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Defending the Undefendable Paperback – May 1, 2008

by Walter Block (Author), Murray N. Rothbard (Foreword), F.A. Hayek (Contributor)
4.1 out of 5 stars 43 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 257 pages
  • Publisher: Ludwig von Mises Institute (May 1, 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1933550171
  • ISBN-13: 978-1933550176
  • Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #592,878 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsLaissez-faire capitalism: The best and only moral system under which to live -- no exceptions!
By Jason Seagraves on October 30, 2008
Format: Paperback
In the classic Defending the Undefendable, Austrian School economist Dr. Walter Block makes both moral and utilitarian cases for completely laissez-faire capitalism -- no exceptions! The premise of the book is, if freedom to choose can be defended and even celebrated when it comes to the prostitute, the pimp, the drug user, and other social pariahs, then certainly that same freedom should be afforded to everyone else. These supposedly "undefendable" figures, Dr. Block shows, are not only "defendable" but actually heroic.

For example, the drug dealer: He is only providing a product that is in demand to a customer who demands it. It isn't the drugs themselves that promote crime, says Block (with supporting evidence included), but the high cost of the drugs -- and that high cost is a direct result of the drugs' prohibition. To the extent that the drug dealer braves the dangers of the black market to supply drugs to willing customers, he is putting downward pressure on the substances' prices, thereby reducing the likelihood of drug-related crimes against people and property. In this sense, the drug dealer is not only not a bad guy, but indeed a hero.

Libertarians are already very familiar with arguments (moral and utilitarian) for the legalization of drugs and prostitution. But what about blackmailers, slanderers, and libelers? Block takes up their cause. My favorite chapter features Block's analysis of "crooked" cops actually being superior to "honest" cops. After all, the crooked cop gives non-violent "criminals" (i.e. drug dealers, drug users, prostitutes, johns, etc.) the choice of paying a bribe or going to jail, while the honest cop gives them no such choice and instead kidnaps and confines them for their non-crimes.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsA Classic Libertarian Book
By JJohnson on February 27, 2009
Format: Paperback
This work by Dr. Walter Block makes full use of applying the cornerstone of libertarian philosophy, the non-aggression axiom, to those who are viewed as the dregs of our society.
The author's introduction gives a quick summary of the libertarian view that as long as there is no initiation of aggression (violence, coercion, etc); anything we do amongst ourselves cannot be considered unjust. He applies this view to the profession of the prostitute, the oft-vilified drug user and drug pusher, the "typical" fat capitalist pig, and many others in a who's who of vile people, and shows through exemplary examples and illustrations how these people often end up contributing to society in ways that the public, which despises them most often, takes for granted and fails to notice.
The tone of this book is very fun to read, and the ease of it's use is reminiscent of Henry Hazlitt's Economics in One Lesson: The Shortest and Surest Way to Understand Basic Economics, while it's philosophical insight and rigorous defense and application of the non-aggression axiom makes it seem almost as if it were an epilogue to The Ethics of Liberty, by Murray Rothbard.
I recommend this book to any student of economics, seeker of liberty, or any open minded individual ready to see the unseen, and maybe take up the case for defending the undefendable

I hope everyone appreciates the cheesy way I ended this review.
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5.0 out of 5 starsA book to open your mind...
By A. W. Holtzapple on February 8, 2012
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
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.
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5.0 out of 5 starsThought provoking!
By consumer on January 28, 2012
Format: Audio CD Verified Purchase
Do you have an open mind? If so, this CD is for you. But if you are someone who KNOWS what is right and wrong and don't want to hear another viewpoint, then you will not enjoy this book. Personally, I don't think that blackmail is a good thing. But hearing Mr. Block's opinion makes me at least see a different side.
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4.0 out of 5 starsCleverly argued, often funny.
By M. Fender on March 12, 2013
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
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.Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Eye opening free market classic!

Published 3 months ago by Amazon Customer
1.0 out of 5 starsthis 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 5 months ago by Marilyn K. Hunt
4.0 out of 5 starsFour Stars

INTERESTING READ!

Published 11 months ago by Jaime Jesus
5.0 out of 5 starsLibertarian Ideals Put into Practical Arguments

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... Read more

Published 12 months ago by PBY
3.0 out of 5 starsThree Stars

The book is slightly dented at the edge

Published 13 months ago by Koh Jun Ho
5.0 out of 5 starsThe implication of Liberty and non-agression applied to...

Very enjoyable read, if the Defending the undefendable II were available in kindle format, I would also buy/read it. Read more

Published 14 months ago by ap
1.0 out of 5 starsquite 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 16 months ago by Dmitriy Smelov
3.0 out of 5 starsshould 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 18 months ago by Caraculiambro
3.0 out of 5 starsFun, decent, but may not send too many minds on fire ...

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,... Read more

Published 23 months ago by timothylord
3.0 out of 5 starsIt's worth saying, but Neal Boortz says it better.

Topics in this book:

prostitute
pimp
male chauvinist pig
drug pusher
drug addict
blackmailer
slanderer and libeler
denier of academic... Read more

Published 23 months ago by M. Heiss

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