Book Review: The Wealth and Poverty of Nations by David S. Landes (1998)

Introduction

Why are some nations rich while others struggle with persistent poverty? This timeless question lies at the heart of David S. Landes’s monumental work, The Wealth and Poverty of Nations: Why Some Are So Rich and Some So Poor (1998).

Drawing on history, economics, geography, and culture, Landes offers a sweeping and intellectually rich narrative that explores how human societies have evolved economically over centuries and what lessons modern nations can learn from this evolution.

Published at the close of the 20th century, the book remains a foundational text in the fields of economic history, development studies, and international relations, provoking debate among scholars, policymakers, and readers alike.

Key Themes and Insights

Culture as the Engine of Progress
Landes places culture at the center of development. He argues that societies valuing discipline, punctuality, education, and innovation have historically advanced faster. Protestant ethics, scientific curiosity, and meritocracy not just capital or trade underpinned the West’s rise.

• The Industrial Revolution as a Turning Point
  The author portrays the Industrial Revolution as…