- Paperback: 295 pages
- Publisher: Pelican, Harmondsworth; Revised Edition edition (29 Oct 1970)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0140205454
- ISBN-13: 978-0140205459
- Product Dimensions: 17.8 x 11.2 x 1.5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 291,999 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
"One of the most gifted writers alive . . . tumbling the tribal Gods of both left and right." Boston Globe
"With his customary clarity, eloquence, and humor, Galbraith cuts to the heart of what economic security means (and doesn't mean) in today's world and lays bare the hazards of complacency about economic inequity." The New York Times --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
"With his customary clarity, eloquence, and humor, Galbraith cuts to the heart of what economic security means (and doesn't mean) in today's world and lays bare the hazards of complacency about economic inequity." The New York Times --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
Galbraith's classic on the "economics of abundance" is, in the words of the New York Times, "a compelling challenge to conventional thought." With customary clarity, eloquence, and humor, Galbraith cuts to the heart of what economic security means (and doesn't mean) in today's world and lays bare the hazards of individual and societal complacence about economic inequity. While "affluent society" and "conventional wisdom" (first used in this book) have entered the vernacular, the message of the book has not been so widely embraced--reason enough to rediscover "The Affluent Society."
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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First Sentence
WEALTH IS NOT without its advantages and the case to the contrary, although it has often been made, has never proved widely persuasive. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
WEALTH IS NOT without its advantages and the case to the contrary, although it has often been made, has never proved widely persuasive. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is a pleasure to read, is crammed with original ideas and accessible explanations and offers a comprehensive insight into the economic landscape which simply makes a lot of sense. It is a particular joy that Galbraith does not stop at the traditional limits of economic discourse -- whenever he needs to stray into a related subject in order to construct a complete and persuasive explanation then he does so competently and without hesitation.
However, I would also like to mention the relationship between this book and "The New Industrial State" (NIS) which Galbraith wrote some years later. The NIS clearly covers much the same ground, whilst incorporating the further development and refinement of Galbraith's thoughts over the following decade. As a result, the NIS has a broader scope and offers a more complete picture of a modern (as of 1970ish) industrial economy -- but is also a little less accessible and undoubtedly a "heavier" read. If you have read and enjoyed "The Affluent Society", then the NIS would be an excellent next step, in which the ideas presented here are refined and expanded, but "The Affluent Society" is a great place to start.
However, I would also like to mention the relationship between this book and "The New Industrial State" (NIS) which Galbraith wrote some years later. The NIS clearly covers much the same ground, whilst incorporating the further development and refinement of Galbraith's thoughts over the following decade. As a result, the NIS has a broader scope and offers a more complete picture of a modern (as of 1970ish) industrial economy -- but is also a little less accessible and undoubtedly a "heavier" read. If you have read and enjoyed "The Affluent Society", then the NIS would be an excellent next step, in which the ideas presented here are refined and expanded, but "The Affluent Society" is a great place to start.
59 of 61 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The affluent society is a well written critique of established economic ideas by a brilliant writer. The book written in a clear and simple language is both insightful and thought provocking.
The author started by critically appraising established economic ideas which he called "conventional wisdom". He went on to discuss the inherent flaws in accepting production as the most important goal of society. He then examined the concept of want creation, the ever inceasing problem of consumer debt, economic security, economic inequality and poverty.
The main reason why i enjoyed the book it its language and message. I have never had the priviledge of reading a better written economics book. This is a book for all. Whether you an expert, a student or someone interested in the progress of his society, you will find this book interesting and worth the effort.
Finally, the concluding remark by the author is a message i strongly identify with. He called on society to make it its goal the eradication of poverty and to control the production of weapons of mass destruction. As someone who resides in a developing country, where affluence exist side by side with extreme poverty, the goal of eradicating poverty is one which i fervently hope the leadership of my country will adopt.
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
There hasn't been enough structure in the arguments against free-market economics recently and we are in serious need for some. Therefore, people like myself have to settle on books like this one; and what a gem it is.
Galbraith is an economist who is untouchable in his field of work and it shows in the Affluent Society. A stunningly written piece, full of intelligent answers to questions others daren't ask. What makes his work stand out is how he makes it relevent to every aspect of society and many famous economists of the past and present.
Any right-wingers or neo-liberals who dare to bad mouth Galbraith better read this book first and come up with some good answers as to why they disagree. I have read work from all positions of the economic spectrum and still havent found a single person that can outdo Galbraith and theres not a better example of his genius than here.
His work is also very accessible to even the most novice on the subject and theres not one boring page in the book. If you are a libertarian socialist looking for answers, don't get bogged down in Marx's Capital, go for this book, or at least start with it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The one economist everyone should read...
First published in 1958 this is a treatise on the nature and purpose of the economy , both as a producer of goods and distributor of goods. Read more
Published 7 months ago by os
Unconventional Wisdom
JKG's storming of the capitalist Bastille is not meant to free the inmates but to Declare the Rights of Man to Decent Work! Read more
Published 10 months ago by demola
Affluent society
Item arrived in good time and in good condition for its age. Satisfied.
D Campbell, Surrey
D Campbell, Surrey
Published on 8 Aug 2009 by Mr. D. Campbell
The Affluent Society
I strongly recommend this book, originally written in the 1950s but with Galbraith's comments in the light of events up to the late 1990s. Read more
Published on 3 July 2009 by AG Newtob
As relevant today as in 1958
Galbraith's classic economics text has been influential, but not quite influential enough - in a world of unsustainable consumption and runaway debt, we really need some of the... Read more
Published on 29 Jun 2008 by Jeremy Williams
galbraith,brilliant economist/philosopher/social thinker
i have read all works by the leading economists,past and present(i studied economics&politics),and i can say galbraith is in a league on his own. Read more
Published on 2 Jun 2005 by Mr. S. Yousaf
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