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Walter Block

Defending the Undefendable: The Pimp, Prostitute, Scab, Slumlord, Libeler, Moneylender, and Other Scapegoats in the Rogue's Gallery of American Society Paperback – Large Print, January 1, 2008

by Walter Block (Author), Rodrigues (Illustrator), Murray N. Rothbard (Foreword),

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LARGE PRINT EDITION! More at LargePrintLiberty.com

Professor Block's book is in a new edition from the Mises Institute, completely reset and beautifully laid out in an edition worthy of its contents.It 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, 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. … 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 showing the falsity of these stereotypes you are doing a real services, although you will not make yourself more popular with the majority."

Print length

257 pages
Language

English
Publication date

January 1, 2008
Dimensions

8.5 x 0.64 x 11 inches
ISBN-10

1479323985
ISBN-13

978-1479323982
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; Large type / Large print edition (January 1, 2008)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 257 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1479323985
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1479323982
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.44 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.5 x 0.64 x 11 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #3,057,966 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #12,700 in Criminology (Books)

Customer Reviews:
101 ratings

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4 star		17%
3 star		11%
2 star		1%
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Spencer Corwin

Shock therapy for libertarian thought

Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2019

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For a someone who is well versed in libertarian thought then there's not much that will shock you in this book. But there are still brilliant nuggets that even I had never heard before. The best example was the last chapter where Block applies libertarian homesteading theory to the question of: when does a child become an adult in the libertarian view? I won't give it away here, but it is brilliant and was laid out well. If you are not a libertarian but want to here the libertarian defense of things that you would think are utterly undefendable, then look no further. This is the shock therapy you are looking for and it very well may open up your mind.

3 people found this helpful

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Magnus

Very good at explaining the value of a free market

Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2020

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Block introduces readers to the beauty of the free market in dealing with what should and should not be allowed to flourish in a free society. He picks many extreme examples of seemingly despicable professions/trades to highlight the manner in which they often fill a societal need and/or are driven from the marketplace if deemed anathema. A weakness is that certain topics addressed (e.g., drug dealing) that are driven by addiction do not prove as compelling as other free market actions. It nevertheless opens readers' eyes to the value of a truly free marketplace.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

C Hoffmann

Cleverly argued, often funny.

Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2013

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This book is a good refresher (or introduction) on some very basic economic principles, applied to many of society's scorned, including prostitutes, pimps, drug dealers, heroin addicts, blackmailers, gypsy cab drivers, counterfeiters, misers, slumlords, profiteers, and strip miners, fat capitalist pig employers etc....

The author makes a strong case that:
1. Free markets will eliminate much of the negative societal effects of the above pariahs, and
2. Much of the negativity associated with said pariahs should actually be blamed on the state attempts at market intervention.

He labels them heroes for bearing the scorn of society, fighting state attempts at coercion, and providing services that benefit society in ways that society fails to see.

This book is very entertaining (okay, hilarious at times), and it is convincingly argued in most cases. But a few chapters were plagued with weak arguments that detracted from the book. For example, in his defense of litterbugs, the author states correctly that private businesses don 't have a litter problem. He suggests that if sidewalks and parks were privately owned, the litter problem would be solved by profit-driven entrepreneurs having financial incentives to pick up after their guests. He offers no helpful suggestions on how private ownership of sidewalks would be feasible. The chapter on yelling fire in a crowded theater was also unconvincing. His argument starts out strong, with the point that entrepreneurs utilizing a market contract system will be more efficient than government at securing safety on their own private property. But he blows his argument by suggesting that some entrepreneurs might prefer to cater to sado-masochists who enjoy having their shows interrupted, and as long as they advertised their intention to allow disruptions, ordinary people should respect the right of these sado-masochists to have their place. He might have just been being funny since he does pull off hilarious points elsewhere in the book with skill.

Still, this book is a terrific read for anyone interested for a fun read on free market economics.

7 people found this helpful

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ap

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

Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2015

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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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A. W. Holtzapple

A book to open your mind...

Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2012

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In this unique book, economics professor Walter Block defends people who follow controversial practices. Each chapter is devoted to a different type of person - most of whom the average American would consider the lowest of the low. Pimps, drug pushers, blackmailers, ticket scalpers, dishonest cops, slumlords, litterers, fat capitalist pigs, and child labor employers to name a few of the more than 30 practices discussed in this book.

After reading "Defending", one is not meant to come away with a new found appreciation for sex workers, outlaws or cheats, it is merely a book meant to make you think - and it does just that. It is meant to release you from the bonds of mainstream thinking and get you to open your mind and ask yourself, "why is this practice so bad?" It teaches you to think for yourself and how to stand up and defend your own positions. After reading this book I came away with a great respect for Dr. Block because through his book I had received a great lesson in critical thinking.

If you want to read an entertaining, politically incorrect book that really makes you open your mind, read "Defending the Undefendable" by Walter Block. Regardless of your opinion of the practices discussed within its pages you will find yourself enjoying its contents immensely.

11 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

M T.

Truthful with the economical

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 8, 2018

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Great book explaining the usefulness and validity of people on the fringes of the economy. Ticket touts, prostitutes, and pimps are just three that stuck in my mind, but there are man more. Very interesting way to explore economic models.

Emir Catovic

Controversial, but logical. Read it

Reviewed in Australia on October 12, 2020

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book. it will challenge you in so many ways but it's never illogical. A must read for Libertarians

joe

Four Stars

Reviewed in Canada on February 9, 2018

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What a great read this book is..goes a long way to eliminating judgement.

One person found this helpful

Peter

Book size TOO large

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 8, 2016

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This is not a review of the book itself (hence 5 stars to keep the rating unchanged).

As a warning to other potential buyers, when it says large print, it is not joking. Admittedly I did not notice that it was mentioned in the product description. That said, it basically makes the book unreadable for me as my only opportunity to read is on the train. Regardless of the content, the book is therefore destined for the bin.

One person found this helpful

Ruslan

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 19, 2014

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Good book

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