Adam Smith – The Theory of Moral Sentiments book review

In a nutshell (368 pages), this is the original self-help book. It’s hard to fathom someone of the sort of Adam Smith could, in his day and time, write such an insightful and honest book. If you’ve ever read any sort of self-help book, this one will strike you as the obvious origins. Smith goes through every imaginable situation a person may be confronted with, explains how someone should and should not act, and why that is. Not only why someone should or should not act a certain way but what usually motivates them to do so.

What I got out of it

Constantly throughout the book I was floored by an insight that in hindsight, with simple language, might seem so obvious it’s hardly worth mentioning but what you get is a 360-degree understanding of human nature, its causes and effects. Much of the book is less guidance than it is explanations of human nature. The information is also very useful because of the neutral way it is offered. Smith is oftentimes almost flippant about someone’s religious faith but with the aim to speak frankly, honestly and clearly.

What was difficult

Not necessarily a negative, I often stopped reading the book just to digest what I’d read. Sometimes because it was encouraging, sometimes because it was shaming, and everything in between.

Recommendation

Absolutely everyone should read this book at least once. Especially in this age of friends, family, companies, religions and governments trying to have a say as to how we should live our lives and why this book is incredibly important. Life and relationships are difficult, this book will help you navigate it all.