The Wealth and Poverty of Nations
by David S Landes
The Wealth and Poverty of Nations (1998) was written by Harvard economics and history professor David Landes (1924-2013). An unlikely bestseller that took on Adam Smith’s key question—why some nations are rich and others poor—it’s also a great read. See what our experts have said about this book and why it’s so important below:
Recommendations from our site
“Another huge historical sweep on economic development and, perhaps controversially, this time more a view of why the West has been particularly successful and other countries have not.” Read more...
The best books on Globalisation
Stephen D King, Economist
“Landes argues, for example, that the most significant invention of the last 800 years was the mechanical clock, because until you…can reliably subdivide time, you can’t have capitalism” Read more...
The best books on Negotiating the Digital Age
Nick Harkaway, Novelist
“It’s the most erudite examination of what causes economic development and growth that’s been written in many decades.” Read more...
The best books on Understanding the Burmese Economy
Sean Turnell, Economist
“The Wealth And Poverty of Nations is one of several really fantastic economic history books of recent times.” Read more...
Diane Coyle, Economist
“He provides an explanation for why Western Europe was the cradle for modern economic growth and looks at the development of the institutions that made modern economic development possible.” Read more...
The best books on Economics in the Real World
John Kay, Economist
Our most recommended books
-
A Monetary History of the United States, 1867-1960
by Anna Schwartz & Milton Friedman -
How the World Became Rich: The Historical Origins of Economic Growth
by Jared Rubin & Mark Koyama -
The Great Divergence: China, Europe, and the Making of the Modern World Economy
by Kenneth Pomeranz -
The Passions and the Interests
by Albert Hirschman -
The Great Depression in the United States from a Neoclassical Perspective
by Harold Cole and Lee Ohanian -
Red Plenty
by Francis Spufford
