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Libertarianism: A Primer Paperback – February 4, 1998

by David Boaz (Author)

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Tens of millions of Americans, from Generation X-ers to baby boomers and beyond, are rediscovering libertarianism, a visionary alternative to the tired party orthodoxies of left and right. In 1995 a Gallup poll found that 52 percent of Americans said "the federal government has become so large and powerful that it poses an immediate threat to the rights and freedoms of ordinary citizens." Later that year, The Wall Street Journal concurred, saying: "Because of their growing disdain for government, more and more Americans appear to be driftingoften unwittinglytoward a libertarian philosophy."
Libertarianism is hardly new, but its framework for liberty under law and economic progress makes it especially suited for the dynamic new era we are now entering. In the United States, the bureaucratic leviathan is newly threatened by a resurgence of the libertarian ideas upon which the country was founded. We are witnessing a breakdown of all the cherished beliefs of the welfare-warfare state. Americans have seen the failure of big government. Now, in the 1990s, we are ready to apply the lessons of this century to make the next one the century not of the state but of the free individual.
David Boaz presents the essential guidebook to the libertarian perspective, detailing its roots, central tenets, solutions to contemporary policy dilemmas, and future in American politics. He confronts head-on the tough questions frequently posed to libertarians: What about inequality? Who protects the environment? What ties people together if they are essentially self-interested? A concluding section, "Are You a Libertarian?" gives readers a chance to explore the substance of their own beliefs. Libertarianism is must reading for understanding one of the most exciting and hopeful movements of our time.

Editorial Reviews

Review

P.J. O'Rourke America is a country full of people who feel personal liberty and individual responsibility in their guts. This book puts those guts into words. America is also a country full of politicians, academics, and self-possessed elites who mistrust liberty and responsibility ot the bottom of their souls. This book plants a kick in that fundament.

William F. Weld Libertarianism: A Primer is a bracing shot of 100-proof libertarianism guaranteed to render mute the last defenders of big, paternalistic government. With plain-spoken eloquence, David Boaz unveils a vision of America that has at its core an abiding respect for personal liberty and freedom writ large.

Dave Barry I hope everybody reads this book. My only concern is that, if we ever do wise up and dump the federal government, I'll lose my biggest source of comic material.

About the Author

David Boaz (1953–2024) was a distinguished senior fellow of the Cato Institute. For more than four decades as vice president for public policy and executive vice president, he played a key role in the development of both the Cato Institute and the libertarian movement. He is the author of The Libertarian Mind: A Manifesto for Freedom (first edition titled Libertarianism: A Primer) and the editor of The Libertarian Reader. His articles appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and the Los Angeles Times, among other publications.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Free Press
Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 4, 1998
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 068484768X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0684847689
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.5 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #2,268,799 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #160 in Libertarianism
- #2,692 in Political Philosophy (Books)
- #5,645 in Political Science (Books)
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David Boaz

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David Boaz, the executive vice president of the Cato Institute, has played a key role in the growth of the libertarian movement. He is the author of "The Libertarian Mind: A Manifesto for Freedom" and editor of "The Libertarian Reader."

The earlier edition of "The Libertarian Mind," titled "Libertarianism: A Primer," was described by the Los Angeles Times as "a well-researched manifesto of libertarian ideas" and by Richard Epstein as "unit[ing] history, philosophy, economics and law—spiced with just the right anecdotes—to bring alive a vital tradition of American political thought." His other books include "The Politics of Freedom," the "Cato Handbook For Policymakers," "Liberating Schools," and "The Crisis in Drug Prohibition." His articles have been published in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, National Review, Slate, and the Encyclopedia Britannica.

He is a frequent guest on national television and radio shows and a popular speaker on college campuses and at corporate and community events.

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Customer reviews

75 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this primer to be an eye-opening introduction to libertarianism, with one customer noting it provides a comprehensive explanation of the subject. They appreciate its logical structure and philosophy, with one review highlighting how it offers a different perspective.

