Trying to learn about libertarianism, I’ve have sought out who-to-follow-online recommendations. Well, book recommendations would also help. If libertarianism was fraternity, initiation would probably include a reading list. Maybe this one: Tom Woods' Ultimate Libertarian Reading List. I organized the titles into conceptually-oriented and historically-oriented groups, roughly chronologized the latter, and annotated them all with takeaways from their various, respective reviews. Also, you'll see I added a title. (I explain why! 🙂 ) Interesting exclusions (like Bastiat’s The Law, Hayek’s Road to Serfdom) but more interesting inclusions. Enjoy.
Conceptual
The Problem of Political Authority by Michael Huemer
a 2013 book by a University of Colorado philosophy professor that brings a philosophical case for anarchy before arguing the pragmatics of anarcho-capitalism.
The Economics and Ethics of Private Property by Hoppe
No review found on first pass, but it’s by Hoppe, so yay!
For a New Liberty by Rothbard
A manifesto promoting anarcho-capitalism
The Revolution: A Manifesto by Ron Paul
The most popular libertarian book like ever.
The Left, the Right, and the State by Lew Rockwell
Rockwell's manifesto
How an Economy Grows and Why it Crashes by Peter Schiff
User-friendly read on how economies work.
The Quest for Community by Robert Nisbet
Advocating a healthy political pluralism
Choice by Robert Murphy
Mises’ Human Action for the rest of us.
Contra Krugman by Robert Murphy
Pop-level critical engagement of Krugman’s work.
The Church and the Market by Tom Woods
On Catholic social teaching, relating to liberty, particularly correcting inconsistently conservative Catholicism
Real Dissent by Tom Woods
From the table of contents it looks like a quick guided tour through a collection of big, timely, and generally interesting libertarian subjects.
The Use of Knowledge in Society by Friedrich Hayek
While not from the ultimate list, I had to add me a Hayek. This essay came highly recommended and was also said to contain particularly Hayekian insights. Also, its free.
Historical
What Has Government Done to Our Money? by Rothbard
a 1963 book on the history of money from barter to gold to today.
We Who Dared to Say No to War by Tom Woods
Boldly outspoken opponents of war and their words, collected.
The Politically Incorrect Guide to American History by Tom Woods
Fun read offering a corrective to popular misconceptions on American history
33 Questions About American History You're Not Supposed to Ask by Tom Woods
More controversial historical correctives from the man who makes it fun
Modern Times by Paul Johnson
A conservative overview of 20th century world history
Harvest of Sorrow by Robert Conquest
Zeroing in on Stalin and Ukraine
A Concise History of the Russian Revolution by Richard Pipes
A portable interpretation of the Russian Revolution
America’s Great Depression by Rothbard
An examination of the great depression through the lens of Austrian Business cycle theory and a case for the perspective.
Making Economic Sense by Rothbard
Rothbard’s business news commentary
Meltdown by Tom Woods
On the 2007 financial crisis, forward by Ron Paul
November 10 at
I like your annotations. It makes the lists more accessible to someone uncertain where to begin. Have you read any of these or are they all part of your personal to read list, too?
Also, as a minor note, your link to What Has The Government Done to Our Money, connects to a large print version.
October 1 at
thanks for the heads up on the large print version. And I have read every libertarian book EVEr. 🙂 (says future me). No, many of these are yet-to-reads for me too.