Hailed by John Kenneth Galbraith almost a half century ago as a "brilliant achievement, The Worldly Philosophers with more than 2 million copies sold, not only enables us to see more deeply into our history, but helps us to better understand our own times. Heilbroner provides the new theme that connects thinkers as different as Adam Smith and Karl Marx: the desire to understand how a capitalist society works. It is a focus never more needed than in this age of confusing economic headlines.

In a bold new last chapter titled "The End of the Worldly Philosophy?" Heilbroner reminds us that the word "end" refers both to the purpose and the limits of economics. This chapter conveys a concern that today's increasingly "scientific" economics may overlook fundamental social and political issues that are central to economics. Thus, unlike its predecessors, this new edition provides not just an indispensable illumination of our past, but a call to action for our future.