This is an examination of the writings of the philosophers featured in the author's book "The Worldly philosophers". Heilbroner guides the reader through works culled from the history of economic thought, and considers the core arguments of works seldom read, but often referred to. The works introduced range from the earliest economic thought found in the Bible and Aquinas, to major works such as Adam Smith's "The Wealth of Nations", Malthus's "Essay on the Principle of Population", and David Ricardo's "Principles of Political Economy", to Keynes's "General Theory". Heilbroner reveals that the sturdiest principles of economics reside not in mathematical equations, but in wide-ranging and stimulating appraisals of the behaviour of individuals within their social contexts and society.