The Wealth of Nations

The 1776 text, fifth edition of 1789. 64 parts, about 363,091 words, 28 hours of reading. Source edition.

Passages the guide marks

The greatest improvement in the productive powers of labour, and the greater part of the skill, dexterity, and judgment with which it is any where directed, or applied, seem to have been the effects of the division…
Book I, chapter 1, opening sentence · Read it in Book I, I: Of the Division of Labour
It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest.
Book I, chapter 2 · Read it in Book I, II: Of the Principle Which Gives Occasion to the Division of Labour
he intends only his own gain, and he is in this, as in many other cases, led by an invisible hand to promote an end which was no part of his intention.
Book IV, chapter 2 · Read it in Book IV, Chapter II
People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the publick, or in some contrivance to raise prices.
Book I, chapter 10 · Read it in Book I, II: Inequalities Occasioned by the Policy of Europe

About this text

Public domain in the United States; the Standard Ebooks edition is released under CC0. It is not the edition the programs assign; the guide names that one, and the buy links there point at it.

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