Wealth of Nations

The first modern political economy theory book based on all the fundamentals and usages regarding how capitalism works anno late 18th century. Adam Smith goes in great details for each imaginable concept for the economical system which can even be traced or studied back to present times.

As the author, he has also brought alongside the main topic of how modern economics works, other factors that play along with this central theme, such as history, philosophy, psychology and sociology, once again going into vast details for each example given.

Also, as a Scottish citizen, Smith talked naturally about the economic situation surrounding that country and the rest of Great Britain, but also surprisingly a lot about how Holland seemed to be so successful with trading around the world with other nations.

The Wealth of Nations is the longest book I have finished reading, clocking in about a 1000 pages, categorized into 5 main "books" or chapters, and it is the magnum opus of Adam Smith because it is once again a very important book I have read about.

I was brought into attention of this book because of the "Invisible Hand" concept people of the Zeitgeist Movement were talking about, but also because of it's general economic themes playing. To be honest though, I could not hold my attention towards all chapters.

Mainly because there were too much details and specifics given for my taste, it became tedious at times and perhaps or indeed the book is old fashioned in it's writing, if I may say so. But I have seen this happening before with other books such as The Divine Comedy and Paradise Lost, who happen to be poems.

Still, I acknowledge It's an important book and I already understood the majority of how capitalism is explained in here alongside concepts such as free markets, interest, treaties and general trading of goods and services.

Rating: ** (out of 4)

For further reference regarding the intriguing Invisible Hand metaphor: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invisible_hand