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  • The Wealth and Poverty of Nations

  • Why Some Are So Rich and Some So Poor
  • By: David S. Landes
  • Narrated by: Walter Dixon
  • Length: 21 hrs and 47 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (54 ratings)

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The Wealth and Poverty of Nations

By: David S. Landes
Narrated by: Walter Dixon
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Publisher's summary

The Wealth and Poverty of Nations is David S. Landes' acclaimed, best-selling exploration of one of the most contentious and hotly debated questions of our time: Why do some nations achieve economic success while others remain mired in poverty? The answer, as Landes definitively illustrates, is a complex interplay of cultural mores and historical circumstance. Rich with anecdotal evidence, piercing analysis, and a truly astonishing range of erudition, The Wealth and Poverty of Nations is a "picture of enormous sweep and brilliant insight" (Kenneth Arrow) as well as one of the most audaciously ambitious works of history in decades.

©1999, 1998 David S. Landes (P)2021 Tantor
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History
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What listeners say about The Wealth and Poverty of Nations

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One of best books on Economic history that I have found

As a student of history and economics, I appreciate how well the author explains world economic history. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in history or economic development.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent and very readable work.

Superb work of intelligent scholarship written with a real flair for apt phraseology that makes it a joy to absorb. Impressed with judiciously expressed judgments that are generally very fair.
Suggest that Why Nations Fail a helpful companion work.

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A detailed explanation

A long and tedious explanation of why things are how they are in this world. It is not simple and does not offer AHA moments or clear suggestions - because they are not possible.

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Great book!

No struggle to finish. interesting material. Good economic history lesson. Economics without modern political posturing.

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Profound insights into one of the great questions

Such an important book that it is quoted by some of the greatest minds of our time; that's how I found it.

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    4 out of 5 stars

Unapologetic, comprehensive

Having read quite a lot on this subject this book does a good job at tackling most of the prevailing theories and is unapologetic if some of these theories may hurt some group's feelings. Such a book could never have been written in today's politically correct world. While at times the book seems a bit disorganized I founds myself learning quite a bit. Recommend!

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Interesting

I now look at the world a little bit different. I see there is so many reasons to why a country is rich and poor.

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History and economics

Just a great book. A super in-depth look into why and how we are where we are in the present. A serious step by step analysis of where countries got their wealth, how some lost it, and how others still struggle to obtain it. Highly recommend to the curious and intellectually hungry.

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Excellent

This book depicts reality an interesting and fascinating picture. Highly recommended if you want a dose of how the world actually works and why it is the way it is

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    2 out of 5 stars

The rise of the West mishmash

A lot of interesting tidbits served in a flow-of-consciouness manner. Lots of references to cultural battles among academics during the latter half of the 20th century. A good performance: This book put me to sleep during many long nights. No good synthesis to answer the question on the title, except "culture is important". (Of course it is, dammit!). Just throw in "path dependence", protectionist state support during the catch-up phase, plus the cutthroat competition among states within a fragmented Europe and you have it all. No need to listen to the book, unless you need a good night's sleep...

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