I have many friends who look at the world through that typical social democrat prism. I was wondering what book/books/articles you people think would be the best starting place for my friends. I think that the Ethics of Liberty may be a little radical for the uninitiated. It also has the drawback of lacking an historical account of how free exchange has been good for humankind while statism has been bad (as a person's perception of history heavily influences their worldview).
So, are what would you all recommend?
Gene Callahan's Economics for Real People or Hazlitt's Economics in One Lesson.
the books that had the most influence personally:
Economics in one Lesson, Henry Hazlitt
For a New Liberty, Murray Rothbard
Road to Serfdom; Constitution of Liberty, FA Hayek
Theory and History, LVM
It all depends on why the person is a socialist. If it's an issue of economics (e.g., concern for the poor, inefficiency of the market, anything like that) then anything showing capitalism's ability to produce goods better than socialist systems and actually increase everyone's wealth would be good (for those willing to be a bit more intellectual, Mises' classic work on the calculation problem of socialism Economic Calculation in the Socialist Commonwealth would be excellent). If it's a moral issue, you'll need something different, perhaps The Ethics of Liberty or Road to Serfdom, to convince them that capitalism is the more desirable system from a moral standpoint.
Thanks people. Those are all excellent suggestions.
Unfortunately I think that a lot of those books would be a little too scholarly for many of my friends. I think that the ideal book for these types would be an historical account of how capitalism/free exchange/freedom has benefitted society as many of their preconceptions are based on their understandings of history. In other words, a book that attempts to rebut the commonly taught myths (i.e. the industrial revolution) - something along the lines of Woods but less focused on American history (Canadian here).
Bob Murphy's Politically Incorrect Guide to Capitalism is probably the book you're looking for. It's definitely the best nonacademic book of capitalist apologetics (particularly with regard to refuting socialist mythology) that I'm aware of. It's not strictly historical but does give some specific examples from history where the market is frequently scapegoated to illustrate his theses.
Diminishing Marginal Utility - IT'S THE LAW!
Solomon:Bob Murphy's Politically Incorrect Guide to Capitalism
That sounds perfect. Thanks!
I just finished reading How Capitalism Saved America by Thomas J. DiLorenzo. Its a very well written book, check it out at the Mises store.
I think Kevin Carson's "Austrian and Marxist Theories of Monopoly Capital: A Mutualist Synthesis" would be great suggested reading for a Socialist (I'm currently reading it myself; I also think Carson would be an interesting start for a Socialist to look into viewpoints beyond their own choir, so to speak). Link (to .pdf of A Mutalist Synthesis mentioned above)It probably won't convert them, but I think it also has appeal (aside from merit of the paper itself) to a Socialist since it's done by someone on the "sideline", as it were, rather than someone who is arguing "either or" concerning Marxism & Austrian theories.I'd say you'd have an easier time if you slip in the line "Even if you are a socialist, it would be great to know other arguments & viewpoints to help clarify your own." Doubly easier if the said Sociaist already does reading beyond wikipedia entries, methinks.
"Look at me, I'm quoting another user to show how wrong I think they are, out of arrogance of my own position. Wait, this is my own quote, oh shi-" ~ Nitroadict
if it's history you're looking for, i might suggest The Myth of the Robber Barrons by Burton Folsom.
mitcjm: Thanks people. Those are all excellent suggestions. Unfortunately I think that a lot of those books would be a little too scholarly for many of my friends. I think that the ideal book for these types would be an historical account of how capitalism/free exchange/freedom has benefitted society as many of their preconceptions are based on their understandings of history. In other words, a book that attempts to rebut the commonly taught myths (i.e. the industrial revolution) - something along the lines of Woods but less focused on American history (Canadian here).
Bearing in mind that many of your friends will be rather religious in their belief in socialism, may I suggest Milton Friedman's "Free to Choose". I know that Chicago is a long way from Vienna, but Friedman's book is aimed at persuading socialists of the value of the free market: it is easy to read and not too threatening.
These all sound good, can't wait to check them out (and then it's off to convert the masses).
mitcjm: I have many friends who look at the world through that typical social democrat prism. I was wondering what book/books/articles you people think would be the best starting place for my friends. I think that the Ethics of Liberty may be a little radical for the uninitiated. It also has the drawback of lacking an historical account of how free exchange has been good for humankind while statism has been bad (as a person's perception of history heavily influences their worldview). So, are what would you all recommend?
it is usually a good idea to appeal to what someone already believes.
