Adam Smith | Jesse Norman

Adam Smith: Father of Economics | Jesse Norman

A dazzlingly original, "remarkable" account of the life and thought of legendary economist Adam Smith (Financial Times).

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 the tradition of The Worldly Philosophers, Adam Smith 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, political philosopher Jesse 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.