Libertarian Reading List

Thousands of books have been published on libertarian topics. Probably the best soource for libertarian books is Laissez Faire Books, currently managed by the International Society for Individual Liberty (ISIL). Their quarterly catalogue (available to download at their web site) is interesting reading in itself.

To help you wade through this vast selection we have compiled the following list.

INTRODUCTION TO LIBERTY

• Bergland, David. Libertarianism in One Lesson (ASG, LF)
• Burris, Allan. A Liberty Primer (ASG)
• Hospers, John. Libertarianism: A Political Philosophy for Tomorrow
• Ruwart, Mary. Healing our World (LF)
• Sprading, Charles ed. Liberty and the Great Libertarians (LF)
• Narveson, Jan. The Libertarian Idea (AZ)

ECONOMICS

• Block, Walter & Michael Walker. A Lexicon of Economic Thought (FI)
• Hazlitt, Henry. Economics in One Lesson (ASG, LF)
• Friedman, Milton. Free to Choose (LF)
• Reisman, George. The Government Against the Economy (LF)
• von Mises, Ludwig. Human Action (FEE, LF)

EDUCATION

• Boulogne, Jack. The Zoo (FEE)
• Public Education and Indoctrination (FEE)
• Richman, Sheldon. Separating School and State (LF)

ENVIRONMENT

• Anderson, Terry & Donald Leal. Free Market Environmentalism
• Anderson, Terry L. ed. NAFTA and the Environment (FI)
• Bast, Joseph, Peter Hill & Richard Rue. Eco-Sanity (LF)
• Block, Walter ed. Economics & the Environment (FI)

FICTION

• Anderson, Poul. Harvest of Stars (LF)
• Rand, Ayn. Atlas Shrugged (LF)

HISTORY

• Crowley, Brian Lee. Fearful Symmetry: The Fall and Rise of Canada's Founding Values
• Doherty, Brian. Radicals for Capitalism: A Freewheeling history of the Modern American Libertarian Movement
• Lane, Rose Wilder. The Discovery of Freedom (LF)
• Paterson, Isabel. The God of the Machine (LF)
• Weaver, Henry Grady. The Mainspring of Human Progress (FEE)

LAW & CRIME

• Bastiat, Frederic. The Law (FEE, LF)
• Epstein, Richard. Simple Rules for a Complex World (LF)
• Hamowy, Ronald ed. Dealing with Drugs
• Lapierre, Wayne. Guns, Crime, and Freedom (LF)

PHILOSOPHY

• Narveson, Jan. You and the State (AZ)
• Locke, John. Two Treatises of Government (LF)
• Machan, Tibor. Individuals and their Rights
• Narveson, Jan. The Libertarian Idea (LF)
• Nozick, Robert. Anarchy, State, and Utopia (LF)
• Rand, Ayn. The Capitalist Manifesto (LF)
• Smith, Adam. The Wealth of Nations (LF)

POLITICS

• Peter Brimelow. Patriot Games (LF)
• Browne, Harry. Why Government Doesn't Work (LF)
• Hayek, F.A. The Road to Serfdom (LF)
• Herbert, Auberon. The Right & Wrong of Compulsion by the State
• Horry, Isabella & Michael Walker. Government Spending Facts 2 (FI)
• Kendall, Frances & Leon Louw. Let the People Govern
• Nock, Albert Jay. Our Enemy, The State (LF)
• Palda, Filip. Election Finance Regulation in Canada (FI)

SOCIAL POLICY

• Adie, Douglas K. The Mail Monopoly (FI)
• Grant, R.W. Rent Control and the War against the Poor (ASG)
• Hamowy, Ronald. Canadian Medicine: A Study in Restricted Entry (FI)
• Murray, Charles. Losing Ground (LF)
• Sarlo, Christopher. Poverty in Canada (FI)

WAR

• Opitz, Edmund ed. Leviathan at War (FEE, LF)
• Rummel, R.J. Death by Government (LF)

MAGAZINES & NEWSLETTERS

• Reason - Reason is the flagship libertarian magazine. The writers are all first rate and the production values are good. Founded in the mid-seventies, Reson is not so much interested in libertarian theory as in libertarian practice. The typical issue will featu re several articles on government problems and libertarian solutions as well as a mixture of book reviews and other columns. Reason can often be found in better book stores (not Coles!). Published 11 times per year. Subscription rate: US$26 per year. Contact: Reason Magazine on the World Wide Web, or write to their Subscription Department, P.O. Box 526, Mt Morris, IL, 61054 Phone 815-734-1102
• Fraser Forum (FI)
• Freedom Network News
• The Freeman (FEE)
• The Liberator (ASG)
• Liberty - PO Box 1167 , Port Townsend WA 98368.

Book Reviews

The Fountain Head, Ayn Rand
Considered by many to be Ayn Rand's best book. It presents the struggles of architect Howard Roark to design buildings true to his architectural principles. Along the way Rand illustrates the moral virtue of capitalism and the questionable ethics of those who claim to act in the public interest. A great novel. Available at Amazon

Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand
Another epic novel by Ayn Rand, this one illustrates why socialism - "from each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs" - does not work, except with the consent of the victim. Available at Amazon

Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, Ayn Rand
One of the most revolutionary and powerful works on capitalism--and on politics--that has ever been published. --Professor Leonard Peikoff, Barron's magazine Available at Amazon

The Law, Fredrick Bastiat
This slim volume was written shortly after the French Revolution. It explains that laws define when force may be legally used. Bastiat explains why laws intended to benefit some (at the expense of others) are wrong. Available online

Road to Serfdom, Fredrick Hayek
Written at the height of World War II, The Road to Serfdom caused a huge commotion when it was first published. Hayek's thesis that more and more government intervention would eventually create a society in the west little different from the Nazi's upset many liberal do-gooders. Although the road to serfdom has turned out to be longer than Hayek predicted, we are still on it. Available at Laissez Faire Books

Constitution of Liberty, Friedrich A. Hayek
In this classic work, Hayek restates the ideals of freedom he believes have guided, and must continue to guide, the growth of Western civilization. Hayek's book, first published in 1960, urges us to clarify our beliefs in today's struggle of political ideologies. Available at Laissez Faire Books

Socialism, Ludwig von Mises
"This book must rank as the most devastating analysis of socialism yet penned. . . . An economic classic in our time." — Henry Hazlitt. Available at Laissez Faire Books

Conflict of Visions, Thomas Sowell

Modern Times, Paul Johnson

Where to get the publications

All of these books should be available in better bookstores or in good libraries. If not available at your local book or magazine stores, literature mentioned can be ordered from the organizations indicated below: