Customer Reviews

Speaking of Liberty

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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.

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.

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.

This book deserves a wide audience. It is lucidly written and cogently communicates a political and economic message which contains the solution to so many of today's problems.Lew Rockwell understands that true conservatism embraces the civilizing influences of the family, the market and the church, but rejects, as treacherous and corrosive, the phony patriotism and warmongering of so-called conservatives in politics and the media. Indeed one of the most important passages in the book reads, "Big government abroad is incompatible with small government at home. To the extent we cheer war, we are cheering domestic socialism and our own eventual destruction as a civilization."The author points out that the answer doesn't lie in electing the correct candidate to office, but rather it lies in de-sanctifying the office itself. He also makes the important point that libertarianism and cultural conservatism are symbiotic, not antagonistic. On economic matters, Mr Rockwell explains that it is a gold standard, not Greenspan, that free-marketeers should cherish.The author refers many times to the courage of Ludwig von Mises, who held uncompromisingly to laissez faire at a time when the world was turning towards collectivism, and Murray Rothbard, who faced the opposition of "beltway" libertarians and conservatives. The steadfastness which these two men demonstrated should be an inspiration to all friends of liberty.Theirs may have been a lonely path, but it is certainly the brightest path; the path that holds the greatest promise.

*** Update

I guess I am out of kilter here as my review is a book review of a book I have actually read. I suppose it is fashionable to use the review section to offer commentary about something the writer is admittedly ignorant of. I find that is also true that some anonymous "readers" also like to use this space to review other reviewers from the same position of ignorance.

I'm not sure what about my review led said anonymous "reader" to make assumptions and this reader would probably be surprised to learn that this reviewer happens to have combat experience and is not likely to rejoice is the death or injury of anyone much less one of my grandchildren.

In fact those soldiers are not statists, just brave young people who volunteered to defend this country as I did, and were duped as I was. I cry for every one who doesn't come home. I have to, I have know way too many of them.

In fact this reviewer was pubic educated but at a time before the schools engaged in wholesale brainwashing. These were more innocent times I suppose.

I guess I have little patience with REMF's and chickenhawks willing to send others to die for politics yet not willing to do the same themselves. This assesement includes the current comander in chief ( who hid out in Texas - safely far away from the Ho Chi Minh trail ), the defense secretary and assorted flunkies, the vice commander and just about everyone else in the adminstration.

I stand by my opinion that anyone who thinks this book and Lew Rockwell are in any way anti American and that one who thinks so is either ignorant from the non-exposure to real history versus PC nonsense or has drank the Kool Aid.

Again, this book celebrates the REAL America. It is sad commentary that too few people recognize it.

Anyone who says that this book "rejoices in Amercias defeat" or that it anti-American either has not read the book or is so hopelessly infected with statism that he or she is incapable of any independant thought.

Possibly they are all the poor unfortunate victims of government education so we can't be too hard on them - it's not their fault.

This the most pro-American book I have ever read. It rejoices in America's virtues and what this country is supposed to stand for.

Freedom and liberty were the principles this nation was founded on. This book tells us of the REAL America and the REAL America is just not about more efficiently bombing the wogs halfway around the world. No intelligent patriot one could look at what the Bushies atre doing to Iraq and say that is what America is all about.

This book is about real patriotism not the phony flag-waving and oppression of the Bush Administration or more correctly the Cheney-Rove-Rumsfeld adminstration of which dear old shrub is the point man on strings.

I would recommend this book for anyone. If you read it with an open mind you will be enlightened. Enlightened not brainwashed.

Far from rejoicing ion Americas defeat, this book celebrates America. My America. The one I want back.

Speaking of Liberty is a fascinating look at at an emerging philosophical/political framework, of which Llewellyn Rockwell is this generation's standard-bearer. Through discussions on economics and war, he illustrates a view of the world that is both appreciative of traditional values and unabashedly radical.

Those unfamiliar with the libertarian intellectual movement may be delighted to discover this alternative to the American left-wing/right-wing paradigm. Rockwell's ideas can be as appealing to liberal college students as they can be to conservative Christians.

Those already familiar with Rockwell will be happy to see him in top form, as he exposes and condemns the Warfare/Welfare State, recounts the development of libertarianism via Ludwig von Mises and Murray Rothbard, and describes the current state of the movement.

