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The Mainspring of Human Progress

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There may be no better book anywhere on the subject of the underlying principles of Freedom. Why have men starved for 6,000 years, then in a very short period of time seen prosperity explode? Private Property is one of the keys. The ability of a man to keep what he has earned and dispose of it as he will is a radical concept. The citizen who is protected from the plunder of thieves and of the State can do wonders. If the leaders of every developing nation were to read this book and apply its principles, they could kiss the IMF goodbye and solve their incessant economic woes. This is one of the best five books ever written on economics and freedom. My dad gave me a copy when I went to college - took me about five years to get around to reading it - wow! What I had been missing!

This book, first published in 1947, is both a condensation and an amplification of Rose Wilder Lane's classic The Discovery Of Freedom. With Lane's consent, Weaver retold her story in his own way, making use of her ideas but adding material from his personal experience and from various other sources.

Part One: Comparisons and Contrasts, explores various puzzling questions of history and the concept of human energy. Part Two: The Old World Views, contrasts the fatalistic pagan outlook on life with the Judeo-Christian view of individual freedom and personal responsibility.

Part Three: The Revolution, looks at mankind's three attempts to attain individual freedom: the ancient Israelites, the golden age of Islamic civilization, and the American Revolution. Part Four: The Fruits Of Freedom, investigates the results of freedom, including the flowering of inventive genius that followed. It also explores the concepts of hope versus fear, freedom of choice, the dynamic versus the static, the moral versus the material, voluntary co-operation and the lessons of history.

The writing style is accessible and engaging and there are interesting quotes by people like Thomas Paine, Fredric Bastiat and Isabel Paterson. In an interesting way, the book illuminates many problems still plaguing the world today and traces them back to the ancient conflict between pagan fatalism and the principles of the Judeo-Christian tradition.

Of course there are non-religious philosophies of freedom that are based on reason alone, and the aforementioned Paine was a theist who was opposed to dogmatic religion. But whether one agrees with all of Weaver's points or not, The Mainspring Of Human Progress is a classic that remains an eloquent defence of the principle of individual freedom. The book concludes with a list of references, a bibliography and an index.

On the subject of individual freedom, I also recommend the work of Friedrich Hayek, Ludwig von Mises, Karl Popper, Alfred North Whitehead, Ayn Rand, Stefan Hoeller, Robert Nozick, Milton Friedman and Johan Norberg.

At a time when fundamental economic understanding appears lacking, this book (though simplified) makes basic economic principles easy to understand. It is written in a simple format easily understood by all age groups, young folks (junior high school) as well as adults.
I have introduced all of my children to this book and they all agree that it enabled them to have a much better grasp on the realities of economics. If you find Econ 101 boring, read this book. It will provide ample incentive to "dig into" the subject. A "must read."

First published in 1947, this book is both a condensation and an amplification of Rose Wilder Lane's classic Discovery of Freedom: Man's Struggle Against Authority. With Lane's consent, Weaver retold her story in his own way, making use of her ideas but adding material from his personal experience and other relevant sources.

Part One: Comparisons and Contrasts, explores various puzzling questions of history in the context of the concept of human energy. In this sphere three crucial factors are identified: the nature of human energy, the recognition of the human race as one & the quest for the ideal method for individuals to combine their energies.

Part Two: Old World Views, contrasts the fatalistic pagan outlook on life with the Judeo-Christian view of individual freedom and personal responsibility. The pagan view of life was static, time was seen as cyclical and authority was absolute; the Bible speaks of time as linear and even the King of Israel was subject to the law. The pantheons of the Sumerian, Semitic & Indo-European peoples consisted of capricious & indifferent deities whereas Scripture reveals a compassionate Father.

Part Three: The Revolution, looks at mankind's attempts to attain individual freedom: the ancient Israelites, the golden age of Islamic civilization, Britain and the American Revolution. The era of the Judges was libertarian, for a while the Islamic world carried the torch of liberty, the British adhered to a principle of freedom granted (Magna Carta) within circumscribed social classes whilst the American Revolution finally recognized the individual as inherently free.

Part Four: The Fruits Of Freedom, investigates the results of the acceptance of personal liberty, including the flowering of inventive genius that followed. It also explores, in the light of history, concepts of hope versus fear, freedom of choice, the dynamic versus the static, the moral versus the material, control versus creativity & voluntary co-operation that proved to be a dynamo of prosperity.

The writing style is accessible and absorbing; interesting quotes by people like Thomas Paine, Fredric Bastiat and Isabel Paterson enhance the text. In a thought-provoking way, the book explains many problems still plaguing the world today, tracing them back to the ancient conflict between pagan fatalism and the principles of the Hebrew tradition.

Of course there are non-religious philosophies of freedom based on reason alone, and the aforementioned Paine was a theist who was opposed to dogmatic religion. But whether one agrees with all of Weaver's points or not, The Mainspring Of Human Progress is a classic that remains an eloquent defense of individual liberty. The book concludes with a list of references, a bibliography and an index.

On the subject of individual freedom, I also recommend the work of Ludwig von Mises, Alfred North Whitehead, Stefan Hoeller, Robert Nozick's Anarchy, State, And Utopia, Milton Friedman and Johan Norberg. The Road to Serfdom by Friedrich Hayek and the work of Ayn Rand are highly relevant for our time.

First published in 1947, this book is both a condensation and an amplification of Rose Wilder Lane's classic Discovery of Freedom: Man's Struggle Against Authority. With Lane's consent, Weaver retold her story in his own way, making use of her ideas but adding material from his personal experience and other relevant sources.

Part One: Comparisons and Contrasts, explores various puzzling questions of history in the context of the concept of human energy. In this sphere three crucial factors are identified: the nature of human energy, the recognition of the human race as one & the quest for the ideal method for individuals to combine their energies.

Part Two: Old World Views, contrasts the fatalistic pagan outlook on life with the Judeo-Christian view of individual freedom and personal responsibility. The pagan view of life was static, time was seen as cyclical and authority was absolute; the Bible speaks of time as linear and even the King of Israel was subject to the law. The pantheons of the Sumerian, Semitic & Indo-European peoples consisted of capricious & indifferent deities whereas Scripture reveals a compassionate Father.

Part Three: The Revolution, looks at mankind's attempts to attain individual freedom: the ancient Israelites, the golden age of Islamic civilization, Britain and the American Revolution. The era of the Judges was libertarian, for a while the Islamic world carried the torch of liberty, the British adhered to a principle of freedom granted (Magna Carta) within circumscribed social classes whilst the American Revolution finally recognized the individual as inherently free.

Part Four: The Fruits Of Freedom, investigates the results of the acceptance of personal liberty, including the flowering of inventive genius that followed. It also explores, in the light of history, concepts of hope versus fear, freedom of choice, the dynamic versus the static, the moral versus the material, control versus creativity & voluntary co-operation that proved to be a dynamo of prosperity.

The writing style is accessible and absorbing; interesting quotes by people like Thomas Paine, Fredric Bastiat and Isabel Paterson enhance the text. In a thought-provoking way, the book explains many problems still plaguing the world today, tracing them back to the ancient conflict between pagan fatalism and the principles of the Hebrew tradition.

Of course there are non-religious philosophies of freedom based on reason alone, and the aforementioned Paine was a theist who was opposed to dogmatic religion. But whether one agrees with all of Weaver's points or not, The Mainspring Of Human Progress is a classic that remains an eloquent defense of individual liberty. The book concludes with a list of references, a bibliography and an index.

On the subject of individual freedom, I also recommend the work of Ludwig von Mises, Alfred North Whitehead, Stefan Hoeller, Robert Nozick's Anarchy, State, And Utopia, Milton Friedman and Johan Norberg. The Road to Serfdom by Friedrich Hayek and the work of Ayn Rand are highly relevant for our time.

Although written back in the 40's, it is still very timely and influential as it relates to the history and the progress of Humanity - and how we occasionally stepped backward in time. This book should be required reading for all High school/College Students and for anyone who enjoys the impactfull points of history. It well explains why and how our founding Fathers of the United States created the most successful government in history for Human progress, and why other countries are now trying to modeling it.

There may be no better book anywhere on the subject of the underlying principles of Freedom. Why have men starved for 6,000 years, then in a very short period of time seen prosperity explode? Private Property is one of the keys. The ability of a man to keep what he has earned and dispose of it as he will is a radical concept. The citizen who is protected from the plunder of thieves and of the State can do wonders. If the leaders of every developing nation were to read this book and apply its principles, they could kiss the IMF goodbye and solve their incessant economic woes. This is one of the best five books ever written on economics and freedom. My dad gave me a copy when I went to college - took me about five years to get around to reading it - wow! What I had been missing!

This book can create a general framwork around human history like not too many books that I have read. Expressed in clear language and organized in short, thought provoking sections.

This has to be one of the simplest yet most profound books I have ever read. Mr. Weaver easily lays bare the fundementals of freedom. He planly exposes and explains the underlying princpals and common sense for the argument of individual freedom that we all know but can't always verbalize. There was not a single page of this book that I didn't understand and agree with. I wish I had read it years ago. I highly recommend this book to every American. It is my opinion that this book should be required reading for High School Seniors.

To paraphrase a few of Mr. Weaver's words: Every man is a free agent accountable only to his creator. Anyone who believes that government has real power either selfishly wants that power for himself or wants someone else to enforce his will for the common good. People only want kings and rulers because they do not want to be responsible for their own well being. Any attempt to give government the responsibilites that properly belong to the individual retards the advancement of personal freedom and true progress. Powerful words from a previous generation that believed credit was folly and appreciated domestic manufactoring and independent self reliance.

Lucky to have found this one in a "salvage store" that was copyright was 1953. Contains so much information amd simplified that its hard to put down. Enjoyed Mr.Weaver's prospective and I am curious to know more about the author...