Newbies

Re: First libertarian book

Pablo J. Gutierrez F. III — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 20:44:59 GMT

"The Fatal Conceit - The Errors of Socialism" by F.A. Hayek

"Capitalism and Freedom" by Milton Friedman

"Economics in One Lesson" by Henry Hazlitt

Those are some good reads.

Re: First libertarian book

Kelvin Silva — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 17:21:39 GMT

John james- Liberty defined is more for a person that is in the middle of choosing between statism or not, or who wants to learn more of ron paul's principles.

Re: First libertarian book

Kelvin Silva — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 17:17:27 GMT

For a New Liberty.

Its around 400 pages long. Its a pretty good read, rothbard is a good write.

This is a book that i would reccommend since its like many other books combined into 1.

Re: First libertarian book

Nielsio — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 15:13:15 GMT

http://www.vforvoluntary.com/books/economics/

Re: First libertarian book

agisthos — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 15:09:56 GMT

If someone is already anti statist and capitalist, then Hoppe's A Theory of Socialism and Capitalism or Democracy The God That Failes are my picks.

Re: First libertarian book

agisthos — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 15:01:21 GMT

In my opinion the best place to start someone is John Stossel's books 'Give me a break' and 'Pass the Shoval'.

The reason is this - the average person is very indoctrinated into thinking the State is their friend and that government protects them from the evil capitalist businessman. Stossels books are great, because they are one example after another of how government rules and regulations are actually for the benefit of big business and special interests, not for the consumer.

Stossel was a left liberal and through constant exposure to consumer investigative journalism, he gradually began to realise government itself was the cause of societies ills.

This is the first step to opening someone to libertarianism and freedom, having them understand the State not the protector but the exploiter on behalf of those wielding the power. Then average joe be ready for 'For A New Liberty' or some other intro book on libertarianism.

Re: First libertarian book

John James — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 22:36:29 GMT

Wheylous:
I haven't read the Ethics of Liberty, only excerpts, but it appears to be quite comprehensive.

Yeah EoL is generally considered the more advanced sequal to FaNL. From what he described it seems like the latter is perfect. However if it's too long, I think Beyond Democracy and Anatomy of the State may work well.

I think visiting the Mises forums is quite good, too :)

Re: First libertarian book

socialdtk — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 17:58:02 GMT

For a New Liberty: The Libertarian Manifesto was the book that showed me that there a was another option beyond the typical democrat republican paradigm.

Re: First libertarian book

Vladimir Igor N. Ghinculov — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 15:50:09 GMT

@John James

Yeah, I know it's quite long but it was my first Rothbard book, the one that made me an AnCap. If I was sure about this choice I wouldn't have asked you, guys :)

Re: First libertarian book

Wheylous — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 15:09:33 GMT

I haven't read the Ethics of Liberty, only excerpts, but it appears to be quite comprehensive.

I think visiting the Mises forums is quite good, too :)

Re: First libertarian book

MMMark — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 14:06:40 GMT

Sun. 12/06/17 10:06 EDT
.post #171

Vladimir Igor N. Ghinculov:
... I'd like a book that will put what we stand for in clear words.

Defending The Undefendable, by Walter Block, is a short, entertaining, easy-to-read book that applies libertarian principles to some of society's most "unsavory" characters, with surprising results.

Re: First libertarian book

John James — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 12:36:58 GMT

Vladimir Igor N. Ghinculov:
As I said she's libertarian in her almost every stance (anti-statist, pro-choice, capitalist, climate change skeptic) but didn't form yet a philosophy and I'd like a book that will put what we stand for in clear words.

Oh. Well in that case, I'd say you're on the money with For a New Liberty...

For one thing I didn't realize you were looking for an explication of philosophy, and two, I didn't 330 pages was short enough. I would also recommend Liberty Defined.

Another place you might check is the reading lists.

Re: First libertarian book

Aristippus — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 11:05:36 GMT

I recommend:

FA Hayek, The Fatal Conceit

Hans-Hermann Hoppe, A Theory of Socialism and Capitalism

Anthony de Jasay, Against Politics

Re: First libertarian book

Vladimir Igor N. Ghinculov — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 11:04:01 GMT

Personally, I was thinking about Rothbard's For a New Liberty but I'm waiting for other suggestions.

Re: First libertarian book

Wheylous — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 10:21:48 GMT

Woops. Sorry. I had the unfortunate experience of being convinced of libertarianism mostly by myself, and hence have no "eye-opening books" that helped me. Although I must say that Chaos Theory by Murphy definitely helped to push me from minarchy to AnCap.