or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
 
More Buying Choices
29 used & new from £3.67
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
The Wealth and Poverty of Nations
 
 
Share your own customer images
Search inside this book

The Wealth and Poverty of Nations (Paperback)

by David S. Landes (Author) "Geography has fallen on hard times ..." (more)
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
RRP: £14.99
Price: £9.98 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
You Save: £5.01 (33%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In stock.
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk. Gift-wrap available.

Want guaranteed delivery by Wednesday, November 11? Choose Express delivery at checkout. See Details
19 new from £3.88 10 used from £3.67
Other Editions: RRP: Our Price: Other Offers:
Hardcover 7 used & new from £7.99

Frequently Bought Together

Customers buy this book with Guns, Germs and Steel: A short history of everybody for the last 13,000 years by Jared M. Diamond

The Wealth and Poverty of Nations + Guns, Germs and Steel: A short history of everybody for the last 13,000 years
Price For Both: £16.95

Show availability and shipping details

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Guns, Germs and Steel: A short history of everybody for the last 13,000 years

Guns, Germs and Steel: A short history of everybody for the last 13,000 years

by Jared M. Diamond
4.2 out of 5 stars (124)  £6.97
The Great Divergence: China, Europe, and the Making of the Modern World Economy (Princeton Economic History of the Western World)

The Great Divergence: China, Europe, and the Making of the Modern World Economy (Princeton Economic History of the Western World)

by Kenneth Pomeranz
£14.79
A Farewell to Alms: A Brief Economic History of the World (Princeton Economic History of the Western World)

A Farewell to Alms: A Brief Economic History of the World (Princeton Economic History of the Western World)

by Gregory Clark
4.2 out of 5 stars (5)  £9.66
Power and Plenty: Trade, War, and the World Economy in the Second Millennium (Princeton Economic History of the Western World)

Power and Plenty: Trade, War, and the World Economy in the Second Millennium (Princeton Economic History of the Western World)

by Ronald Findlay
5.0 out of 5 stars (5)  £15.56
Living Within Limits: Ecology, Economics, and Population Taboos: Ecology, Economics and Population Taboos

Living Within Limits: Ecology, Economics, and Population Taboos: Ecology, Economics and Population Taboos

by Garrett Hardin
5.0 out of 5 stars (2)  £12.45
› Explore similar items

Product details

  • Paperback: 661 pages
  • Publisher: Abacus; New edition edition (1 April 1999)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0349111669
  • ISBN-13: 978-0349111667
  • Product Dimensions: 19.2 x 12.6 x 4.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 35,708 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories:

    #35 in  Books > Business, Finance & Law > Economics > History
    #40 in  Books > Business, Finance & Law > Biographies & Histories > Business & Economic History
    #55 in  Books > Business, Finance & Law > Economics > Theory & Philosophy

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Customers Viewing This Page May Be Interested in These Sponsored Links

  (What is this?)
   Get out of Debt LEGALLY opens new browser window
www.libertywealth.me.uk  -  Get out of DEBT and Retire Early to Secure Your Freedom NOW 
   Wealth And Poverty opens new browser window
Ask.com  -  Find the Best Results for Wealth And Poverty 
  
 

Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

Professor David S. Landes takes an historic approach to the analysis of the distribution of wealth in this landmark study of world economics. Landes argues that the key to today's disparity between the rich and poor nations of the world stems directly from the Industrial Revolution, in which some countries made the leap to industrialisation and became fabulously rich, while other countries failed to adapt and remained poor. Why some countries were able to industrialise and others weren't has been the subject of much heated debate over the decades; climate, natural resources and geography have all been put forward as explanations--and are all brushed aside by Landes in favour of his own controversial theory: that the ability to effect an industrial revolution is dependent on certain cultural traits, without which industrialisation is impossible to sustain. Landes contrasts the characteristics of successfully industrialised nations-- work, thrift, honesty, patience and tenacity--with those of non-industrial countries, arguing that until these values are internalised by all nations, the gulf between the rich and the poor will continue to grow. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.


