Mon, 1 December 2014
In the course of today's episode I mentioned a number of books I consider indispensable. Here are a few of them: The Revolution: A Manifesto, by Ron Paul. This is a good one for beginners. It has a good track record as a proselytizing device. It's what I recommend you give to someone who has indicated some interest in our ideas. The Problem of Political Authority: An Examination of the Right to Coerce and the Duty to Obey, by Michael Huemer. Don’t let the dull title fool you. This book is comprehensive, original, exciting, and very convincing. It is a relentless assault, by a philosopher, on the standard arguments for government. Not one of them is left standing. The Economics and Ethics of Private Property, by Hans-Hermann Hoppe. This book blew me away when I first read it. Its title makes it sound dull. It is one of the most intellectually exciting books I have ever read. The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Constitution. Even if you don't care about the Constitution, or if you're a Spoonerite, or whatever, this is an excellent example of a book that is (1) packed with information, and (2) leaves the standard narrative in shreds. Civil Rights: Rhetoric or Reality? Possibly Thomas Sowell's most underrated book. I hear people talk about several of his other titles all the time, but I never hear this one mentioned. This one is 140 pages long, with big print. It contains more information and more devastating analysis than most books three times that length. Although not an indispensable book, I did mention Making Economic Sense by Murray N. Rothbard. For my full list of indispensable books, visit my Resources page (where I've also archived those "resource pages" you longtime followers will recall from some of my YouTube videos). For my own books, visit my books page. On the Tom Woods Show I try to squeeze as much information out of my guests as I can in 25-30 minutes, so that my listeners will consider their time well spent. So the book I made out of the episodes from 2013 is packed with information and arguments you can use on a whole host of issues. Plus, it's free! I also mentioned audiobooks. I was a latecomer to this. I sometimes listen to Mises Institute material while driving, but I can also appreciate a good audiobook if it's really packed with information. Remember that you're entitled to one free audiobook viaTomWoodsAudio.com (they have a bunch of my books, including my latest, Real Dissent, which I recorded myself). For the rest of my suggestions, click on one of the buttons above to listen to today's show! Previous Episodes Mentioned Ep. 243: Why Arguments for Government Don't Work (Michael Huemer) Ep. 100: Are There Good Arguments for the State? (Michael Huemer) Special OfferThe designers of the new TomWoods.com, Studio 1 Design, are offering Tom Woods Show listeners 10% off any design project via this link. |