The Wealth of Nations, Hardcover

This seminal work on political economy and the foundation of the modern market economy was originally published in 1776. Rich in historical background and acute observations of the 18th-century scene, Adam Smith's masterpiece of economic analysis is also an insightful work of political philosophy. Its revolutionary concepts, including the notion that self-interest stimulates the healthiest economic conditions for all, remain influential with politicians and economists alike.

A Scottish professor of moral philosophy, Adam Smith (1723-90) combined economics, history, political theory, and philosophy to create this treatise on what has come to be known as laissez-faire economics.