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cindyreads2024's review against another edition
4.0
I was introduced to Russ Roberts through a podcast episode. I found the premise of this book to be unique. While I was familiar with Adam Smith’s, Wealth of Nations, from college economics, I wasn’t familiar with his earlier work. While some reviewers are annoyed with the numerous block quotes in this book, I found them very useful. I’m looking forward to exploring more works related to ‘behavioral economics’ and the thought leaders in this field.
avram_twitch's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent book. Simplifies and makes accessible an enormously underrated work of Smith's.
plastickarma's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
This is a good introduction into Adam Smith's ethical thinking.
relax_its_fine's review against another edition
5.0
This was a very good book that helps define what it is to lead a good life. Highly recommended.
bootman's review against another edition
5.0
I developed interest in Adam Smith after reading the books by Paul Bloom, and he recommended this book. I picked it up to learn more about smith, and it was absolutely amazing. I highly recommend checking it out
2nd read:
During this difficult time I’ve been going through, I’ve been thinking about this book a lot because it really helped me the first time I read it. Russ Roberts breaks down Adam Smith’s less famous first book about living a good life. I started re-reading it yesterday and finished it within about a day. This book describes Adam Smith’s philosophy of living a good life in a way that anyone can understand, and I appreciate Russ Roberts taking the time to write it. The book helps put into perspective what we value and how we should treat other people. It was also really interesting how Roberts showed how Smith’s famous “invisible hand” is also a guide for how we can live a moral life. It bums me out to know that Smith is most famous for his economics and it’s often poorly referenced as an argument for this world of winner-take-all capitalism because when you understand Smith’s views on morality, you see how he’d probably have some criticisms of modern-day American capitalism and how we treat one another.
2nd read:
During this difficult time I’ve been going through, I’ve been thinking about this book a lot because it really helped me the first time I read it. Russ Roberts breaks down Adam Smith’s less famous first book about living a good life. I started re-reading it yesterday and finished it within about a day. This book describes Adam Smith’s philosophy of living a good life in a way that anyone can understand, and I appreciate Russ Roberts taking the time to write it. The book helps put into perspective what we value and how we should treat other people. It was also really interesting how Roberts showed how Smith’s famous “invisible hand” is also a guide for how we can live a moral life. It bums me out to know that Smith is most famous for his economics and it’s often poorly referenced as an argument for this world of winner-take-all capitalism because when you understand Smith’s views on morality, you see how he’d probably have some criticisms of modern-day American capitalism and how we treat one another.
kelseyraerussell's review
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
3.75
Mostly a good reminder on how to be a more lovely person. Some chapters were a little out of touch (with the perspective of the fast shrinking middle class) but overall it was a fun, quick read.
trent24's review against another edition
4.0
This was actually very insightful and enjoyable. Great perspective on several topics that affect your life. I definitely wouldn't have gotten very much out of reading Adam Smith directly.
rick2's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting concept with what seemed like middling execution. Everyone knows Adam Smith for being commonly misquoted about invisible hands and whatever nonsense the Randians are spewing nowadays. Something about not regulating bitcoin I think. I was surprised that Russ doesn't want to discuss Smith's best known "Wealth of Nations," no, Russ wants to talk about "The Theory of Moral Sentiments." In TTOMS, Smith talks about how to live a good life, which mostly seems to revolve around this quote:
“Man naturally desires, not only to be loved, but to be lovely; or to be that thing which is the natural and proper object of love.”
It's a good quote. A great quote even. Smith has some good, traditional old-privileged-white-man wisdom to share about being "lovely" which roughly equates to acting in good conscience and being a moral and helpful person.
And as such, this book started really strong, but unfortunately it didn't build on that concept much and ended up stalling out about halfway through. I was impressed with the prescience that it seems Smith had. Russ set himself up for a banger of a book. But sadly, it seemed like the author recycled the same few core ideas around "being lovely" with a smattering of slightly different examples for the second half of the book. It's like going on a road trip, leaving town with no traffic, finding cheap gas to fill up the car with, clean windshield and empty road in front of you, only to have your radiator blow 20 miles outside of town. Lots of build up for a big disappointment.
“Man naturally desires, not only to be loved, but to be lovely; or to be that thing which is the natural and proper object of love.”
It's a good quote. A great quote even. Smith has some good, traditional old-privileged-white-man wisdom to share about being "lovely" which roughly equates to acting in good conscience and being a moral and helpful person.
And as such, this book started really strong, but unfortunately it didn't build on that concept much and ended up stalling out about halfway through. I was impressed with the prescience that it seems Smith had. Russ set himself up for a banger of a book. But sadly, it seemed like the author recycled the same few core ideas around "being lovely" with a smattering of slightly different examples for the second half of the book. It's like going on a road trip, leaving town with no traffic, finding cheap gas to fill up the car with, clean windshield and empty road in front of you, only to have your radiator blow 20 miles outside of town. Lots of build up for a big disappointment.
misanthrope's review
Over written. Should have been a Wikipedia entry. Highlights an overlooked work by Smith, which is also unreadable and over written. Most “self help” books wear themselves out with page numbers.