The New Road to Serfdom: A Letter of Warning to America [Paperback]

Daniel Hannan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 4, 2011

A thoughtful and articulate spokesman for conservative ideas, Daniel Hannan, a conservative British MEP, is better versed in America’s traditions and founding documents than are many Americans. In The New Road to Serfdom, Hannan argues forcefully and passionately that Americans must not allow Barack Obama to take us down the road to European Union–style social democracy. He pleads with Americans not to abandon the founding principles that have made our country a beacon of liberty for the rest of the world. In this updated edition, Hannan explores Barack Obama’s attitude toward Britain and offers an insightful analysis of what it reveals about Obama’s perception of our country, our Constitution, and our exceptionalism.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Conservatives, libertarians, independents, progressives and just about anyone canfind something to like in The New Road to Serfdom.” (Huntington News )

Cleverly written, witty, and worldly...a must read for anyone in the Tea Party movement or with an interest in American politics. (Blogcritics Books )

Daniel Hannan...spells out the dangers, brilliantly summarizes the state of play, and showsexactly why the American Constitution both deserves and needs protection from the newruling class. (American Spectator )

About the Author

Daniel Hannan is a writer and a politician. He contributes to several newspapers, including the Wall Street Journal and the London Daily Telegraph. A former president of the Oxford University Conservative Association, he was elected to the European Parliament in 1999, at the age of twenty-seven, and has been reelected twice.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Broadside Books; Reprint edition (October 4, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061956945
• ISBN-13: 978-0061956942
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,540 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

394 of 418 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The GHOST of SERFDOM yet to COME, September 28, 2010

By 

Dr.Charles Dusenbury "author of MOLASBA, COMP... (Monterey, California) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The New Road to Serfdom: A Letter of Warning to America (Kindle Edition)

Like the Ghost of Christmas yet to come, Daniel Hannan comes to interrupt the American Dream. He spreads before us an image of what promise we had and enjoyed or what we may yet become if we are not vigilant and adopt the very ways of the world that progressives would have us follow. As he himself states, "I have been a Member of the European Parliament for eleven years. I am living in your future. Let me tell you a few things about it."

Hannan observes that the world is in danger of losing America as a shinning goal towards which to aspire because "the characteristics that once set America apart are being eliminated. The United States is becoming just another country."

The use of the word "Serfdom", as part of the title is quite telling. It is a word not common to the American lexicon, yet reveals the psyche of the European perspective from which Hannan's observations are made. "The New Road to Serfdom", as with F.A. Hayek's 1944 book "Road to Serfdom" is a timely warning to America of how the embracing of socialism and communism threatens to pull democracy and freedom back into a condition of serf and master.

The author would repair the crack in the Bell of Liberty and ring out "...that America stands for something. Your country actualizes an ideal" and should we shirk from the very ideals upon which our nation was founded, "all of us will be left the poorer."

Daniel Hannan clearly shows that while the Road to Serfdom is paved with liberal good intentions, it leads into a blind alley where prosperity is mugged and freedom is lost.

222 of 233 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I just read this whole book in one sitting (6 hours), October 4, 2010

By 

Daryl L. Caudill "Libertarian" (St Pete, Florida) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The New Road to Serfdom: A Letter of Warning to America (Hardcover)

Wow!

Daniel Hannan understands American politics better than our own politicians! Full of awesome facts. I love how he compares the American system to the UK Parliament. I'm shocked to learn brit's no longer able to vote for judges, sheriffs, school officials, etc. All appointed now, impossible to remove. A real eye opener. He cites hundreds of examples of failed socialist policies.

He makes many arguments by example why we do NOT want to turn into a European style government. He brutally and candidly points out the failings of the brit's system, and then shows how Obama and the socialist progressives are going right down the same dismal path. He's clear and to the point, reminds me of Gov. Chris Christie. A bold fresh view from across the pond.

I was surprised to hear the average brit has disdain for the American Christian Right. Liberals over there have been attacking conservatives and christians for much longer than in the states. They have taken entitlements to beyond extreme, destroying their country. Daniel will catch holy hell by his fellow brits for this book!

I'm taking this book to work tomorrow, to find somebody else that wants to read it. This is one of the best books I've read in years, and I read them all. I put this one up there with "The Great One's" Mark Levin "Liberty and Tyranny", another book I read in one sitting.

Brilliantly written. Flows excellent. The whole book is well thought out, continuously building one point upon the next. An easy read. Inspiring. I'm still smiling. I might read this again!

149 of 156 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, October 4, 2010

By 

Janis D. Miller (Marshall, IL United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The New Road to Serfdom: A Letter of Warning to America (Hardcover)

I started the Kindle sample and was compelled to purchase the entire book when the sample ended. One would not expect a book of such a topic to be a page turner but I did not want to put this down. If you want to understand how socialism has failed Europe and where we are going if we continue on this path then read this book. One thing Hannon said of the EU leadership, "Public opinion is treated as an obstacle to overcome, not a reason to change direction'. This is precisely how Obama, Pelosi and Reid view the opinion of the American majority.