How Adam Smith can change your life: an unexpected guide to human nature and happiness

Abstract

forgotten book by one of history's greatest thinkers reveals the surprising connections between happiness, virtue, fame, and fortune. A great book. Makes you feel better about life, humanity, and yourself. (Nassim Nicholas Taleb, author of The Black Swan). Adam Smith became the patron saint of capitalism after he penned his most famous work, The Wealth of Nations. But few people know that when it came to our behaviour - the way we perceive ourselves, the way we treat others, and the decisions we make in pursuit of happiness - the Scottish philosopher had just as much to say. He developed his ideas in an epic, sprawling work titled The Theory of Moral Sentiments. Most economists have never read it, and for most of his life, Russ Roberts was no exception. But when he finally picked up the book by the founder of his field, he realized he'd stumbled upon what might be the greatest self-help book that almost no one has read. In How Adam Smith Change Your Life, Roberts examines Smith's forgotten masterpiece, and finds a treasure trove of timeless, practical wisdom. Smith's insights into human nature are just as relevant today as they were three hundred years ago. What does it take to be truly happy? Should we pursue fame and fortune or the respect of our friends and family? How can we make the world a better place? Smith's unexpected answers, framed within the context of current events, literature, history, and pop culture, are at once profound, counterintuitive, and highly entertaining. By reinvigorating Smith's neglected classic, Roberts provides us with an invaluable look at human behaviour through the lens of one of history's greatest minds. Can economists teach us how to live a good life? When the economists in question are Adam Smith and Russ Roberts, the answer is a definitive yes. fun, fascinating, and original book that will challenge you to become a better version of yourself. (Daniel H. Pink, author of Drive). Russ Roberts is the John and Jean De Nault Research Fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution. He hosts the award-winning weekly pod-cast EconTalk and is the author of three economics novels, including The Price of Everything: Parable of Possibility and Prosperity. He is also the co-creator of the Keynes-Hayek rap videos, which have been viewed over seven million times on YouTube.