Speaking of Liberty [Hardcover]

Llewellyn H. Rockwell Jr. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 2003

Ludwig von Mises said that teaching the public was just as important as addressing scholars — maybe more so. That is what Lew Rockwell specializes in: history and theory and analysis in defense of the free society, written in clear prose to reach a broad audience. Rockwell's new book is as pro-liberty as it is brutally critical of government. It is relentlessly forthright yet hopeful about the prospects for liberty. It is rigorous enough to withstand the enemy's closest scrutiny, and chock full of the energy and enthusiasm that will keep you reading.

Speaking of Liberty is a collection of speeches delivered by Rockwell over a period of ten years. The book begins with economics, and explains why Austrian economics matters, how the Federal Reserve brings on the business cycle, why we need private property and free enterprise, the unrecognized glories of the capitalist economy, and why the gold standard is still the best monetary system. Other sections deal with war, Mises and his work, other important thinkers in the libertarian tradition, and the culture and morality of liberty.

The book is united by a set of fixed principles: the corruption of politics, the universality and immutability of the ideas of freedom, the centrality of sound money and free enterprise, the moral imperative of peace and trade, the importance of hope and tenacity in the struggle for liberty, and the need for everyone to join the intellectual fight. We all have searched for the book we could give to friends and neighbors, business associates and family members, to explain why we believe in the cause of liberty. Speaking of Liberty is that book.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr., is the founder and president of the Ludwig von Mises Institute.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 471 pages
• Publisher: Ludwig von Mises Institute (December 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0945466382
• ISBN-13: 978-0945466383
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #657,196 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In the spirit of von Mises and Rothbard, March 24, 2004

By 

Steve Jackson "stevejackson100atyahoocom" (New England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Speaking of Liberty (Hardcover)

Ludwig von Mises and Murray Rothbard were not only great theoretical economists, but also excellent popularizers. In particular, von Mises hasn't received the credit he deserves for his outstanding popular presentations of the case for individual freedom. Their work is continued today by Llewellyn Rockwell, the founder of the Ludwig von Mises Institute.

The Institute has published this collection of Rockwell's speeches in which Rockwell brilliantly makes the case for free enterprise and individual freedom. Rockwell has a knack for taking an insight of Mises's or Rothbard's and applying it to current events. For example, why is the Federal Reserve only criticized when it raises interest rates? If politicians were truly concerned about the economy, they would worry about the Fed lowering interest rates and creating artificial booms. There is a particularly powerful chapter concerning the negative effects of "civil rights" (anti-discrimination) laws and how such laws impede individual freedom and probably don't do much to help their intended beneficiaries (although they always increase the power of the state). Rockwell is prescient as well. He pointed out in the 90s that the "new era" boom couldn't continue, and when I was reading his 1998 article on Iraq I almost forgot that he was writing about Clinton and not George W. Bush. One of the best chapters concerns the presidency. Rockwell shows that both the left and the neocon "right" embrace the imperial presidency with almost equal enthusiasm.

SPEAKING OF LIBERTY also contains two interviews with Rockwell. He explains the rise of the modern libertarian movement and its relationship to conservatism (although I don't think he is completely fair to Russell Kirk). The bibliography, which contains a list of recommended books on liberty (not a few of which I've reviewed), is also excellent.

49 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stop the Pain, March 1, 2004

By 

Greg Perry (Oklahoma) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Speaking of Liberty (Hardcover)

Too many good people get tired of what's happening and they run full-force to the Republican party. The only problem with that is that they ran right into the enemy. (If they ran into the Dumbocrats, they would also be running into the enemy.)

Such folks (I was one at one time, but fortunately, we get wiser with age) wonder why the answers aren't there that should be.

It's because the answers are not found in either party because neither party understands liberty. Lew Rockwell understands liberty.

This is not a book you should buy yourself... no, this is a book you should buy yourself AND your neighbors AND your relatives AND and every congressman who lies to you at every election. If "Speaking of Liberty" sounds like some policy-wonk book, you have been jaded by all the other policy-wonk books out there (and there are far too many). If you want to ENJOY as you learn about freedom in our post-free nation, you owe it to yourself to click RIGHT NOW and buy this book and several extra copies.

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An eloquent defense, February 17, 2004

By 

Adam Fierro (Stillwater, MN USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Speaking of Liberty (Hardcover)

Llewellyn "Lew" Rockwell's book Speaking of Liberty is a collection of eloquent speeches in defense of Lady Liberty. Rockwell was my introduction to classical liberal or libertarian philosophy. I have to agree this is the book to pass along to friends or family who have yet to discover the beauty and importance of economic and human liberty.