ItissymbolicthatAdamSmith'smasterpieceofeconomicanalysis,TheWealthofNations,wasfirstpublishedin1776,thesameyearasthe"DeclarationofIndependence." Inhisbook,Smithferventlyextolledthesimpleyetenlightenednotionthatindividualsarefullycapableofsettingandregulatingpricesfortheirowngoodsandservices.Hearguedpassionatelyinfavoroffreetrade,yetstoodupforthelittleguy.TheWealthofNationsprovidedthefirst--andstillthemosteloquent--integrateddescriptionoftheworkingsofamarketeconomy. TheresultofSmith'seffortsisawitty,highlyreadableworkofgeniusfilledwithprescienttheoriesthatformthebasisofathrivingcapitalistsystem.Thisunabridgededitionoffersthemodernreaderafreshlookatatimelessandseminalworkthatrevolutionizedthewaygovernmentsandindividualsviewthecreationanddispersionofwealth--andthatcontinuestoinfluenceoureconomyrightuptothepresentday.