Customer Reviews

The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible: A Free Market Odyssey

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Schoolland does a wonderful job of exposing the foibles and hypocrisy that permeate government programs and policies, making a highly effective case for the free market and the libertarian principle of self-ownership.

The book is written as an easy-to-read children's story, but since it also operates on a deeper level, it is a compelling read for adults as well. I would recommend this as a "must read" for everyone above the age of ten, and would not hesitate to recommend it to an adult of any age. In fact, when friends and family ask me to explain my political philosophy, I get them a copy of "Jonathan Gullible."

An interesting side note, is that although the book has been published in at least 22 languages world-wide, significant difficulty is encountered getting the book carried by the Hawaii State and Public School Library systems, here in the author's state of residence. Recently, several such institutions have been asked to carry the book, and upon their failure to acquire it on their own, copies were donated. The donated copies are currently undergoing a review for "balance" before placement can be approved. Ironically, this fits in rather well with the message Schoolland has presented in "Jonathan Gullible."

After returning from Brazil, South America I purchased a copy of this book. I was amazed, because it seemed to be describing the country I had just been living in! This wonderful, readable book shows the fallacies of collectivism in terms that anyone can understand, using narration. In fact, I'm reading it to my 7-year-old daughter these days for bedtime.

I bought 1 copy of this book for my 13-year old nephew, but kept it for myself (I'm 25). Now, I'm getting a few more. It is just so well-written, I couldn't let go of it. Some of my friends, who are usually uninterested in politics or economics, read it almost nonstop with pleasure. At least they now understand the basic idea of a voluntary free-market society and how it's different from our society today. Even if they disagree, at least they know better than to misinterpret the free-market issues due to ignorance.

The only gripe about this book is that a few chapters are a bit formulaic and sometimes don't make the underlying concept as clear as other chapters do. It appears to me that the author didn't take enough time to develop his ideas well enough in those few chapters. I hope he will clarify them in the next edition.

I took economics this past summer with Mr. Schoolland. Very cool teacher and his book definitely supplemented the class. It really helped me to understand the economic theories because he presents them in a comprehensible fashion. Good book to have!

This is a wonderful young-adult literature book on free-market economics and the inherent problem of things like publicly owned land, eminent domain, welfare, the drug problem, the one major weakness of pure democracy and other such things. Part of what makes it such a delight is that there are references to many great economic ideas and thinkers such as Ludwig Von Mises (the cat, Mices), who had been many brands of socialism before becoming one of the greatest economists ever, Frederic Bastiat's candlemen's petition, Murray Rothbard (the Great Bard), etc. Using small little stories, the book illustrates the inherent conflict over many government programs and regulations and how they also benefit either special interests or bureaucrats in particular. This is a great way to get interested in economics as a whole and alsw the libertarian movement as well.

This should be read by any young person aspiring to go into either business or politics. In clear, simple language, the events of the story reveal the impracticality of welfare, rent control, public education, and other tax-funded disasters. This book really opened my eyes to the numerous ways in which the government violates individual property rights, and also on why "public" property will never be well-taken care of. The rampant anti-Capitalism being taught in schools today is a disease, and this highly readable book is an antidote. Jonathan Gullible provides great lessons for both children and adults alike.

A fantastic adventure every adult should go on, let alone the kids. This fable transcends rhetoric and delivers the common-sense goods on nearly any "hot topic" you can think of from a libertarian perspective. A great gift to a little one who will enjoy the story on its own merits.

As a retired history teacher of 32 years at the secondary level, I beleive not only that this little book should be read by all children, it should be mandated that every home have a copy permanently on file. For those familiar with the Founding Fathers and their intent, you will be surprised at how far we have strayed. We intend to use this as part of the home study course for our two granddaughters ages 10 and 9.

This brand new 2011 edition of The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible is fantastic.

A few years ago I read a previous edition of The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible and have liked the book for its really good examples of using common sense (libertarian/Austrian economic principles?)to show the folly of allowing government to dominate the lives of individuals. I've even given copies to several friends to read. The book is a classic. I love Uncle Samba, and the Food Police, and the Democracy Gang, and every time I reread the Tall Tax, I crack up. It's a funny book.

Several days ago I saw this new edition on Amazon, and immediately ordered it. Professor Schoolland has been busy updating and revising the book with an additional chapter, and a new Index of Ideas. Lots updated: Tale of the Book, Recommended Reading List, Organizations & Websites, etc. continue on the story, and the quest for personal liberty in this crazy age of Big Brother and the Nanny State.

Well worth buying, especially for anyone in high school or college who wants to think free.

In 39 very short chapters, Ken Schoolland explains many of the topics covered in macro economic textbooks, but in an interesting way inspired by The Little Prince and Gulliver's Travels. This book makes economics fun. The commentary edition gives parents or teachers ideas for discussion other references. Amazon doesn't seem to keep the book in stock. It has been translated into 41 languages, won numerous awards and was praised by the late Milton Friedman. [...] find out about the upcoming hardcover English edition with color illustrations. Ken Schoolland is an award winning economics professor at Hawaii Pacific University. He has written an economics book unlike any other!