I suggest Mary Ruwart's, healing our world.
Remnant: Bearing in mind that many of your friends will be rather religious in their belief in socialism, may I suggest Milton Friedman's "Free to Choose". I know that Chicago is a long way from Vienna, but Friedman's book is aimed at persuading socialists of the value of the free market: it is easy to read and not too threatening.
the name Friedman will scare off anyone automatically. that's a sad fact, but it's true. his name is associated with the privatization schemes that many socialists - and sometimes rightfully so - detest.
No matter if it's radical, go with the Ethics of Liberty.
"You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows"
Bob Dylan
Canadian here too. I would like to suggest Walter Block's "Defending the Undefendable". It is written in a very casual, non-technical, barely-philosophical manner. It's EXCELLENT as a softener, if not a converter.
Everyday, I am finding that first getting people to agree that government are a bunch of screwups and thieves, allows me to go a little deeper later and explain concepts like the consent of the goverened, or the right to own property.
Personally, I have found Western socialists to be enormous hypocrites. They want to punish someone else for doing better than them, but they definitely do not want their own property rights violated, or upward mobility compromised.
So appealing directly to their self-interest is always a good one. Socialists want more, Conservatives want to lose less (in my opinion).
liberty student: Canadian here too. I would like to suggest Walter Block's "Defending the Undefendable". It is written in a very casual, non-technical, barely-philosophical manner. It's EXCELLENT as a softener, if not a converter. Everyday, I am finding that first getting people to agree that government are a bunch of screwups and thieves, allows me to go a little deeper later and explain concepts like the consent of the goverened, or the right to own property. Personally, I have found Western socialists to be enormous hypocrites. They want to punish someone else for doing better than them, but they definitely do not want their own property rights violated, or upward mobility compromised. So appealing directly to their self-interest is always a good one. Socialists want more, Conservatives want to lose less (in my opinion).
You have a much better chance of converting a socialist than a conservative in my opinion. Socialists view government as a means to better the welfare of the people, to convert a socialist all you need to do is prove that government is the source of most inequality and is unable and unwilling to get rid of it.
Conservatives on the other hand, merely view government as an authority without which we'd end up in a state like Hobbes described.
GilesStratton:You have a much better chance of converting a socialist than a conservative in my opinion. Socialists view government as a means to better the welfare of the people, to convert a socialist all you need to do is prove that government is the source of most inequality and is unable and unwilling to get rid of it. Conservatives on the other hand, merely view government as an authority without which we'd end up in a state like Hobbes described.
I don't think you're right on conservatives, but it's really not that important. It's not a competition, although if it was, most of the people who were old enough to vote, be a party member and have an ideology, who have "switched teams" from my observations here in the Mises Forum, are/were conservatives.
The so-called socialists or left conversions seem to come from the really young, in quite a few cases, people who have never lived alone, or held a full-time job, let alone participated in statist politics. Which is great. They are idealists, and the older more conservative folks may be more pragmatists. There is room for everyone if they can agree on the NAP.
How about H.G. Weaver's The Mainspring of Human Progress. You can read it in a few hours, and it's very moving, with a good historical account of the american ideal of liberty, freedom, capitalism.
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David Z
"The issue is always the same, the government or the market. There is no third solution."
the important thing is to not "hide facts" and make peripheral arguments. in other words dont try to sell an idea and not tell about its "dark secrets" even if the person is willing to buy.
I think I agree with you. I was a democrat (not quite socialist) before I became a libertarian. The biggest reason I was a democrat was my environmental views and me being fiercely against the war in Iraq. I gradually converted to libertarianism after educating myself from several websites including this one. It all started to make sense. If it wasn't for the internet I would have still been stuck in my democratic views. I believe Harry Browne's book, Why Government Doesn't Work is a good book to recommend.
GilesStratton: You have a much better chance of converting a socialist than a conservative in my opinion. Socialists view government as a means to better the welfare of the people, to convert a socialist all you need to do is prove that government is the source of most inequality and is unable and unwilling to get rid of it. Conservatives on the other hand, merely view government as an authority without which we'd end up in a state like Hobbes described.
I agree entirely from personal experiences.
Trying to convince a conservative that liberty is the number one goal is like trying to move the stone from the tomb of Jesus. forget about it.
i'd even go so far to say that not only are the socialists easier, but they're better quality libertarians too.
I'd also suggest Robert LeFevre's The Nature of Man and His Government. It's more of a pamphlet than a book. Like Mainspring, it can be read in only a few hours.
