The Anti-Capitalistic Mentality [Paperback]

Ludwig Von Mises (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1994

Professor Mises searches for the roots and consequences of the common anti-capitalist bias. What makes so many people unhappy in the private property order? It is precisely the fact that it grants to everyone the opportunity to secure maximum income and obtain the most desirable position. In such a system, the failures need a scapegoat. People whose ambitions have not been fully satisfied and whose dreams are not fully realized blame the system. Frustrated intellectuals, writers, and literati become vocal foes of the system.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Libertarian Pr (June 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0910884293
• ISBN-13: 978-0910884297
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,318,807 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #99 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Nonfiction > Social Sciences > Political Science > Political Doctrines

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

71 of 77 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Work, December 18, 2000

By 

Jeffrey Leach (Omaha, NE USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Anti-Capitalistic Mentality (Paperback)

Ludwig Von Mises is considered one of the giant figures in economic thought. He is an acolyte of the Austrian school of economics, which began as a response to Marxist economic thought. The Austrian school advocated the idea of marginal utility and the importance of the consumer in the production process. This book, which is a fairly short read, is Von Mises's look at the people who advocate the imposition of a planned, or socialistic, economic system. Needless to say, Von Mises launches massive attacks against these people.

As some of the other reviews stated, Von Mises believes that the reason some people in a capitalist society hate free markets and advocate socialism is due to their own shortcomings. As everyone with an ounce of sense knows, reality does not make everyone equal. Everyone has flaws and shortcomings. These shortcomings, according to Von Mises, manifest themselves in inner turmoil that finds release through attacking the system in which others succeed where these people fail. These people look at the successful entrepreneurs and resent them deeply. Since they can't attack them directly without exposing their own deep flaws, they attack the capitalist system which they think "created" these successful businessmen. Von Mises goes on to show several ways how this hostility expresses itself. One way is through literature. Von Mises makes a very perceptive observation while examining literature. He shows how the genre of detective stories is actually an expression of hatred for the capitalist system. The detective in most of these stories is usually a down and out type (one of the downtrodden workers of Marxian fame) who shows up the police (who represent the ineffective ruling system) by proving the guilt of a successful, rich person who nobody would ever suspect (the triumph of the worker over the rich). Very insightful stuff.

Von Mises destroys the socialist worldview in this book. It reads quick, and it's my first Von Mises book, so I'm not sure I picked up on every point he was trying to make. It's well worth the time and I highly recommend it. The only downfall is that some of the sentences are a bit awkward, which makes since if Von Mises wrote this in English. You see, he didn't even come to the U.S. until he was 60. He fled Hitler when the Nazis took Austria in 1940. Von Mises's primary language was German.

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brief But Brilliant Analysis of the Root of Anti-Capitalism, April 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Anti-Capitalistic Mentality (Paperback)

This book explains the basis for the American (and Western) fascination with non-capitalism despite an increasing standard of living that has come about precisely because of capitalism. Mises explains how little, if any, of such fascination is grounded in intellectual arguments. After all, it can hardly be admitted that non-capitalist systems offer the same type of prosperity and lifestyle that have been enjoyed by capitalist societies. Nevertheless, animosity towards capitalism abounds and some still look towards non-capitalist ideologies to save us. But one must ask: Save us from what? An increasing standard of living? Enjoying commodities that had been reserved for the wealthy only a generation before? The mass availability of goods and services? The freedom to choose goods and indirectly control production? In posing such questions, Mises shows how absurd the anti-capitalist mentality is. But he does not leave the reader without an explanation for such sentiments. He shows how this continued fascination with anti-capitalism it rooted in emotionalism - particularly resentment, envy, jealousy, and self-doubt. And how those that despise and disparage entrepreneurs and "the wealthy" are doing so not for valid reasons, but because they feel cheated since they have less and believe they somehow have a right to more absent any effort on their part. Yet, anti-capitalists never entertain the notion or possibility that effort and sweat may have gone into such achievement and prosperity among entrepreneurs and "the wealthy." Neither do they recognize the importance of such individuals in increasing the standard of living for all people. It is quite amazing how much "punch" this book packs considering it is less than 100 pages in length. I definitely recommend it to those who are dumbfounded by the continued existence of anti-capitalist sentiments within the most prosperous nation on earth. I also recommend the book to anti-capitalists who will either "see the light" (doubtful) or will become even more emotional in their screed against capitalism (emotionalism that can only damage their cause in the long run).

28 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Give this to that guy who whines about big bad business!, September 22, 2000

By 

R. Setliff - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Anti-Capitalistic Mentality (Paperback)

This is a good probe into the mindset of socialist-interventionists. It unmasks the psychology and ideology that plays on people's emotions, fears and ignorance, while advancing the cause of collectivism and big government. Commies would write this book off as bourgeois trash for capitalist pigs. Free-marketers will find this tract enjoyable. However, it might free a few minds of anti-capitalist leanings. I'm surprised how many people think that the root of inflation is simply 'greedy' businesses raising prices.

"An 'anti-something' movement displays a purely negative attitude. It has no chance whatever to succeed. Its passionate diatribes virtually advertise the program they attack. People must fight for something that they want to achieve, not simply reject an evil, however, bad it may be be. They must, without any reservations, endorse the program of the market economy." -- Ludwig von Mises.