Don't Hurt People and Don't Take Their Stuff: A Libertarian Manifesto [Kindle Edition]

Matt Kibbe

Matt Kibbe (Author)

› Visit Amazon's Matt Kibbe Page

Find all the books, read about the author, and more.

See search results for this author

Are you an author? Learn about Author Central

(Author)

Book Description

In this essential manifesto of the new libertarian movement, New York Times bestselling author and president of FreedomWorks Matt Kibbe makes a stand for individual liberty and shows us what we must do to preserve our freedom.

Don't Hurt People and Don't Take Their Stuff is a rational yet passionate argument that defends the principles upon which America was founded—principles shared by citizens across the political spectrum. The Constitution grants each American the right to self-determination, to be protected from others whose actions are destructive to their lives and property. Yet as Kibbe persuasively shows, the political and corporate establishment consolidates its power by infringing upon our independence—from taxes to regulations to spying—ultimately eroding the ideals, codified in law, that have made the United States unique in history.

Kibbe offers a surefire plan for reclaiming our inalienable rights and regaining control of our lives, grounded in six simple rules:

1.  Don’t hurt people: Free people just want to be left alone, not hassled or harmed by someone else with an agenda or designs over their life and property.
2. Don’t take people’s stuff: America’s founders fought to ensure property rights and our individual right to the fruits of our labors.
3. Take responsibility: Liberty takes responsibility. Don’t sit around waiting for someone else to solve your problems.
4. Work for it: For every action there is an equal reaction. Work hard and you’ll be rewarded.
5. Mind your own business: Free people live and let live.
6. Fight the power: Thanks to the Internet and the decentralization of knowledge, there are more opportunities than ever to take a stand against corrupt authority.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“For those eager to understand the clear-thinking that informs libertarian philosophy, Kibbe’s book is an excellent choice. ... Kibbe’s goal is to revive the libertarianism that clearly animated our founding fathers. ... [An] excellent book.” (Forbes)

From the Back Cover

Do you believe in the freedom of individuals to determine their own future and solve problems cooperatively?

Don't hurt people, and don't take their stuff. Simple and straightforward, that's liberty in a nutshell—no assembly required.

And yet it seems like, more and more, the decisions Washington makes about what to do for us, or to us, or even against us, are having an increasingly adverse impact on our lives. Young people can't find jobs, millions of Americans are losing the health care plans they were promised they could keep, and every one of us is somehow being targeted, monitored, snooped on, conscripted, induced, taxed, subsidized, regulated, or otherwise manipulated by someone else's agenda, based on someone else's decisions made in some secret meeting or closed-door legislative deal.

What gives?

Our government is out of control. But setting things right again requires that you step up and take your freedom back.

From Matt Kibbe, the influential leader of FreedomWorks, Don't Hurt People and Don't Take Their Stuff is the first true manifesto of a new libertarian grassroots movement. As political powermongers and crony corporatists in Washington continue to consolidate their control and infringe on our most fundamental liberties, Kibbe makes the libertarian case for freer people, more voluntary cooperation, and solving problems from the bottom up. He calls out the tyranny of faceless bureaucrats with too much power and discretion, laying out a clear road map for restoring liberty. A witty yet piercing critique of government's expanding control over you and your future, Don't Hurt People and Don't Take Their Stuff is a vital read for all those who cherish personal liberty and the unalienable right to choose your own path in life.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 880 KB
• Print Length: 277 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow (April 1, 2014)
• Sold by: HarperCollins Publishers
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00CREFHG4
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray:
  Enabled
• Word Wise: Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #59,979 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #38 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > History > Americas > United States > 21st Century
  • #69 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > Ideologies & Doctrines
  • #83 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > United States > Federal Government

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 60 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Modern Libertarian Manifesto April 3, 2014

By D. Buxman TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE VOICE

Format:Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase

If you operate under the premise that either the Democratic or Republican Party represents the best interests of this country or its citizens, you probably shouldn't buy this book. As a libertarian myself, I'm often asked to explain my political philosophy in a short phrase, and I've generally gone with, "More Freedom, Less Government," but this book provides a more detailed approach that is also accessible. Those enamored with the power of the State will trash this book without having read it (see the 1 Star reviews), but it's actually a cogent argument for freedom and individualism as a solution to the problems our country is facing today. It is concise, well-written and engaging. Read it with an open mind and it will be a great use of your time.

41 of 44 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A good concise straightforward, to the point, no-frills book - a true manifesto of Liberty April 7, 2014

By COL Clifford C. Cloonan

Format:Hardcover|Verified Purchase

I actually didn't have too high expectations about this book but I was more than pleasantly surprised. "Don't Hurt People and Don't Take Their Stuff" is actually pretty good. A concise, eminently readable, straightforward Libertarian Manifesto with 6 simple "Rules for Liberty" - #1 Don't Hurt People, #2 Don't take people's stuff, #3 Take Responsibility, #4 Work for it, #5 Mind your own business, and #6 Fight the Power. This is not a work of deep philosophical thought but it nicely condenses a number of great works that are. I recommend it most especially to those who have not personally read Ayn Rand, Thomas Sowell, Adam Smith, F.A. Hayek, and Ludwig von Mises and are looking to acquire a basic understanding of libertarian philosophy.