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Information quality Libertarianism Libertarian ideology Logicalness Philosophy

6 customers mention "Information quality"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and eye-opening, with one customer describing it as the most comprehensive explanation and another noting its coverage of history.

"I guess as an intro to Libertarianism this book is a good start, but as a polital belief system Libertarianism seems to come up short on answers to..." Read more

"It is an eye opening book about all that is wrong with politics and the ways to fix and make things how our founding fathers intended" Read more

"I know this was written in 1996 or so, but what a wonderful overview of a movement gaining speed now!..." Read more

"The best, most comprehensive explanation of the Libertarian political philosophy that I've seen and I've seen them all." Read more

5 customers mention "Libertarianism"4 positive1 negative

Customers find this book to be a great primer on libertarianism, with one mentioning it serves as an effective straw man for politicians.

"...This is a much better source regarding libertarianism than "The Conscience of a Libertarian" (Root)and the solutions suggested are less radical,..." Read more

"...It's a great straw man for politicians, since they can say "Give me half your cash or the Libertarians will take away (insert govt agency)!"..." Read more

"...A worthwhile read to understand the principals of Libertarianism, but not if you are seeking answers." Read more

"too much republican bs and not enough libertarian viewpoint." Read more

4 customers mention "Libertarian ideology"3 positive1 negative

Customers appreciate the libertarian ideology presented in the book, with one customer noting how it beats socialism and another highlighting its positive outlook on America's future.

"...Covering history, philosophy and modern/current issues and trends in big government, Boaz looks at the past, present and future of the state and..." Read more

"...It is chock full of examples and logical reasons that Libertarian ideas beat Socialism...." Read more

"too much republican bs and not enough libertarian viewpoint." Read more

"...Boaz is persuasive, humorous and positive about America's Libertarian future...." Read more

3 customers mention "Logicalness"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book logical, with one mentioning it is clearly thought out.

"..." (Root)and the solutions suggested are less radical, clearly thought out and more rationally adopted...." Read more

"Well written and very logical. David Boaz states his case well but doesn't try to "sell" his philosophy...." Read more

"...It is chock full of examples and logical reasons that Libertarian ideas beat Socialism...." Read more

3 customers mention "Philosophy"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the philosophy of the book, with one review highlighting its pragmatic approach and another noting how it provides a different perspective.

"...Boaz is persuasive, humorous and positive about America's Libertarian future...." Read more

"...Perhaps the best thing about this book is that it gives you a different perspective from which to look at today's most contentious issues...." Read more

"...in understanding the basis of Libertarian thought, the basics of Libertarian philosophy, and the tenents of Libertarian governance...." Read more

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Felix R Perez
A good book for those who are curious, against or in favor of Libertarianism
Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2011
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Quote from the book: "Libertarianism is the view that each person has the right to live his life in any way he chooses so long as he respects the equal rights of others."

Libertarianism is most often the subject of ridicule and mockery. It's a great straw man for politicians, since they can say "Give me half your cash or the Libertarians will take away (insert govt agency)!"

Despite the ridicule, David Boaz gives an excellent defense of Libertarianism. The book could have been written yesterday, since the predictions and issues remain important till this day. He shows us life before social security, welfare, medicare and public education. Much of the social safety net was provided by family, community and other private organizations. Bad decisions were limited by personal accountability. Almost all of the elderly had access to healthcare. And before public education, much of society paid for the education they wanted. As it turns out, government came along and began "providing" these services once society had made them ubiquitous and cheap via voluntary exchange. Although society back then was far poorer, it still managed to provide for those in need.

How can Boaz be so confident that society will rise up and provide these services without a gun to their collective head? Because government has inflated the costs through its inefficiencies. If Americans took home more of their own pay, in our current age of great material wealth, they could provide (or demand) these services for a fraction of the cost.

The book does not go so deep into any one subject that the casual reader will become very bored. Boaz is persuasive, humorous and positive about America's Libertarian future. I doubt even the most ardent government supporter could read this book without agreeing with much of the author's conclusions.

