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Defending the Undefendable (LvMI) by [Block, Walter]

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Defending the Undefendable (LvMI) Kindle Edition

by Walter Block (Author), Murray N. Rothbard (Foreword), F.A. Hayek (Preface)

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Professor Block's book is among the most famous of the great defenses of victimless crimes and controversial economic practices, from profiteering and gouging to bribery and blackmail. However, beneath the surface, this book is also an outstanding work of microeconomic theory that explains the workings of economic forces in everyday events and affairs.

Murray Rothbard explains why:

"Defending the Undefendable performs the service of highlighting, in the fullest and starkest terms, the essential nature of the productive services performed by all people in the free market. By taking the most extreme examples and showing how the Smithian principles work even in these cases, the book does far more to demonstrate the workability and morality of the free market than a dozen sober tomes on more respectable industries and activities. By testing and proving the extreme cases, he all the more illustrates and vindicates the theory."

F.A. Hayek agreed, writing the author as follows:

"Looking through Defending the Undefendable made me feel that I was once more exposed to the shock therapy by which, more than fifty years ago, the late Ludwig von Mises converted me to a consistent free market position. Even now I am occasionally at first incredulous and feel that 'this is going too far,' but usually find in the end that you are right. Some may find it too strong a medicine, but it will still do them good even if they hate it. A real understanding of economics demands that one disabuses oneself of many dear prejudices and illusions. Popular fallacies in economics frequently express themselves in unfounded prejudices against other occupations, and in showing the falsity of these stereotypes you are doing a real service, although you will not make yourself more popular with the majority."

To search for Mises Institute titles, enter a keyword and LvMI (short for Ludwig von Mises Institute); e.g., Depression LvMI

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File Size: 2737 KB
Print Length: 282 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Ludwig von Mises Institute (March 29, 2011)
Publication Date: March 29, 2011
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B004UHO0P0
Text-to-Speech: Enabled

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Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled

Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #339,944 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
- #115 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Business & Money > Economics > Free Enterprise
- #319 in Books > Business & Money > Economics > Free Enterprise
- #371 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Politics & Social Sciences > Philosophy > Political

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M. Heiss

It's worth saying, but Neal Boortz says it better.

September 19, 2014

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Topics in this book:

prostitute
pimp
male chauvinist pig
drug pusher
drug addict
blackmailer
slanderer and libeler
denier of academic freedom
advertiser
someone who yells fire in a crowded theater
gypsy cab driver
ticket scalper
dishonest cop
nongovernment counterfeiter
miser
inheritor
moneylender
noncontributor to charity
curmudgeon
slumlord
ghetto merchant
speculator
importer
middleman
profiteer
stripminer
litterer
wastemakers
capiltalist pig employer
scab
rate buster
employer of child labor

Originally written in 1976, this book IS originally writeen. Enough to drive do-gooder coercive control freaks nuts.

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The implication of Liberty and non-agression applied to (controversial) specific occupations

June 20, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Very enjoyable read, if the Defending the undefendable II were available in kindle format, I would also buy/read it. The 'short story' nature of the book is helpful, because you can do the reading even if you don't have much time. The most important lesson I take away from this book is that we often find a profession/person/action/thing repulsive or criminal or wrong or dirty or whatever for the wrong reasons. For example: thanks to prof. Block, virtually all issues I used to have about 'the environment', I was able to trace back to 'property rights'. Also, I realised that we make the logical mistake to disapprove of certain occupations if they frequently involve force or coercion, while we should jugde only the coercion, and not the profession per se.

3 people found this helpful

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J. Petersen

Very interesting, classic Walter Block

April 25, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

For anyone who hasn't read any of Walter Block's writing, they should. He is extremely clear-headed and analytical, and always very good at getting to the essence of a problem or issue.

In this book he goes through a number of case studies in certain "fringe cases" to show libertarian philosophy in action with regards to unpopular characters. If you've read his works before, some of it will seem a little familiar, but he can be very witty in certain parts. After a while the book tends to drag on, but that might be because I've read a lot of his articles, and start to feel like I have a sense where he's going before he gets there.

That said, it is an enjoyable read, and an excellent intro to libertarian philosophy.

