General

Re: I need two Austrian book recommendations for a Christmas gift.

Edmund Carlyle — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 17:34:43 GMT

So I'm still in the dark here: what are the many ('riddled with') problems from an Austrian perspective?

Well, given that many of its fundamental analogies are problematic, that would 'riddle it' with problems, wouldn't it?

In regards to Hayek, the best reading of him is a Misesian one; unfortunately many of his later books (such as his books on government and epistemology) are pretty much worthless from any sort of reading; and his obsession with 'scientism' and 'constructivist rationalism' are totally misaimed. He's basically still arguing with the 1930s.

Not to denigrate his intelligence or anything, but I'd be just as critical and wary of Hayek as I am of Sowell; both of them have some pretty serious problems from an in depth Austrian (or Misesian) and libertarian perspective.

Re: I need two Austrian book recommendations for a Christmas gift.

AdrianHealey — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 11:40:21 GMT

Edmund Carlyle:

Hayek's best book before he back tracked on praxeology and got into his weird knowledge fetish, then started writing incoherent philosophy and law.

The best read of Hayek is a Misesian one. ;)

Re: I need two Austrian book recommendations for a Christmas gift.

AdrianHealey — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 11:38:42 GMT

Edmund Carlyle:

go for the invisible hook.

An interesting book, but riddled with problems from an Austrian standpoint (like Mr. Leeson himself). Check out these comments and criticisms:

The Economics of “Certaine Lewd and Ill-Disposed Persons”: Comment on Leeson by Art Carden
Piracy, Inc.: On the Bearing of the Firm Analogy to Pirate Organization by Per Bylund

On the Bearing of the Firm Analogy

to Pirate Organization

Piracy, Inc.

On the Bearing of the Firm Analogy

to Pirate Organization

Piracy,

Inc.

On the Bearing of the Firm Analogy

to Pirate Organizat

The first paper doesn't really offer any criticism. The second paper, although it is a critique, doesn't really debunk the book as a whole, now does it?

So I'm still in the dark here: what are the many ('riddled with') problems from an Austrian perspective?

Re: I need two Austrian book recommendations for a Christmas gift.

Michael J Green — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 08:00:10 GMT

If you think your friend would read and appreciate a book like Human Action, then I can't think of a better gift.

And as a book that concerns both history and economics (though not an economic book like HA and others recommended), the Independent Institute's The Voluntary City is a fantastic book. I received it for Christmas last year, and it was easily the best gift I got. It's not necessarily an Austrian book, though several contributors are Austrians or near enough.

And regarding Bastiat's The Law, Mises.org does sell the Bastiat collection in hardcover. One of the pricier items in the store ($44), but it is Bastiat.

Re: I need two Austrian book recommendations for a Christmas gift.

Scrooge McDuck — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 07:08:39 GMT

Thanks for the recommendations, I'm going to choose two from:

Socialism

Human Action

America's Great Depression

Or Man, Economy, and State by itself.

I'm thinking about going with Socialism and AGE, that way he gets exposed to two different authors. However, I think Human Action or MES would look impressive on his shelf, I know he takes pride in his book collection.

Re: I need two Austrian book recommendations for a Christmas gift.

Edmund Carlyle — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 06:02:33 GMT

Praxeology had not been developed at the time.

You're right, I meant more he goes away from the Misesian framework.

MES is best read after Human Action. MES is more of a systematic treatment, HA is more of Mises clearing the ground and setting the foundations.

Re: I need two Austrian book recommendations for a Christmas gift.

Jonathan M. F. Catalán — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 05:58:25 GMT

Hayek's best book before he back tracked on praxeology...

Praxeology had not been developed at the time. Hayek's methodology is made clear in Monetary Theory and the Trade Cycle, and it deviated from Mises's as early as then. Hayek was never a straight Misesian scholar (not that this is a bad thing; it may be or it may not be, I don't pass judgment here); how far he deviated is up to debate (for example, Salerno takes a very critical stance against Hayek).

I actually find Human Action's writing to be more understandable than Hayek's in Prices and Production, but they're both pretty "Germanic". I was going to say Prices and Production, but the scope of the book (even the 2008 Mises Institute edition, with various other essays) is limited compared to that of Human Action. HA really presents Austrian theory (or Mises's variation of) completely and comprehensively. Of course, other books will have to be read to get a better picture, but as a a general treatise on economic theory I think Human Action is hard to beat (Man, Economy, and State is a good alternative, but I don't think Rothbard's book is a replacement for Human Action).

Re: I need two Austrian book recommendations for a Christmas gift.

Edmund Carlyle — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 05:42:22 GMT

I wouldn't suggest Human Action. Mises repeats himself a lot and goes off on tangents. It's a great and informative book, but not a very good read. My favorite book of all-times is Hayek's Prices and Production.

Hayek's best book before he back tracked on praxeology and got into his weird knowledge fetish, then started writing incoherent philosophy and law.

Mises' work is great for looking into the philosophy behind Praxeology, which is about as important as the actual economics; since by itself it refutes most mainstream economic positions. And he's very erudite, something I enjoy.

Re: I need two Austrian book recommendations for a Christmas gift.

Esuric — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 05:37:23 GMT

I wouldn't suggest Human Action. Mises repeats himself a lot and goes off on tangents. It's a great and informative book, but not a very good read. My favorite book of all-times is Hayek's Prices and Production.

Re: I need two Austrian book recommendations for a Christmas gift.

Edmund Carlyle — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 05:30:57 GMT

Agreed, Human Action is one of my favorite books. I have an old audiobook copy of it, too.

Re: I need two Austrian book recommendations for a Christmas gift.

Jonathan M. F. Catalán — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 05:04:20 GMT

Provided in hardcover:

Mises's Human Action. This is only $20, IIRC, through Mises.org, and is indispensible (provided that he actually reads it).

As for the second one, I dunno. But, I think Human Action would be a good gift.

Re: I need two Austrian book recommendations for a Christmas gift.

Edmund Carlyle — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 04:30:31 GMT

go for the invisible hook.

An interesting book, but riddled with problems from an Austrian standpoint (like Mr. Leeson himself). Check out these comments and criticisms:

The Economics of “Certaine Lewd and Ill-Disposed Persons”: Comment on Leeson by Art Carden
Piracy, Inc.: On the Bearing of the Firm Analogy to Pirate Organization by Per Bylund

On the Bearing of the Firm Analogy

to Pirate Organization*

Piracy, Inc.

On the Bearing of the Firm Analogy

to Pirate Organization

Piracy,

Inc.

On the Bearing of the Firm Analogy

to Pirate Organization

Re: I need two Austrian book recommendations for a Christmas gift.

Student — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 04:22:23 GMT

go for the invisible hook.

it is a history/politics/economics book.

and everyone likes pirates

Re: I need two Austrian book recommendations for a Christmas gift.

Edmund Carlyle — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 04:21:50 GMT

Tom Woods is a good recommendation. I would say Meltdown and the PIG to American History.

Re: I need two Austrian book recommendations for a Christmas gift.

William — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 04:12:41 GMT

et him a couple of Tom Woods history books. They are usually pretty fun reads.