First published in 1776, The Wealth of Nations advances a sweeping analysis of commercial society. Smith dissects the division of labor-famously, the pin factory-distinguishes natural from market prices, and traces capital, money, and trade. In lucid Enlightenment prose, he dismantles mercantilism, argues for freer commerce, and delineates limited public functions-defense, justice, infrastructure-founding classical political economy while grounding theory in historical examples and institutional detail. Adam Smith (1723-1790), Scotland's leading moral philosopher and Glasgow professor, carried into this work insights from The Theory of Moral Sentiments and a lifelong dialogue with David Hume. Travels in France while tutoring the Duke of Buccleuch brought him to the physiocrats, especially Quesnay and Turgot, sharpening his empirical method and his conviction that secure property and impartial justice foster prosperity. For readers of economic policy, intellectual history, or the ethics of markets, this book remains indispensable. It rewards careful study not as a brief for unbounded laissez-faire but as a nuanced blueprint that balances liberty with institutions. Students, policymakers, and reflective citizens will find lasting tools to think clearly about growth, taxation, trade, and the state.
Quickie Classics summarizes timeless works with precision, preserving the author's voice and keeping the prose clear, fast, and readable-distilled, never diluted. Enriched Edition extras: Introduction · Synopsis · Historical Context · Author Biography · Brief Analysis · 4 Reflection Q&As · Editorial Footnotes.
