Book Review: Libertarianism for Beginners

Looking for a last-minute stocking stuffer? Try Libertarianism for Beginners by Todd Seavey with illustrations by Nathan Smith.

As the title suggests, this is not this book is not for someone already steeped in libertarian economics, history, or philosophy Nor is it for the liberty activists already familiar with the liberty’s movements various factions.

This book is for the “educated laymen” who wants a quick introduction to the libertarian ideas and to the libertarian movement. In only 200 pages, Todd (confession the Todd is a personal friend) outlines the basics of libertarian philosophy, traces the history of libertarianism from its roots in classical libertarians of the 18th century to modern times, explains the competing schools of thought that libertarians adhere to (e.g. Austrian versus Chicago, natural rights versus utilitarian); looks at various factions with the movement; and provides a series  of mini-bios of leading libertarian figures such as Misses, Hayek, Milton Friedman, Murray Rothbard, Ayn Rand, and Campaign for Liberty Chairman Ron Paul. Todd is added by Nathan Smith’s  wonderfully clever illustrations.

Todd defines libertariianism as a philosophy rooted in property rights and and the non-aggression principle. He also embraces the subjective theory of value, which means that individuals place different values on goods and services. Since individual preferences differ, it is impossible for government to efficiently plan society so as to maximize each individual’s happiness.

The book also examines many of the criticism hurled at libertarians–such as what would happened to the poor in a free society, how do we stop business from selling shoddy products and mistreat their workers without government regulations, won’t giving individuals the freedom to make their own lifestyle choices lead to rampant immortality, and who will educate the children and pick up the trash.

While I enjoyed reading this book, and am impressed that Todd fight so much into a 200-page book, I do have a few quibbles. For one thing, Todd claims that the liberty movement’s various factions  and incarnations arouse in the 90s alongside the growth of the Internet.

The Internet facilitated the growth of factions along with the (usually pointless) infighting among them, but the various competing strains of libertairnasim–as well as the inter-movement feuding and fighting– date back to the 1950s and 1960s.  I also don’t think Bill Clinton-era “neolibaralism” is necessary part of the libertarian intellectual or political heritage.

My biggest complaint with the book is that Todd gives short shift to the explosion in interest in libertarianism sparked by the Ron Paul rEVOLution. In his brief bio of Ron Paul, Todd mentioned that his 2008 and 2012 presidential campaign did “raise awareness of libertarian issues, attract new people, to the movement, and push the GOP in a libertarian direction.” This  is an understatement considering that there are literally millions  of Americans, and people round the world, who become familiar with libertarians because of Ron Paul.

Todd also does not mention that growing number of pro-liberty elected official, such as Representative Thomas Massie. Other than a brief mention of libertarian influence on the Tea Party, there is no mention of the growing non-partisan movement, lead by organisations like Campaign for Liberty, that is moving public policy in a pro-liberty direction.

These quibbles aside, Libertarianism for Beginner is an excellent introduction to the ideas, history,and of various shades of libertarianism.

And you still have time to order it before Christmas!