Unlike the gurus of the left and right (Ann Coulter, Bill O'Reilly, Michael Moore etc.), Rockwell's ideas are supported by powerful economic and historical arguments, rather than impassioned fear-mongering about the "other side" trying to "subvert America". He makes it clear that the danger is not other people, but the harmful policies of the central State.

Lew's writing style is thoroughly enjoyable. He is always controversial, never disrespectful. He can simultaneously shake up and attack certain political preconceptions, and inspire a new-found respect for others. If you're curious about libertarianism, Austrian economics, or just alternative political thought, this is a great place to start.

What comes through above all else in the speeches collected in this book is that Lew Rockwell has a deep love for the unfettered free market because he understands its unique ability to foster human well being.

The speeches address a wide range of events from recent history, from the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act under the first President Bush, to September 11, to the second President Bush's unprecedented expansion of government and the warfare state, among many others.

More importantly, the speeches provide applications of the eternal moral and economic principles of the freedom philosophy, and they discuss the essential contributions that Ludwig von Mises and Murray N. Rothbard made to our understanding of these principles. For these reasons, the book will remain useful to students of liberty long after some of the specific events have faded from memory.

So many public speakers have just a few basic speeches that they give, with little or no variation. Each item in this 471 page book, however, is distinct. While there certainly are consistent themes throughout, there is no redundancy.

Lew Rockwell plainly states the truth as few others in the libertarian movement have the guts to do and with clarity of presentation that few others have the talent to match.

I highly recommend _Speaking of Liberty_ to anyone who cares about the future of freedom.

These days its easy for a lover of liberty to be frustrated. The size and scope of the Federal behemoth is growing by the day. Laws such as the PATRIOT ACT are shredding the freedoms that we hold so dear and our government is had embarked on a war of agression against a country that was never any threat to us. Our sons and daughters are dying half a world away for the glory of arrogant rich kids with dreams of conquest. REMFS and chickenhawks sending others to die who were unwilling to do so themselves.

This book will give you hope. Lew Rockwell sees the good in everything. This collection of speeched given by Rockwell address everything from freedoom to sound money, and Lew has this incredible ability to expose the silver lining where we all see clouds.

This is wonderful book and a rich source of quotations.

Read Lews speeches and get the messages he sends. All is not lost. There are good things happening and reasons to be optimistic. If you ever doubted the power of liberty and freedom, read this book and you will find yourself encouraged.

Lew is conistent in his dedication to freedom and the principles this county was founded on.

Like Fred Reed says: "I love America, I would move there if I could find it."

Find it here.

Lew Rockwell's book Speaking of Liberty is a modern day libertarian classic. Lew Rockwell is the President of Mises Institute at www.mises.org and has an awesome daily news and opinion site www.lewrockwell.com

The book includes these major sub-topics: Economics, War, Ludwig Von Mises, Ideas and Interviews & Tributes. Consistent defense of Liberty and Property flow through these pages. Lew Rockwell, unlike socialist and neo-con trotskyist shrills, employs logic, reason, history and laws of economics to make his passionate case for Liberty, Private Property and Peace.

The two most important sections of this book are on War and Business Cycle.

This is the book that you give out to your friends on their Birthdays!

The Libertarian movement has to be one of the most misunderstood and much-maligned schools of political thought in America today. After reading this book, one has to really wonder why. There is nothing in this book that wouldn't bring a rousing round of applause from our founding fathers if Mr. Rockwell had been there to deliver these fine speeches to the likes of Washington and Jefferson. There's not one crumb of evidence in this book that points to anything but Lew Rockwell and the Libertarian movement being anything but a true patriotic and pure American school of political thought.

This former card-carrying Republican hangs his head in shame at what has happened to the party of Jefferson today; and, in turn, how that party has greatly helped in wrecking this once great land.

Thank God that there are still those few left who understand what America is supposed to stand for and will, regardless of how unpopular the ideas may seem to the befuddled masses, will stand up and fight for them. Lew Rockwell is one of those people.

I bought four of these books for Christmas and gave them to my university educated relatives. These are thoughtful, intelligent, professional people. I'm sure they'll be sorely missed by the Republican party as after reading Speaking of Liberty, they now understand why I am proud to say that I am, indeed, an ex-Republican. Lew Rockwell and his Libertarian movement are the real thing (not fakes like the pro-war Cato Institute). Read this book and find out why.

You'll thank me later. This book is much better than a mere five stars. Anyone who has read the book won't disagree.