For a New Liberty: The Libertarian Manifesto [Hardcover]

Murray N. Rothbard (Author), Llewellyn H. Rockwell Jr. (Introduction)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 419 pages
• Publisher: Ludwig von Mises Institute; 2nd edition (January 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0945466471
• ISBN-13: 978-0945466475
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #333,316 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Of the Best, January 18, 2009

By 

Robert Taylor (La Jolla, California USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: For a New Liberty: The Libertarian Manifesto (Hardcover)

I'd been starting up my reading habits again in the past few months, but two of the books I had started were put on hold this week, when on Sunday the 4th, I picked up a book by Murray N. Rothbard entitled For a New Liberty.

The radical enthusiasm of the book is so exciting, I literally read all 419 pages in a personal record of 5 days. In the book, Rothbard hones in all the pieces connecting the modern Libertarian movement (as of 1972 when the book was first published at least) to his new Anarcho-capitalist approach, and the most striking thing was the consistency of the logic. It's solid. That's not to say that it shouldn't open to scrutiny, but that's precisely what Rothbard expects, and it gets me eager to catch up on the 35+ years of scholarship that's followed his manifesto, as well as specific predecessors that he used as examples.

The most important and most amazing parts of his book are how he explains most of the aggression and economic woes that we're experiencing today. It's not that he's a magician with a window into the future. It's that he understands the ultimate unattainable utopianism of supporters of stateism. From government bailouts to war quagmires like Iraq and Afghanistan, Rothbard not only predicts them, but explains why they are occurring, and the inevitable failure that can come from them, because it's the only logical conclusion.

The concepts espoused in For a New Liberty are gathered and encapsulated in virtual perfection by Rothbard, to expose a new generation of libery-minded individuals to the world that could be. It is so fierce, unapologetic and unrelenting in its logic, that this book, more than any I've ever read, makes me want to hold it as tight to my breast as possible, while raising my other arm and proclaiming Vive La Liberte!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Read "The Ethics of Liberty" first, July 3, 2008

By 

Satyabodhi Densmore "rock climber, skier and ... (SPOKANE, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: For a New Liberty: The Libertarian Manifesto (Hardcover)

You can't go wrong with Murray Rothbard but this book is just slightly dated. The Ethics of Liberty is timeless and fundamental. It can radically shake you into a stronger foundation for your advocacy of Freedom.
All of the issues raised in "For a New Liberty" are still with us. I am saddened that the Libertarian Party no longer follows Rothbard's theoretical purity. Theories like his, if used, have real-world applications that repay the practician.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely Brilliant Book, August 9, 2009

By 

Ishmon "There is no way to peace. Peace is th... (Ohio, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: For a New Liberty: The Libertarian Manifesto (Hardcover)

Murray Rothbard has written 20 books, I've read 2, so I'm not in the position to compare "For a New Liberty" to his other work.
I bought "For a New Liberty" because I assumed that it was meant to be broad work on Libertarianism, ala "The Libertarian Manifesto" and in my opinion it accomplishes this well.

It's very clear, straight shooting book. Overall I think it's better written than anything I've read from other big name 20th century intellectual Libertarians like Ayn Rand, Fredrick Hayek or Ludwig Von Mises.
Reading this book my impression of Rothbard was immediately that of a extremely knowledgeable person.
This guy isn't just following a line of thought or stumbling in the dark looking for quotes to back up his knowledge, his brain is a Library.
I was reaffirmed of this personal impression of Rothbard when I read that some of his book drafts were nearly in final form at FIRST DRAFT.

I think this book makes a great introduction to Rothbard's brand of Libertarianism (Sometimes known as Anarcho Capitalism).
Make no mistake Rothbard is in fact a Libertarian in a strict sense, but a Libertarian that promotes stateless society.
Now days the word "Libertarian" seems to be wrapped up with the idea of actually having a government.
The core of Libertarianism is the belief/understanding of individual property rights. "Limited Government" is just tacked on fluff.