I'm not sure that I can suggest a book that is better suited for socialists than for conservatives, if the person reading the book is capable of any independent thought, as long as the book is good and conveys the message clearly, it will at least get the ball rolling.
If they're "un-educated" conservatives (Rush Limbaugh), I would start with some suggesting some William Buckley. Then perhaps, in this order (if they show the least bit of an open mind): Barry Goldwater, John Stossel (or someone else who is less conservative than Goldwater; a bit of intution here is obviously required...), & anything from Reason that doesn't directly attack conservatism. If the conservative you are suggesting to still shows interest, I would let him in on TheLibertyPapers & the LRC. It's a bit of a shot in the dark, but you can't blame one for trying. I normally wouldn't have bothered, but I did actually have some luck all the way up till Goldwater & Stossel with a previously arduent Republican lobbyist (who was apparently Pro-Bush) that some friend's roomates knew. I'm not sure what happened to him (haven't seen him beyond introductions), but he was fairly young, so I'm assuming that helped a bit too, but obviously a huge amount of patience (as well as tolerance) is required for such an undertaking . I have to agree with Anton concerning socialists; discourse I've had with them go much more smoothly when I either ignore minor mis-terms (which tended to set off red flags & inititated tangental arguments), or clarify moreso what I'm *not* advocating (clarifying that I'm not vulgarly excusing the current status of markets or the state as the result of, etc.). Recently, I recommended one of my socialist friends (who has done legit reading) to check out some of Carson's works if they wanted some food for thought ("An Austrian & Marxist Synthesis"). I'm hopeful that he will at least find it worthwhile.
Oh, and I might as well point out the obvious, whilst it won't convert anybody immediatly, it should get them thinking. I'm sure many people on here will disagree with me, but I think 1984 is important and useful.
I think we have all made a great fallacy....we assumed that socialists could read. Reading assumes that one has at least a general level of intelligence, which we can not assume seeing as they are socialists. Socialism makes its point not based on thought, but on emotions. "What songs can we play for socialists so that they can feel free market economics" may be a better question to ask.
Oh, they can read. What they often cannot do is be intellectually honest, so they will concoct myths such as "there's no one truth" and so on.
-Jon
Freedom of markets is positively correlated with the degree of evolution in any society...
bastiat's "the law"
Irwin Schiff =
How an Economy Grows
It's a comic book, about 65 pages... A ten year old can understand it... :)
http://freedom-school.com/money/how-an-economy-grows.pdf
Then in terms of inflation;
The Kingdom of Maltz
http://www.constitution.org/tax/us-ic/schiff/moltz.pdf
Basic of the basics!
I thought that the Politically Incorrect Guide to American History was an excellent starter for me. The purpose of this book is to disprove many of the fallacies that our history books teach us, covering everything from the Great Depression to the ideology of the Founding Fathers. I think that if your socialist/social dem friends read this, they will at least begin to question their own philosophy.
...And nobody has ever taught you how to live out on the street, But now you're gonna have to get used to it...
None other than the wonderful book "Healing Our World In an Age of Aggression" by Dr. Mary Ruwart. It's truly a great book to the introduction of Liberty. That would be my first recommendation to friends
"Government is just a group of men and women doing business at the barrel of a gun." — Marc Stevens, No State Project
I remember when I converted to capitalism from socialism when I was 15. My friend was already trying to persuade me of the value of the market and it had infiltrated my brain until one day I was sat at the computer chair and looked around. I just looked around my room for 30 seconds and and I just asked myself "Could Socialism provide me with all these consumer goods?"
The answer of course was no, and although it was a good two years to get me to where I am now, I am much more of an idealist than I was when I was a communist or indeed a conservative. There is nothing good about being a moderate. You wouldn't compromise with a robber who came into your house to give him only half your money so I don't see why I should compromise with the Government to give them half of my money.
To get back on track; as someone said, morally, the Road to Serfdom is a good one, and economically I think Economics In One Lesson is defintely the best, although I've not read anywhere near as much as I'd like to. Also, point them towards this website. There are some absolutely fantastic articles for confirming a belief in the free market here. They're alot quicker and easier than books but do an amazing job.
If they're anti-war, then it would be an excellent way to persuade them to tell them that Austrian economics is even more anti-war than Socialism, and unlike Socialism, 'under' (I hate to use that term in relation to freedom) Austrian economics it would be extremely hard for a Government to finance an offensive war.