Description:Adam Smith (1723-1790) is considered to be the founding father of economics. As is clear from his two books, The Theory of Moral Sentiments and An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, Smith believed that morality and markets were not incompatible. How they can mix is not merely a scholarly or historical question; it is becoming more and more pressing as our world becomes increasingly integrated by trade, finance, and commerce. Can we engage in economic transactions while maintaining our morality? The Essential Adam Smith introduces several of Smith’s most important ideas and gives readers an appreciation of the depth and breadth of his thought.