Review

'A masterpiece' Norman Stone 'One of the most important works of history to appear in my lifetime' A N Wilson 'For once, amazingly, a book lives up to the hype ... a blast of fresh air, a work of militant good sense' EVENING STANDARD 'Gripping ... well worth reading' OBSERVER
See all Product Description
Inside This Book (Learn More)
First Sentence
Geography has fallen on hard times. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Search inside this book:

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

The Wealth and Poverty of Nations
89% buy the item featured on this page:
The Wealth and Poverty of Nations 4.2 out of 5 stars (26)
£9.98
Bad Science
3% buy
Bad Science 4.5 out of 5 stars (203)
£3.58
Guns, Germs and Steel: A short history of everybody for the last 13,000 years
3% buy
Guns, Germs and Steel: A short history of everybody for the last 13,000 years 4.2 out of 5 stars (124)
£6.97
Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Survive
3% buy
Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Survive 4.1 out of 5 stars (54)
£7.67
Explore similar items
 

Customer Reviews

26 Reviews
5 star:
 (16)
4 star:
 (4)
3 star:
 (2)
2 star:
 (4)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.2 out of 5 stars (26 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
17 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Provocative but a bit shallow, 3 May 2002
By A Customer
My opinion of this book is that anyone who wants to know "the causes of the wealth and poverty of nations" would do better to read Jared Diamond's "Guns, Germs and Steel" which is more thoroughly researched, more original, more thought through and more readable.

Having said that, Landes' book, while covering exactly the same subject, is as different from Diamond's as it is possible to be, and I would certainly recommend anyone who found GG&S interesting to read this too.

I liked this book for its ideas, its ambition and broad range and the many fascinating facts, stories and anecdotes. On the other hand on those subjects I have some knowledge of I found it rather shallow and sometimes inaccurate or out-of-date.

Landes has a take-no-prisoners style. At first I found this refreshing and enjoyable (since I mostly agree with what he has to say), but eventually I just got sick of his constant whinging about foreigners, political correctness and academic rivals... Despite what the other reviewers may say I would recommend not to read this book all in one go - unless you are a Daily Telegraph reader, in which case I guess you can cope!

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Incomplete, 7 May 2001
By A Customer
It is a nice book but the question why some are so rich and some so poor has not been fully answered. The subject is just too broad I guess. Landes for instance almost completely ignores the development of agriculture. I can recommend this book but for the full picture one must read more about the subject than just this.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Packed with Knowledge!, 1 Mar 2004
By Rolf Dobelli "getAbstract.com" (Switzerland) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
David S. Landes has written an extraordinary economic history that will open your eyes about countries’ economic flops and good fortune. He also covers what makes a country achieve — and keep — great economic success. The book will appeal not only to economic history buffs, but also to the average person who needs to know how to keep a company or a country from economic trouble. Not to mention, he offers lots of great cocktail party anecdotes to impress your friends. Landes builds on solid economic data, but his unusual factual nuggets and vivid commentary are what make the book such a pleasure to read. In an age where politicians seek to make sure America stays economically relevant amid huge trade friction, We believe this book is a must-read for not just the chief executive officer, but for the rank-and-file workers who want to make sure they will be winners, not losers, in international trade. Landes has cooked up a great feast of economic history. Come, draw up a chair to the table and partake of this rich bounty.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful read
This book by a Harvard professor is a gripping and very accessible account of the subject of the title. It is full of fascinating facts and insights. Read more
Published 28 days ago by W. Scott

5.0 out of 5 stars A remarkable survey of the industrial origins of wealth
This remarkable book asks why some nations are wealthy and others poor, why some nations developed industry and others didn't. Read more
Published 2 months ago by William Podmore

3.0 out of 5 stars Yes, Culture is Important but...
Professor Landes' thesis in this book is that culture is the key determinant of whether or not a country (or people) becomes wealthy. Read more
Published 3 months ago by A. O. AKEMU

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, especially the first half
This book gives a very fine overview of why certain countries have accumulated more wealth than others. Read more
Published on 16 May 2007 by E. Smakman

4.0 out of 5 stars Impressive, but not always right
Landes' The wealth and poverty of nations is an impressive book. It gives a pretty comprehenisive overview of the economic history, and it explains the success of some and the... Read more
Published on 15 Oct 2006 by Mat H

2.0 out of 5 stars Better and more thorough books available
Not all cultures and societies measure success in term of material wealth. Other things may be more important. Read more
Published on 5 Aug 2006 by Jim

5.0 out of 5 stars The Wealth and Poverty of Nations is a fantastic read
I would recommend this book to anyone who wonders why is it that some nations are rich and others poor. Read more
Published on 12 Feb 2005 by Mr. Richard Bristol

5.0 out of 5 stars Making the 'invisble hand' visible
I really like this book, I could not put it down, I found all the episodes of a huge narrative utterly exciting. Read more
Published on 16 Feb 2004 by Antal, Daniel

4.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking and pulls no punches
A fascinating lifetimes study of what makes nations fail or succeed. Written in an easy, fluid style that demands that you keep reading. Read more
Published on 14 April 2002 by peter@pdavison.com

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing
Landes has written a hymn to protestantism, hard work and the American (& Japanese) way of life. Read more
Published on 15 Mar 2002 by N G Silver

Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 

   

Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Look for similar items by subject
















i.e., each product must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ...

Feedback

Ad

Your Recent History

 (What's this?)

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.