Customer Reviews

The Walton Street Tycoons

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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This is not exactly a primer of the principles of Libertarianism, but it's a good introduction. The author presents examples of excessive governmental authority (and shows how "democracy" is much over-rated) in such a clear way that the reader will find it easy to say, "He's right." Once you've read this book you'll want to know more about how government works, and what Freedom and Liberty are really about.

What a funny, well-written primer on basic libertarian concepts. Mark Hoffmann and his pals are politically incorrect, sharp-witted entrepreneurs who will have you rolling on the floor laughing as they outwit the adult buffoons who run the town of Walton. The book is a great intro to the basic tenets of libertarian thought - as well as a wake-up call to the dangers, corruption and immoral power of the state. I recommend this novel for adults and teens alike. This book has it all for the young libertarian - entrepreneurship, disdain for authority, fishing, guns, politically incorrect humor, and some good make-out scenes. Give it a read

This novel is a great read from start to finish. Although many like this book for its libertarian views, I loved it simply for its fiction. It is a really fun novel, entertaining for adults and teens alike. Be careful as you read, however... you and your teenagers may begin to re-think your political views. Enjoy it with you pre-teen to early teenager, and open up some great dinner table discussions.

This work is a thoughtful and hilarious foray into a libertarian world where a limited government doesn't bite the "Invisible Hand" of a local free market economy. The main character is a defiant, middle schooler who unrealistically leads a cadre of pre-teen and teenage entrepaneurs to revive his depressed, local economy. The characters are realistic and somewhat stereotypic, but they accurately reflect the simple logic of "enlightened self interest" and the folly of over-regulated government bureaucracy. The main character's lecture to the student body about property rights amidst the coercive forces of a democratic majority was simple, understandable and spectacular.
After devouring this quick hilarious read, I promptly placed the novel on my twelve year old son's summer reading list. Our thoughtful discussions abound. The logic is so simple, even a twelve year old can quickly comprehend its basic tenets...so why can't a bloated government of useless bureaucrats......Power.

"Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom."
Albert Einstein, 'Out of My Later Years,' 1950

"I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it."
Thomas Jefferson, to Archibald Stuart, 1791

The enlightened desire freedom while the masses clamor for equality.

As a yuppie adult now approaching 40 who was brought up on The Little House books, The Great Brain, The Chronicles of Narnia and The Adventures of Tintin (as well as Lucky Luke and Asterix, and hours of 70's and 80's television and movies, of course), and who still feels very much like that young idealistic kid in my now-adult heart, I wholeheartedly recommend the surprisingly good The Walton Street Tycoons for young readers and their parents, grandparents and friends. It is a book you will be proud of both gifting and also reading yourself.
I remember curling up on a sofa with my own books and spending hours in other worlds and times and kingdoms and far away towns, which seemed so strangely close when I became engrossed in those stories. The Walton Street Tycoons follows in that same tradition of wholesome children's literature with all the signature hallmarks: the story instills the basic American small town ethos, the decency and values of the pioneer and entrepreneurial spirit, yet very much with the rhythms, attitude and outlook of our modern 21st Century internet and liberated times. It is also an engrossing, suspenseful, humorous and entertaining read that will move quickly and pleasantly for the young reader, and have adults quickly turning page after page.
The story of young kid entrepreneurs who save their town's economy from the bureaucratic socialistic clueless adults, at once illustrates basic libertarian philosophy and common sense, yet poignantly captures the emotion, conflicts and love in family life between parents and siblings and also the social and societal coming of age which every American youngster must go through for better and worse. I found myself as I read thinking back to my early life rites of passage and crying a bit inside, laughing a lot and admiring the hijinks of these well-rounded characters.
Like every great American kids novel, common decency and goodness prevail and are the dominant cultural lessons. But kids will also learn why libertarian principles are better and more humane and compassionate even though at first it would seem counter-intuitive to the novice. Life in present day America has exposed glaring contradictions and inconsistencies for our kids in what authority figures are telling them and what those policies are actually producing. TWST goes much of the way towards explaining the problem and issues for young minds.
In his first full-length novel, prominent libertarian activist Jim Lesczynski proves that he has a bright future as a professional author and writer ahead of him. The Walton Street Tycoons is both a heartfelt, tender adventure fable but also a no-punches-pulled kids survival map for our searching, questioning and skeptical youth, and also a tough nudge and warning to our parents and adults of what has happened to our once-free country, along with the mindset and values we must adopt to restore it, for their futures and ours.

Mix a little Stand By Me with The Outsiders. Add a dash of Lord of the Flies and sprinkle a few Goonie chips in for good measure and that's the cookie served up in The Walton Street Tycoons. To be fair, there is nothing derivative of the aforementioned stories in Jim Lesczynski's book, but there is a discernable teen movie feel present. Would make a great class read as there is just the right mix of rebellion, adventure and a brutally honest civics lesson, all blended into an edgily entertaining coming of age tale.