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Free book! Just write me

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jtucker Posted: Fri, Jan 23 2009 9:44 PM

I'm live blogging this book on intellectual property, Boldrine and Levine, and it occurs to me that this is a great exercise. It takes a lot of discipline but it is great training and a wonderful service.I'm learning more by live blogging it than merely reading it through.

Here is my proposal. If you plan to live blog any book in the Mises store, from top to bottom, on this forum or on your own blog or somewhere else, meaning write on each chapter, summary and critique and commentary, we will send it to you for free.

Any book. Just write me a note at tucker@mises.com and we will send it to you. But you have to live up to your promise.

Does that sound like a deal?

Jeffrey Tucker
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Sounds like a great deal!

 

I wish I knew that before I decided to buy Principles of Economics by Carl Menger though.  Oh well, I might try to live blog it anyway.  Besides, the money goes to a great cause.

Where I come from, the women don't glow, but the men definitely plunder. 

 

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jtucker replied on Fri, Jan 23 2009 10:01 PM

Wow, that would be great. again, write me and we can send something else as a gift.

I do think that this method of writing/reading for public consumption is very riveting, for readers everywhere.

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jtucker:

Wow, that would be great. again, write me and we can send something else as a gift.

I do think that this method of writing/reading for public consumption is very riveting, for readers everywhere.

 

I also see it as helpful for not only the people reading the blogs, but the writer of the blog.  I know that as a write about a text, I come to a much better understanding of it.  I guess you could say that it could help my scholarly pursuits as much as the readers'.

Where I come from, the women don't glow, but the men definitely plunder. 

 

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jtucker replied on Fri, Jan 23 2009 10:14 PM

yes, great challenge. you have to fully comprehend, summarize, understand, put in context, apply, evaluate, etc. etc.

very demanding but super stimulating too

Jeffrey Tucker
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jtucker:
But you have to live up to your promise.

Are there deadlines implicit in this promise? How long is it allowed to take? For example, could we read it at a pace where we read a chapter every two weeks or would we have to finish the live blog in a two week timeframe? 

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Telpeurion replied on Fri, Jan 23 2009 10:52 PM

I would also be interested Mr. Tucker, definitely another great idea. Personally, I think this would be an exceptional way to introduce other bloggers outside the Austrian sphere to the works of Mises, Menger, Hayek, etc. Few wish to read .pdf files on a bright monitor, and fewer would actually buy the paper, ink, and bindings; but the offer of a free book might just be what will expand horizons.

I've wanted to read Human Action for sometime. :p

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sirmonty replied on Sat, Jan 24 2009 7:45 AM

What a cool idea!

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Telpeurion:
I've wanted to read Human Action for sometime. :p

Looks like Bob Murphy beat you to it!

Jeff, what does a live blog look like? Similar to Murphy's HA Study guide?

Austrians do it a priori

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Could it not be a book of analogous monetary value from the store? Usually if I read a book I already own it or plan not to read it again in the immediate future.

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jtucker replied on Sat, Jan 24 2009 8:16 AM

When you write, please include your address.

No deadline.But it would be great to see anything as soon as you have it. Even if it is a reflection on the table of contents or what you expect to find.

A live blog is your own creation. It can consist of a rigorous analysis, just personal reflections, ideas that the reading prompts, or whatever. I think of it as a written record of your thoughts.

You can do this with any book. Look broadly through the store.

Thanks everyone!

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Sage replied on Sat, Jan 24 2009 9:41 AM

Jeffrey, you should make a page organizing your live blog posts so we can find them all in one place.

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Sage:

Jeffrey, you should make a page organizing your live blog posts so we can find them all in one place.

Or perhaps we should have a forums section devoted to posts about books or where people can post links to their blog entries about books they are reading. I am going to do The Vampire Economy by the way.

I am an eklektarchist not an anarchist.

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ayrnieu replied on Sat, Jan 24 2009 10:03 AM
How about extending the store to let people to purchase this as a 'microgrant'? "I'd like a replacement copy of Capitalism and-- oh! this is neat: I'd also like two copies for people who'll commit to blogging their way through it."
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Jeffrey, I always planned to do this (book reviews), but as Jon mentioned, once I read a book I'm less likely to pick it up again.

I've got my eye on a couple works, and I'm wondering if we can get affiliate IDs for the store.  Those of us with proper websites.

This is a fantastic idea, although I would make a suggestion or two from my past experience.  Make sure they know where they are going to blog it.  See if they have ever blogged before.  About 5 years ago, I had a business that sent out samples for review.  Even when qualifying that my reviewers were somewhat legit, I never had more than a 70% review rate.  Although I am sure you understand there may be a loss factor at work here.

If you find something evil that wobbles, push it. - Gary North

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ryanpatgray:
Or perhaps we should have a forums section devoted to posts about books or where people can post links to their blog entries about books they are reading.

I have an undeveloped domain that could be used for this.

 

If you find something evil that wobbles, push it. - Gary North

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wombatron replied on Sat, Jan 24 2009 11:15 AM

liberty student:
Those of us with proper websites.

No offense, me Stick out tongue

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Forsmant replied on Sat, Jan 24 2009 12:12 PM

How many books would we be allowed to obtain freely and blog on?  Is this perpetual or a one time deal?

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wombatron:
No offense, me Stick out tongue

I don't get it.

If you find something evil that wobbles, push it. - Gary North

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It's some insider humour from another site we're on. Basically he's saying he doesn't have a proper website.

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