Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.
|
Loading... Adam Smith: Father of Economicsby Jesse Norman
   None No current Talk conversations about this book.  mbmackay | May 27, 2019 |  no reviews | add a review
Adam Smith (1723-1790) is now widely regarded as the greatest economist of all time. But what he really thought, and the implications of his ideas, remain fiercely contested. Was he an eloquent advocate of capitalism and individual freedom? A prime mover of "market fundamentalism"? An apologist for human selfishness? Or something else entirely? In Adam Smith, political philosopher Jesse Norman dispels the myths and caricatures, and provides a far more complex portrait of the man. Offering a highly engaging account of Smith's life and times, Norman explores his work as a whole and traces his influence over two centuries to the present day. Finally, he shows how a proper understanding of Smith can help us address the problems of modern capitalism. The Smith who emerges from this book is not only the greatest of all economists but a pioneering theorist of moral philosophy, culture, and society. No library descriptions found. |
Current DiscussionsNonePopular covers
 Google Books — Loading...GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)330.15Social sciences Economics Economics Theory SchoolsLC ClassificationRatingAverage: (3.75)
Is this you?Become a LibraryThing Author. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wikipedia in English
1
Smith lived a "quiet" life, and ensured his papers and correspondence were all destroyed at his death - making him a difficult subject for biographers. But Norman manages to produce an interesting account of his life and career.
Less satisfying was the analysis part of the book. For me it fell at two hurdles. Firstly the discussion of Smith's thoughts and economics required more detailed understanding of current economic thought than I, as an interested reader, was able to bring to the party. Secondly, the attempt to apply "Smithian" thought (a favourite adjective of the author) to every current economic issue became increasingly strained as I read.
So, good bio, but no cigar from me. (