Author of The Worldly Philosophers, a 3-million-copy seller, Robert
Heilbroner offers here a compendium of readings from the worldly
philosophers themselves. The selections range from the earliest economic
thought to such towering volumes as Adam Smith's The Wealth of
Nations, Thomas Malthus's Essay on the Principle of Population, David
Ricardo's Principles of Political Economy, and John Maynard Keynes's
The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money. Acting as a
docent, not merely an editor, he takes the reader through the core
arguments with brilliantly clear commentary (New York Times Book
Review).