The Libertarian Reader’s Starter Pack
The holidays are right around the corner and if you’re like me, you probably wait until the last minute to buy gifts. So I’ve compiled a list of books that are perfect for anyone just starting out down the road of liberty.
That is one thing I love about talking with libertarians. They are usually extremely well read. That is also a big hinderance to talking about the ideas of liberty with people that haven’t done the hard work and reading that most libertarians have done. We often forget that not everyone has thought about these ideas in the same way we have.
The liberty movement is growing. Slowly, but it is growing. I believe the major reason for the slow growth is that it takes work to think through the principles of liberty and apply them in a principled and consistent manor. It is far easier for most people to just side with one of the major parties or think about libertarianism in a simplistic way like the standard “socially liberal; fiscally conservative”. There is so much more to it than that and it is far more than just a political party. There is economics and social aspects of libertarianism.
So if you, or someone you know, is new to the liberty movement I have compiled a list of books that will help educate and enlighten. This libertarian reader’s starter pack has books of varying lengths and topics. You can find that perfect gift for your libertarian friend or family member.
The Law
This is a quick one. I mean, you’ll have it read quicker than Amazon can deliver it to you, even with the 2-hour shipping option! You seriously have no reason not to read this book. Bastiat breaks down what freedom really means in simple but precise words.
The Libertarian Mind: A Manifesto for Freedom
This is a great read to cover a wide range of issues. From the history of individual freedom to how liberty can and should be applied in any situation and topic without being dogmatic. As I said earlier, libertarians often argue over different topics. This book does a good job of giving an overview of the principles. With this as a foundation, you can easily use this to form your own arguments and opinions. Liberty is, after all, about you making an individual choice, opposed to being told what or how to think. That makes this a great read for anyone figuring out what all this is really about.
Don’t Hurt People and Don’t Take Their Stuff: A Libertarian Manifesto
Another quick read. Not quite as short as The Law, but it can be finished in a couple days, and again, I’m a slow reader. The libertarian philosophy might take some reading up on to figure out some of the details and how it applies in specific situations, but its based on some very simple points. Not hurting people and not taking their stuff is a great way to sum it up, but this book provides a quick read on how that can be applied in many aspects of life.
Capitalism and Freedom
Those who have really dug deep into the libertarian philosophy probably think of Milton Friedman as libertarian-lite. He might be a better fit for someone on the fence with libertarianism, but his ideas make a lot of sense, even 40 years after he wrote them. This is another quick, 2-3 day read that is well worth it.
The Road to Serfdom
F.A. Hayek is in the pantheon of libertarian philosophers. From the Austrian school of economics, he’s up there with Ludwig von Mises and Murray Rothbard. Although this book is not a quick read, it is an easy read. Hayek explains how any policy or government program that moves toward socialism also moves us closer to servitude. Although proponents of socialism often believe they are following policies designed to help the majority of people, that short sighted naivety actually hurts people by limiting their individual freedom while giving more power to political elites. This is truly a great read for anyone interested in the political or economic ideas of libertarianism.
Anthem
I don’t read fiction very often, but when I do, I really enjoy a good dystopian novel. Anthem was written by Ayn Rand who is known more for her books Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead. Those are great reads, but at about a thousand pages each, they might not be the best read to get someone started on. Anthem is a great depiction on what a world with actual equality would look like and how equality is the antithesis of individual freedom. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t treat people equally in life, it only means that when the government tries to enforce it, everyone loses. Its like cutting down an entire forest so all the trees are of equal height. This is a quick read that can be finished in a day.
