Customer Reviews

For Good and Evil: The Impact of Taxes on the Course of Civilization

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Many of the reviews posted are so obviously biased for and against taxes or big governement as to make their review worthless.

The book has 38 chapters, nearly every one discusses taxation in a different society starting in ancient Egypt and disucsses taxation by the Greeks, Roman, Russians, French, English, and finally Americans among others. The point is not that taxation is bad, but that corrupt systems of taxation are bad and that taxation above a certain level is bound to fail since people will find ways to avoid it. This is not made up history, there are 23 pages of endnotes and a twelve page bibliography.

There are a number of illustrations, as well as, well written stories from the Rosetta Stone (it was actually a grant of tax immunity); to how Muslims taxed infidels more in order to get them to convert; to Lady Godiva (she made her ride get the King, her husband, to remit the heavy taxes he imposed on the Coventry);, to taxation as one cause of the Civil War that few are aware of (there are 16 endnotes on this chapter alone, many from articles written during the Civil War).

This is a facinating book that should be required reading for every member of Congress.

It's unfortunate that so many American citizens are guilty of imposing willful ignorance upon themselves, otherwise our political leaders would be subject to a tighter leash. Charles Adams wrote this most informative book in the early 1990's and it has resonated with me ever since. He covers the history of taxation from the time of the first recording of history. Indeed the Rosetta stone was a tax document, and like the rest of the book it's a follow-the-money theory of history.

As Adams points out, figurative "mafia families", who have always run countries, have managed to compensate their armies by taxing the productive capacity of their subjects. Adam's central theme is that governments who overtax their citizens are nearly always "hoisted on their own petard." He cites ancient Greece, Rome, indeed governments from all over the world. His end game is to warn America's political elite that they've gone too far in a game where all great cultures have collapsed from within i.e. rotted at their moral core. And, he's right!

This book has many pages of cites and a long bibliography. It's a bit repetitious to read as he covers so many examples to make his point, but it's well worth the attention of every citizen if only they would spare the time.

I read this book sometime ago, but still recall it quite vividly. For good and evil- taxes seem like there here to stay. Adams, a tax attorney by trade, offers an intriguing narrative history of taxation since ancient times. Moreover, he illustrates how their is a fine line of how much sustained taxation a civilization can endure before it collapses, (hence the Laffer Curve.) He points out the pitfalls the befall ancient Rome and Egypt when they engaged in confiscatory taxation policies.

Additionally, he shows how high taxes feed a vicious cycle of statism, corruption and more taxes and economic collapse as demagogues rise to the power. Indeed, this book makes it clear that taxation has "the power to destroy" as it has brought mighty empires to their knees. (Granted, some might say its the effect, not the cause of a debased culture. Morality and tradition play a role as well in the collapse of civilizations.)

Also recommend: When Nations Die by Jim Black.

This book contains some of the most powerful examples of what is going wrong with the USA today, and provides insight on what we should be going different. I read dozens of books a year on politics and current affairs and I think this is the best book I've read this decade. I recommend this book to everyone I can. The book has facinating historical references that are compiled like no other book I've seen. You won't be disappointed.

This is a very interesting book that will probably give you a better understanding of the ways in which taxation has been used in the past. As in our time, the purposes have been to raise revenue for the government, but they were also used for other purposes. They were used to keep a given people in servitude to another, to shape social policy, to control markets, and so on.

The title of the book notes that taxes can be used for good and for evil. When used judiciously, the public can benefit from our shared contribution to certain good projects. What those are depends on what a given society values, and that is why democratically elected governments and therefore democratically controlled taxation are of real benefit. Unfortunately, we are moving away from such taxes to certain kinds of indirect fees and countless other hidden taxes. These have always ended up badly for a society, as they likely will for us.

However, being a republic, if we become educated about these things and demand our government sweep things clean, we can force it done. We should become more educated about these things and exert more control over government expenditures and on the way revenues are raised to cover them.

This is not a perfect book. Some of the anecdotes are told a bit glibly and others are shaded a bit to make a point. However, you will get the idea. Just don't run out and think that what you read here is settled historical fact. There are often subtleties that are left out in order to make a stronger point. Even with this caveat, this is still a useful book for everyone to read.

If you do not understand the history of taxation, you do not understand history. America is at a point in our history where taxation is going to destroy the USA. If we right ourselves, we will be the first.

You will learn so much about the history of taxes and how they affected every civilization in ways not thought about. The book is truly an eye opener into how taxes guide people and governments to do certain things to avoid or make taxes. It flows and reads smoothly - always keeping your attention. The author worked for the IRS and was a History Professor so the book is well edited, researched and extremely fascinating! It reads more like a novel - NOT try or boring at all. The author makes reading about taxation VERY enjoyable - REALLY!

This book is a "must read" for anyone who is serious about understanding the history of economics and taxation, regardless of point of view. If you are a libertarian you will enjoy it - and learn a lot. If you are a tax and spend liberal, you will probably just learn a lot.

If there is anything you can learn about history is the fact that it seems to always repeat itself! Charles Adams' historical copulation only proves how corrupt our present taxation system has become. Be prepared to be very ENLIGHTENED and very UPSET! Every citizen in our country should be persuaded to read this book!

Every single person who has ever paid taxes should read this book. No ifs, ands, or buts.