This is the first-ever Human Action Study Guide, and congratulations to Robert Murphy for being the only person in 60 years to complete this much-needed task that has been attempted many times before.
This Guide is spiral bound and 380 pages, complete with summaries, notes, and study questions written by Amadeus Gabriel, a top student of the Misesian approach. Throughout, its pagination is keyed to the Scholars Edition published by the Mises Institute.
Human Action is the core text of the Austrian School and the most rigorous and extended defense of the free economy ever written. And the Guide, years in preparation, opens it up as never before. (You can find the book here.)
Everyone knows of the difficultly of the book, which is matched only by its centrality to a thorough understanding of economic logic and the free society. Even Mises himself hoped for a guide to be written. Many people tried but didn't make it to the end or became frustrated with the sheer difficulty of the task. Only Murphy managed it, and he does it with great authority and attention to detail, even as it makes the book newly accessible.
Part of the genius here is the structure: summary, why it matters, technical notes, and study questions. The writing is exactly what you would expect from Murphy. As with Man, Economy, and State, he has come to the rescue. It is crystal clear and very precise and always interesting.
Another feature here: students and professors will use this book constantly as a one-stop reference for the Austrian School. Here is a remarkable and singular accomplishment.
380 page, spiral softcover, 2008