42 of 46 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One Likes to Believe in the Freedom of Music April 3, 2014

By Logan Albright

Format:Hardcover

Libertarians love to get bogged down in complicated policy debates, which, while undeniably fun, is not often helpful in converting others to the cause. What Kibbe has so skillfully done here, is succinctly stated the essence of the philosophy right there in the title. Don’t Hurt People and Don’t Take Their Stuff.

Personally, I’m hard pressed to see how anyone could disagree with two so evidently moral and straightforward principles, but the fact remains that many people still do. We have to be constantly aware that the (admittedly noble) desire to use government for good always requires instituting force against the innocent.

This is a great and necessary book that highlights the abuses of government, from the current administration going back to JFK and Nixon, and makes the point that it’s not really about Republicans versus Democrats, but about limited government versus unlimited government.

A must read for anyone who has heard about libertarianism but doesn’t really know what it means.

32 of 35 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Good and different book on politics which makes you think. And hopefully act. April 2, 2014

By Denis Vukosav TOP 100 REVIEWER

Format:Hardcover

‘Don't Hurt People and Don't Take Their Stuff’ written by Matt Kibbe and as called by the author himself, may be considered as a Libertarian Manifesto.

The author at the very beginning inserted a nice quote from Friedrich Hayek that speaks about libertarian term which is increasingly used in US these days - “…in the United States, where it has become almost impossible to use “liberal” in the sense in which I have used it, the term “libertarian” has been used instead. It may be the answer; but for my part I find it singularly unattractive. For my taste it carries too much the flavor of a manufactured term and of a substitute. What I should want is a word which describes the party of life, the party that favors free growth and spontaneous evolution. But I have racked my brain unsuccessfully to find a descriptive term which commends itself.”

Kibbe asks himself and reader what is the best way to get United States back on track – do people still believe in the freedom of the individuals to determine their lives and pass obstacles cooperating with others or in the stronger but impersonal government that should be left to care about the things and resolve them in a way that is considered the best. According to author it seems that America society has reached a tipping point where what Washington thinks compared to what each person right to think is best for her/him went into a complete discrepancy.

Though Kibbe honestly said that doesn’t consider himself a moral philosopher and actually doesn’t want to become one, in ‘Don't Hurt People and Don't Take Their Stuff’ he provides good discussion about movement that will help you to take your life back into your own hands, because really at the end of the day it does not matter what the politicians think, but whether we are satisfied with our small world, whether we managed to pay the bills, have you anything to eat, can we afford our children at least some of those things that our parents afforded to us when we were kids…

In his manifesto of libertarian movement he fervently advocates human rights and freedom, explaining how freedom of thought cannot be expected to be brought by someone else, but only us. And for this purpose Kibbe offers six simple tips that although seem a bit silly, such as don’t take people’s stuff and mind your own business, the more you think of them you will more realize they are the right path to go.

Although I’m familiar with author previous works, primarily ‘Hostile Takeover, with this one Matt Kibbe manages to strip naked his subject to the end, stating important things about human rights that exceed fierce political divisions. Or at least this is my opinion.

In any case, ‘Don't Hurt People and Don't Take Their Stuff’ is a good and different book on politics to read, which makes you think. And hopefully act. Read more ›

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Thought Provoking Book April 11, 2014

By Amazon Customer

Format:Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase

I'm not sure what I expected, but I heard the author discussing this book and decided to see if I found it interesting. More political philosophy than I expected, but still very readable. This author is very much outside the traditional Democratic/Republican debate over how to fund pet projects at the expense of the other side's pet projects. Kibbe focuses on the proper role of government, and the danger of ever growing and incomprehensible bureaucratic structure and regulatory schemes that destroy personal freedom. Both Liberals and Conservatives will find things they like in this book. Progressives not so much.

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Quick read, very informative, a fresh voice in politics April 1, 2014

By Charlotte Brandon

Format:Hardcover

I keep hearing the word 'libertarian' being tossed about, but no one really explains what that means. Kibbe got right to the point in explaining the fault lines in conservative politics today. On one side is the old guard dinosaurs fighting to keep the broken system afloat for one more election cycle, on the other are the new generation of leaders like Mike Lee, Rand Paul, and Ted Cruz. For all we hear about the Republican party needing to evolve or die, Kibbe makes a strong argument for back to the basics, common sense conservatism: don't hurt people and don't take there stuff. Its the golden rule for politics. If you want to get a preview on where the Republican party will be in five years, Kibbe will give you a sneak peak.