service, where you can get access to an entire online library for less than the price of a single book per month. With over 1 million books across 1000+ topics, we’ve got you covered! Learn more here.
Look out for the read-aloud symbol on your next book to see if you can listen to it. The read-aloud tool reads text aloud for you, highlighting the text as it is being read. You can pause it, speed it up and slow it down. Learn more here.
Yes! You can use the Perlego app on both iOS or Android devices to read anytime, anywhere — even offline. Perfect for commutes or when you’re on the go.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Yes, you can access On the Wealth of Nations by P. J. O'Rourke,P. J. O'Rourke in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Economics & Economic History. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover Page
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- 1 An Inquiry into An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations
- 2 Why Is The Wealth of Nations So Damn Long?
- 3 The Theory of Moral Sentiments
- 4 The Wealth of Nations, Book 1
- 5 The Wealth of Nations, Book 2
- 6 The Wealth of Nations, Book 2, Continued
- 7 The Wealth of Nations, Book 3
- 8 The Wealth of Nations, Book 4
- 9 The Wealth of Nations, Book 4, Continued
- 10 Adam Smith, America’s Founding Dutch Uncle
- 11 The Wealth of Nations, Book 5
- 12 Adam Smith’s Lost Book
- 13 An Inquiry into Adam Smith
- 14 Adam Smith in Heaven
- Appendix: An Adam Smith Philosophical Dictionary
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index
- Footnotes