Tyler’s been having fun with his MR Book Club on Keynes’ General Theory:
I will go through the book, chapter by chapter, with an eye toward a
deeper understanding of what Keynes wrote and why it is, as Greg says,
so important.
Query: Is there any interest in having an EconLog Book Club on Murray Rothbard’s For a New Liberty? I’ve got a lot of history with this book, which is now available online. I read it about ten times between the years of 1989 and 1994, and it had a tremendous influence on my thinking. But I haven’t read it for fifteen years. Now I’m curious to revisit it and see how well it holds up.
Even if you find the anarcho-capitalist substance of the book noxious, it’s hard not to admire the style. For a New Liberty is ridiculously well-written, so whatever you conclude, you’ll enjoy the book club experience. Who’s in?
P.S. Glad to see there’s so much interest. I suggest we start discussing Chapter 1, “The Libertarian Heritage: The American Revolution and Classical Liberalism” on January 20.
P.P.S. Make sure you’re reading the 1978 edition (that’s the one that’s online). For extra credit at the end, we can also talk about the original 1973 edition.
READER COMMENTS
David R. Henderson
Jan 14 2009 at 1:20pm
I’m in. Haven’t read it in 20 years. Lost my copy in my Feb. 2007 fire but will get another one.
Adam
Jan 14 2009 at 1:28pm
I’m in for the discussion; I can do that with Rothbard where I could not do that with Keynes (General Theory is just…impenetrable)
Craig T. Nelson
Jan 14 2009 at 1:33pm
Very interested. I’ve not read it, only listened to it on my ipod while commuting.
scott clark
Jan 14 2009 at 1:38pm
I’m in, for what it’s worth.
The Drunken Priest
Jan 14 2009 at 1:39pm
Never read it. I’m in.
Blackadder
Jan 14 2009 at 1:42pm
Sounds good to me. There’s also an audio version of For a New Liberty on the Mises.org website for those (like me) who do a lot of their reading with audio books).
William
Jan 14 2009 at 1:50pm
Count me in, too.
JMH
Jan 14 2009 at 1:57pm
I would say that book is more responsible for me being where I am now than any other. I wanted to be a patent attorney and I read that and I then read Kinsella’s monograph on intellectual property (never would have read Kinsella w/o Rothbard).
Carl Oberg
Jan 14 2009 at 1:58pm
I’m in as well.
Hume
Jan 14 2009 at 2:00pm
I think that is a great idea.
cvd
Jan 14 2009 at 2:07pm
Sounds good to me
Jarrett
Jan 14 2009 at 2:11pm
I’d be in for sure. Great motivation to keep up with reading, and I feel so much more understanding could be gleaned from discussion.
Julian Fondren
Jan 14 2009 at 2:13pm
A great feature of the audiobook is that you’re still talking about your objection to some point of Rothbard’s as this very objection is raised and then answered.
Michael Kolczynski
Jan 14 2009 at 2:25pm
I’m in, when do we start?
HispanicPundit
Jan 14 2009 at 2:29pm
I’m in!
libfree
Jan 14 2009 at 2:39pm
I’m game.
Gu Si Fang
Jan 14 2009 at 2:56pm
Yes please!
Jim Chappelow
Jan 14 2009 at 2:59pm
Let’s do it!
Willem
Jan 14 2009 at 3:28pm
I’m in!
Debit
Jan 14 2009 at 4:40pm
I enjoyed The Ethics of Liberty better, but I am definitely in. Thank you!
ian dunois
Jan 14 2009 at 5:05pm
I’m IN!
wintercow20
Jan 14 2009 at 5:11pm
great idea Bryan. I actually use his formulation of property rights from this book to teach in my Principles class – and mention the scary problems with strong utilitarian ethics he identifies. I found the first half of the book far more useful than the last – probably because you can’t talk about the latter without the former.
Anyhow, I am in too.
The Cupboard Is Bare
Jan 14 2009 at 6:32pm
I think it’s a wonderful idea and am quite appreciative of the fact that you’re doing this.
Thanks.
Unit
Jan 14 2009 at 7:58pm
in
Grant
Jan 14 2009 at 8:20pm
…am I the only one who’d rather do Hayek? Even when he’s right, Rothbard always seems like a nutcase to me.
Oh well, guess I’m in anyways.
Jeremy, Alabama
Jan 14 2009 at 9:56pm
As a Serfdom lover looking for new horizons, I’m interested.
Robbie Clarken
Jan 15 2009 at 12:09am
I’ve only listened to the audiobook version so I’ll enjoy revisiting For a New Liberty with a more critical eye.
Tim
Jan 15 2009 at 12:55am
Fantastic!
Stewart
Jan 15 2009 at 2:42am
I am in.
Mr. Karla
Jan 15 2009 at 10:43am
Very good idea, imho Rothbard-philosopher at his best.
Jacob Miller
Jan 15 2009 at 9:44pm
Great idea.
Arare Litus
Jan 18 2009 at 12:52am
I am taking your “Purity Test” prior to reading and discussion, and will retake the test post experience to see if there is a measurable change in my views:
http://www.bcaplan.com/cgi-bin/purity.cgi
Comments are closed.