Reviews for The State and Global Change

The average rating for The State and Global Change based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2017-12-03 00:00:00 Christopher Peinado I read every word of this book. Or at least my eyes swept over them all. Try as I might, even with O'Rourke's humor I just couldn't make sense of it. My take-aways: Smith was an absent-minded, brilliant, likable guy; a teacher; a bachelor; a bit schizophrenic in his philosophies. But I wouldn't know, because I really couldn't make sense of anything he wrote, as quoted by O'Rourke whose commentary only served to muddle things up more. The one thing I do know -- I'll not attempt to read The Wealth of Nations, but will leave it to the serious philosophers and economists in our midst.

Review # 2 was written on 2016-12-24 00:00:00 Adam Hibner Some of Smith's most interesting and influential ideas channeled through the wit and insight of O'Rourke. This is either a substitute for or prelude to reading Smith's bible of economic theory and observations, I haven't decided which yet. But it's remarkable how relevant Smith's ideas are to this day. Don't fall into the trap of discarding the pith of Wealth of Nations because of your politics. Smith's writing, though appropriated most recently by the American Right, are apolitical and transcend the current dismal state of fractured debate, giving plenty of thought for liberals and conservatives alike.