Oh! The Mountain of TBRs!

An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations is the foundation of classical economics, and it has influenced a broad range of thinkers. Smith stresses the importance of the division of labor to economic progress. He criticizes the arguments for economic planning and offers a detailed theoretical and historical case for free trade.

The first tape in the set examines the basic problems addressed by Adam Smith in the context of the Scottish Enlightenment. This intellectual revival during the late 18th century produced many outstanding thinkers in addition to Smith, such as the philosopher David Hume. This tape also discusses Adam Smith's general approach to philosophy and how The Wealth of Nations fits into that approach.

The second tape covers some major themes in The Wealth of Nations, a lengthy and complex book. These include the division of labor, the idea of an unplanned social order (the famous "invisible hand"), Adam Smith's theory of economic value and its influence on later thinkers, and Smith's defense of free trade.

Some of Smith's arguments are difficult to follow for the modern reader. The third and fourth tapes explain Smith's major arguments in the order they appear in The Wealth of Nations, while providing the background necessary for comprehension. These tapes follow the five books of The Wealth of Nations and explain how their seemingly diverse themes related to Smith's general purpose. Far more than a work on economic theory, The Wealth of Nations contains philosophy, history, and political theory.