• Wealth of Nations

  • By: Adam Smith
  • Narrated by: Michael Edwards
  • Length: 35 hrs and 19 mins
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars (270 ratings)

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Wealth of Nations  By  cover art

Wealth of Nations

By: Adam Smith
Narrated by: Michael Edwards
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Publisher's summary

This classic statement of economic liberalism or the policy of laissez-faire was first published in 1776. It is an engrossing analysis of the economic facts of life. Several fundamental principles, many of which are now referred to as axioms, were introduced in this work, the division of labor, supply-and-demand, and free market capitalism being among the most obvious. Smith's political economy is primarily individualistic; self-interest is the incentive for economic action. However, he shows that universal pursuit of self-interest contributes to the public interest.
(P)1989 by Blackstone Audiobooks

What listeners say about Wealth of Nations

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  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A Classic Marred by a terrible recording

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

This recording sounds like it was badly copied from a well-worn cassette tape from the 1980's. In fact, i think it was. In addition, the recording is badly produced, with gaps and abrupt transitions to new chapters that don't help to guide the listener as to what is coming. I hesitate to even comment on the performer as the bad quality prevents me from always understanding him.

I don't know if sound editing software was used to clean it. I hope not. If the answer is yes, and there is nothing more technically which can be done, then at least a buyers beware notice should be attached, noting this is most definitely NOT up to the level to which other audible products are recorded.

In summary, we need a new recording.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Narrators Voice sounds like a robot. Couldn’t listen to more that 10 minutes of book. Do not buy complete waste of money.

Narrators Voice sounds like a robot. Couldn’t listen to more that 10 minutes of book. Do not buy complete waste of money.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Terrible Sound Quality, Brilliant Book

What would have made Wealth of Nations better?

The book itself was great. The sound quality was terrible! It sounded like listening to a radio in 1960.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The content of the material was brilliant.

Any additional comments?

This book should be re-read and recorded with more current technology.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

The Voice Quality Not the Book

The Voice Quality of the book is terrible, Couldn't judge the content since the voice quality is aweful !

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

poor audio quality

The best audio format available is 2, and it sounds like a garbled robot. I cannot even listen to this book.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Automated Phone Operator

This is really hard to listen to. It is like listening to an automated telephone operator for hours on end. Bad!Bad!!Bad!!!

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Great Book. Bad Audio

Great book. The recording was done 20 years ago and it shows.

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1 person found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Dry as Toast

I kept drifting to wonderng whether I had just downloaded a text to speech version of Wealth of Nations. It was intolerable.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Poor audio quality

I would love to be able to listen to this book in a better quality audio. It really needs to be rerecorded. The quality is so poor it's hard to listen to and I have not been able to get through it.

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21 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

They all told me ....

Everyone told me to read books about Adam Smith and not to read Adam himself. They were correct. He goes on and on and on. It is good in small doses but start young.

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14 people found this helpful