Book · 2024 · Business & Economics
Adam Smith’s America
How a Scottish Philosopher Became an Icon of American Capitalism
Why people recommend it
Adam Smith’s America by Glory M. Liu examines the historical reception of the famous Scottish philosopher, tracking how his economic theories were interpreted and often co-opted in the United States. On Freakonomics Radio, host Stephen Dubner engaged with Liu's research across multiple episodes in May 2026. Dubner introduced Glory Liu, a political scientist at Georgetown, by highlighting her book on how Smith became an icon of American capitalism. Dubner outlined the central thesis of Liu's work, explaining her argument that Adam Smith's writings have been selectively utilized by the political right, the left, free market evangelists, and various critics alike. In another episode, Dubner referenced Liu's book while questioning guest Russ Roberts about the role of the University of Chicago economics department, specifically noting how figures like Milton Friedman and George Stigler cherry-picked Smith's writings to establish him as a patron saint of free markets. Through these discussions, Dubner used Liu's scholarship to demystify the political evolution of classical economic thought.
Who recommended it
- Stephen Dubner Discussed
Stephen Dubner — 3 mentions
“When we published a Freakonomics Radio series on Adam Smith a few years ago, we interviewed Glory Liu, a political scientist at Georgetown and author of a book called Adam Smith's America: How a Scottish philosopher became an icon of American capitalism.”
“In her book, Liu argues that Adam Smith is often used selectively by the right, by the left, by free market evangelists, and by their critics.”
“And in her new book Adam Smith's America, the political scientist Glory Liu argues that it was that University of Chicago economics department, especially Friedman and Stigler, who sort of cherry-picked Smith's writing and turned him into a patron saint of free market capitalism”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
Other mentions (2: passing, ad reads, own books)
“Gloria Liu is the author of a book called Adam Smith's America, how a Scottish philosopher became an icon of American capitalism.”
“In book, Glory Liu says it mostly came from the University of Chicago. That's accurate according to my view of things.”