How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life: An Unexpected Guide to Human Nature and Happiness Hardcover – 9 Oct 2014

Review

"A great book. Makes you feel better about life, humanity, and yourself. Like having a conversation and a scotch with Adam Smith, or even better, Russ Roberts."
--NASSIM TALEB, author of "The Black Swan"

"Russ Roberts has taken a brilliant but difficult classic--Smith's "Theory of Moral Sentiments"--and written an engaging and inspiring meditation on virtue, friendship, and happiness. The result is a wonderful guide to living a good life."
--JONATHAN HAIDT, author of "The Righteous Mind"

"Adam Smith was not just an economist; he also had penetrating insights into human nature that informed his rich, subtle, and revolutionary approach to moral philosophy. Russ Roberts combines a deep understanding of what Smith was on about with a fluent writing style to bring out the surprisingly modern implications of Smith's thinking."
--MATT RIDLEY, author of "The Rational Optimist"

"Russ Roberts has done us all a great service in capturing the essence of Smith's wisdom about the emotional and psychological foundations of both the good life and a successful economy. This book is a pleasure to read and, what's more, Adam Smith almost certainly can change your life."
--DIANE COYLE, author of" The Soulful Science"

"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. Roberts shines a fresh light on Smith's ideas about morality and human nature and finds that these 18th century ideas hold up remarkably well in the 21st century. This is a fun, fascinating, and original book that will challenge you to become a better version of yourself."
--DANIEL H. Pink, author of "Drive" and "To Sell is Human"
"A great book. Makes you feel better about life, humanity, and yourself. Like having a conversation and a scotch with Adam Smith, or even better, Russ Roberts."
--NASSIM TALEB, author of "The Black Swan"
"Russ Roberts has taken a brilliant but difficult classic--Smith's "Theory of Moral Sentiments"--and written an engaging and inspiring meditation on virtue, friendship, and happiness. The result is a wonderful guide to living a good life."
--JONATHAN HAIDT, author of "The Righteous Mind"
"Adam Smith was not just an economist; he also had penetrating insights into human nature that informed his rich, subtle, and revolutionary approach to moral philosophy. Russ Roberts combines a deep understanding of what Smith was on about with a fluent writing style to bring out the surprisingly modern implications of Smith's thinking."
--MATT RIDLEY, author of "The Rational Optimist"
"Russ Roberts has done us all a great service in capturing the essence of Smith's wisdom about the emotional and psychological foundations of both the good life and a successful economy. This book is a pleasure to read and, what's more, Adam Smith almost certainly can change your life."
--DIANE COYLE, author of" The Soulful Science"

"An earnest, accessible introduction to Smith's ideas on the nature of virtue and happiness."
--"The Wall Street Journal"
"Roberts skillfully blends modern examples with Smith's original."
--"Financial Times"
"A wonderful new interpretation of Adam Smith's "Theory of Moral Sentiments."..A model of intelligent popularization and a great tool for teaching and learning....(Russ) is a great translator of economic ideas into the language of everyday life, and this book is a prime example of how very valuable that skill can be."
--Yuval Levin," National Review"
"I loved it. A wonderfully readable appreciation of Smith's ingenuity. You can't fail to be entertained."
-Clive Crook, "BloombergView"
"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. Roberts shines a fresh light on Smith's ideas about morality and human nature and finds that these 18th century ideas hold up remarkably well in the 21st century. This is a fun, fascinating, and original book that will challenge you to become a better version of yourself."
--DANIEL H. Pink, author of "Drive" and "To Sell is Human"
"A great book. Makes you feel better about life, humanity, and yourself. Like having a conversation and a scotch with Adam Smith, or even better, Russ Roberts."
--NASSIM TALEB, author of "The Black Swan"
"Russ Roberts has taken a brilliant but difficult classic--Smith's "Theory of Moral Sentiments"--and written an engaging and inspiring meditation on virtue, friendship, and happiness. The result is a wonderful guide to living a good life."
--JONATHAN HAIDT, author of "The Righteous Mind"
"Adam Smith was not just an economist; he also had penetrating insights into human nature that informed his rich, subtle, and revolutionary approach to moral philosophy. Russ Roberts combines a deep understanding of what Smith was on about with a fluent writing style to bring out the surprisingly modern implications of Smith's thinking."
--MATT RIDLEY, author of "The Rational Optimist"
"Russ Roberts has done us all a great service in capturing the essence of Smith's wisdom about the emotional and psychological foundations of both the good life and a successful economy. This book is a pleasure to read and, what's more, Adam Smith almost certainly can change your life."
--DIANE COYLE, author of" The Soulful Science"

An earnest, accessible introduction to Smith s ideas on the nature of virtue and happiness.
The Wall Street Journal
"A remarkable book...Mr. Roberts s witty, candid take on Smith is filled with his own wisdom. Gurus, theologians and economists alike might learn a thing or two from him and the first modern economist."
The Wall Street Journal's Washington Wire
Roberts skillfully blends modern examples with Smith s original.
Financial Times
"Awonderful new interpretationof Adam Smith s Theory of Moral Sentiments...A model of intelligent popularization and a great tool for teaching and learning....(Russ) is a great translator of economic ideas into the language of everyday life, and this book is a prime example of how very valuable that skill can be."
Yuval Levin, National Review
I loved it. A wonderfully readable appreciation of Smith's ingenuity. You can't fail to be entertained."
Clive Crook, BloombergView
"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. Roberts shines a fresh light on Smith s ideas about morality and human nature and finds that these 18th century ideas hold up remarkably well in the 21st century. This is a fun, fascinating, and original book that will challenge you to become a better version of yourself.
DANIEL H. Pink, author of Drive and To Sell is Human
A great book. Makes you feel better about life, humanity, and yourself. Like having a conversation and a scotch with Adam Smith, or even better, Russ Roberts.
NASSIM TALEB, author of The Black Swan
Russ Roberts has taken a brilliant but difficult classic Smith s Theory of Moral Sentiments and written an engaging and inspiring meditation on virtue, friendship, and happiness. The result is a wonderful guide to living a good life.
JONATHAN HAIDT, author of The Righteous Mind
Adam Smith was not just an economist; he also had penetrating insights into human nature that informed his rich, subtle, and revolutionary approach to moral philosophy. Russ Roberts combines a deep understanding of what Smith was on about with a fluent writing style to bring out the surprisingly modern implications of Smith s thinking.
MATT RIDLEY, author of The Rational Optimist
Russ Roberts has done us all a great service in capturing the essence of Smith s wisdom about the emotional and psychological foundations of both the good life and a successful economy. This book is a pleasure to read and, what s more, Adam Smith almost certainly can change your life.
DIANE COYLE, author of The Soulful Science"

About the Author

Russ Roberts is the John and JeanDe Nault Research Fellow at StanfordUniversity's Hoover Institution. He hoststhe award-winning weekly podcastEconTalkand is the author of three economics novels, including The Price of Everything: A Parable ofPossibility and Prosperity. He is also the co-creator of the Keynes-Hayek rap videos, which have been viewed over seven million times on YouTube. His twitter handle is @econtalker."