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megbriers's review against another edition
informative
fast-paced
2.5
if i could dock more stars for the kirkcaldy slander i would. it was alright but for the first time in my life i feel like i should have just gone to the primary text (growth!!!). a brief and slightly repeated introduction to maybe the key ideas from theory of moral sentiments but i'll let you know how it checks out to the actual text at some point soon!
thejones's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
gls_merch's review against another edition
4.0
Adam Smith's other book
Economist Russell Roberts provides a great introduction into Adam Smith's lesser known but equally important book, "The Theory of Moral Sentiments". Inspired by his podcast and discussions with Dan Klein, Roberts wrote this book to distill these ideas for a greater audience. Smith's book was written in 1759 and revised throughout his life, it provides the underpinning of moral sense in how man interacts with society at large. These ideas are important in understanding the ideas in "The Wealth of Nations". A must read for capitalists and probably even more so for socialists!
Economist Russell Roberts provides a great introduction into Adam Smith's lesser known but equally important book, "The Theory of Moral Sentiments". Inspired by his podcast and discussions with Dan Klein, Roberts wrote this book to distill these ideas for a greater audience. Smith's book was written in 1759 and revised throughout his life, it provides the underpinning of moral sense in how man interacts with society at large. These ideas are important in understanding the ideas in "The Wealth of Nations". A must read for capitalists and probably even more so for socialists!
amorriscode's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fascinating book for me. It really opened my eyes to the world of Adam Smith and has developed an interest in economics. The ideas are simple but effective, if not obvious but elegantly spoken. Helpful to practice and be happy.
alyssagh's review against another edition
4.0
I read part of Adam Smith's The Theory of Moral Sentiments for a class in college, but I really enjoyed this refresher and Roberts' analysis on how to lead a more "virtuous" life in our contemporary world. Reading this was an excellent reminder that human interaction is a complex, ever-changing system, and quantitative analysis will never be able to full capture every decision and thought process we make. Roberts' political leanings weren't as explicit as I feared they would be, and this was a fun and engaging read that explained some of economics' "big ideas" in a new and interesting way, with an emphasis on morality and stewardship.
howardgo's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
Most people are familiar with Adam Smith's book An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, more commonly referred to as simply The Wealth of Nations. But seventeen years earlier he published his first and less famous book The Theory of Moral Sentiments. This is the book that Russ Roberts sets out to summarize and modernize in his book How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life.
One of Smith's key ideas that Roberts emphasizes is the idea of the "impartial spectator", what we might today call a conscience. The concept is that we all operate with this spectator in our heads, judging us, telling us what to do. It is this "impartial spectator" that keeps us on the straight and narrow even when no one is looking. Ultimately, we all want to be seen as good and this is the tool by which we do so.
The book applies this thinking to other concepts like knowing yourself, how to be happy, and how to not fool yourself. I found that all the concepts really struck home for me. They rang true. And I found myself feeling like Adam Smith's first book is the missing companion to his second.
There is much criticism in the world today for capitalism and markets. They are cold and have led to tremendous inequality. We lament that this system only sees people for their utility. Where is the humanity? It is in the first Adam Smith book! And in the last chapter, Roberts even touches on this.
At the end of the book Roberts points out that Smith's first book is about the people close to us while Smith's second book is about strangers. We need to learn to live with both, but in order to get much past subsistence living, we need a way to reliably work with strangers. Markets are how we rely on self-interest to direct public good among strangers. But for those we are close to it isn't markets or money but culture and the "impartial spectator" that comes from shared culture that directs us. Perhaps the solution here is to combine what we learn from Smith's two great works about how to deal with both strangers and our loved ones.
gppollak's review against another edition
5.0
Great easy read. Interesting context on how to live a virtuous life from the father of modern day economics.