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PBY

Libertarian Ideals Put into Practical Arguments

August 22, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Absolutely amazing. If you have any libertarian ideals this book is for you. Block is such a wonderful writer, he is easy to read and puts together his arguments is a succinct and concise format. It might sound crazy right now, but when you are done reading this book you will have no doubt that these supposedly undefendable characters are really heroes, risking their lives and future for your benefit.

One person found this helpful

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Alien Owl

One of Dr. Block's best!

October 16, 2012

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Dr. Block points out that the economic scapegoats described in his books are more heroes from a business perspective than the grocer, baker, etc.

After all, the pimp, drug dealer, and prostitute provide their valuable services in the face of universal scorn and worse, persecution.

He also wisely points out that just because some pimps are abusive, for example, that we can't condemn the entire field of pimping, since being abusive isn't part of the job requirement, and there are lots of businesspeople in all kinds of businesses who abuse their fellow beings, but we don't go banning their whole business over it.

The book has a great message - judge these things based on whether they are coercive or voluntary. Coercion is an ethical failing, morals are for each person to decide, not to legislate.

In my opinion, it's one of the greatest libertarian works, in addition to being accessible and a fun read, full of assumption-questioning ideas.

2 people found this helpful

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timothylord

Fun, decent, but may not send too many minds on fire ...

September 30, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

As with Blocks "The Case for Discrimination," I like the general attitude (live and let live, and seek reasons for "undesirable" business practices or roles, uncover hypocrisy in criticism), but not sure there's much gained in reading *all* of these essays -- smaller marginal returns ;) (Also, some of them feel pretty forced -- I'm thinking of the defense of drug dealers per se -- and it almost feels like an exercise that Block doing.)

I would leave it around to be read, and hope it might influence some re-thinking by people who who never otherwise see some of these bit of unconventional thinking, but I think that while some of the individual essays are great, A+ worthy, I'd call the book itself no more than a B-.

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October 6, 2012

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

The value of a pimp - he is a broker, increasing the efficiency and safety of the prostitute because she doesn't have to street walk - or the value to society of the blackmailer - "It is sometimes said that what diminishes crime is not the penalty attached to the crime but the certainty of being caught. Blackmail does both." and therefore is a crime deterrent. These are just two of the many examples of unconventional thinking free of prejudice and assumptions.

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Maria Folsom

This will blow your mind.

June 4, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

If you give this book a serious chance, and read it with an open mind, it will turn you around in every chapter. Things you once thought were sinful become virtuous. It unbrainwashes you. Lots of fun to discuss with friends, and very interesting to examine your own entrenched morals and values.

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Most recent customer reviews

Bruce Pipkin

Four Stars

Have not finished it yet!

Published 5 months ago

Amazon Customer

This is a must buy if you consider yourself a ...

This is a must buy if you consider yourself a contrarian but also if you or a friend is an obstinant stick in the mud.

Published 11 months ago

Jared Carson

Great primer using logic and reason

Easy to read and understand, solid lines of reasoning and logic, great introduction to an education in classical liberal thought

Published 1 year ago

Amazon Customer

Very readable

Very readable. Makes you think about things differently.

Published 1 year ago

Amazon Customer

Five Stars

Eye opening free market classic!

Published on May 17, 2016

Marilyn K. Hunt

this is how Fascists destroyed civiliation...fathering deception

over 6 million innocent people died in WWII. This type of thinking is why. St Thomas Aquinas said that wrong can never be justified..and there is right and wrong!Read more

Published on March 7, 2016

James H

Four Stars

INTERESTING READ!

Published on September 5, 2015

Koh Jun Ho

Three Stars

The book is slightly dented at the edge

Published on July 16, 2015

Dmitriy Smelov

quite a disappointment

Apart from the points a lot of other negative reviewers make (extremely poorly written, contains arguments from false premises, abundance of off-topic musings, etc) there is one...Read more

Published on April 7, 2015

Caraculiambro

should be updated annually

Really, what the von Mises institute should do is re-issue an update of this every year, outfitted with the latest scholarship and most keenly worded arguments, including...Read more

Published on January 31, 2015

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