The wealth of nations by adam smith

The Wealth of Nations is widely considered the foundational text of economics, marking the shift from earlier political philosophy to the economic thought we recognize today. Written by Adam Smith in the late 18th century, it introduces key concepts such as division of labour, productivity, return on investment, and free markets.

Often associated with free markets and the ‘invisible hand,’ Smith presents a far more nuanced and moral view of people, incentives, and the risks of unchecked profit-seeking. His reflections reveal a deep understanding of human nature and economic systems — and how they can fail.

The book also offers a vivid account of the political and economic landscape of the British Empire on the eve of the French and American revolutions. This edition includes a biographical essay on Adam Smith and features striking black and gold artwork by Finnish artist Ville Andersson, with design by Piëtke Visser.

“It is the great multiplication of the productions of all the different arts, in consequence of the division of labour, which occasions, in a well-governed society, that universal opulence which extends itself to the lowest ranks of the people."

• Author(s): Adam Smith, with design by Piëtke Visser and artwork by Ville Andersson
• Size: 170 x 240mm with 868 pages
• Hardcover