Overall, this is a great book for those who are curious, opposed or in favor of Libertarianism.

A favorite quote from the book: "As government controls more of society, who controls government becomes more important."

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Ed Barton
Broad Reaching Treatise on Libertarian Thought
Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2013
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
If you are looking to become familiar with Libertarian thought and philosophy, this book is one of the easiest and most approachable books in the canon. David Boaz writes for the reader interested in understanding the basis of Libertarian thought, the basics of Libertarian philosophy, and the tenents of Libertarian governance. Covering history, philosophy and modern/current issues and trends in big government, Boaz looks at the past, present and future of the state and the big-government policies that led us to our current condition. Pragmatic and practical, Boaz provides the reader with a strong argument for a Libertarian America in the 21st Century.

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M. Strong
Small government and big individual freedom? I'm in.
Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2005
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
How refreshing! A political philosophy that puts its faith in the ability of people to accomplish things without the oversight of some gargantuan government. Boaz does a wonderful job of laying out the basic ideas of Libertarianism without getting at all technical.

Libertarianism espouses the freedom of the individual, harkening back to the bedrock philosophy of this country's founders. Boaz describes Republicans as your father - always telling you what to do because he knows best; and Democrats as your mother - wiping your nose and trying to do everything for you because you can't handle it. Libertarians, says Boaz, want to treat you as an adult.

Perhaps the best thing about this book is that it gives you a different perspective from which to look at today's most contentious issues. What you discover is that we assume a whole lot that we shouldn't - frequently what we assume in an argument about how the Government should handle something is that they should be handling it in the first place! Boaz and Libertarians argue that in all but a tiny handful of instances the answer is absolutely not.

Highly recommended for anyone who is frustrated with the current system and is looking for a more satisfying alternative, or for anyone who just wants another perspective on our system.

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SteveC
A convincing case argued with conviction
Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2000
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
As an introduction to libertarianism, David Boaz's "Libertarianism: A Primer" is often compared with Charles Murray's "What It Means to Be a Libertarian" which also came out in 1997. They are both excellent, but completely different in style and approach. Where Murray's book is "a personal interpretation," David Boaz ranges widely, with lots of references to the many contributors to libertarian thought. Murray's book is more concise and a quicker read, but Boaz packs in a lot more material, making a more overwhelming argument. Both are modern explanations of libertarianism, with refined arguments benefiting from the experience and academic developments of recent years.
For someone completely new to libertarianism looking to get started, I would recommend Murray's book first, then David Boaz's Primer, and finally Boaz's Libertarian Reader.

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RedFox
Libertarianism - explained
Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2010
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
This is an outstanding book, especially as a first read regarding a libertarian philosophy. Boaz not only explains classic liberal development and application of libertarianism to today's issues, he offers suggestions for addressing our present day loss of liberty and the unfortunate advance of socialism in America today. This is a much better source regarding libertarianism than "The Conscience of a Libertarian" (Root)and the solutions suggested are less radical, clearly thought out and more rationally adopted. I would also recommend "A Return to Common Sense" (Mullen) as a fine companion for this book.

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Frank Reibold
Großartige Einführung in den Liberalismus
Reviewed in Germany on June 3, 2005
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Ich habe lange nach einer guten Einführung in das Thema "Liberalismus" gesucht und sie mit diesem Buch endlich gefunden.
Zu Beginn wird der Liberalismus im politischen Spektrum eingeordnet (weder rechts noch links) und man erfährt, warum sich die klassischen Liberalen jetzt Libertäre nennen: Die Linken bzw. Progressiven haben das Wort "liberal" für sich vereinnahmt, sodass eine neue Bezeichnung gefunden werden musste.
Danach werden die Geschichte des Liberalismus (und damit der Demokratie) und die Grundbegriffe des Liberalismus dargestellt (Freiheit des Bürgers, vor allem gegenüber dem Staat).
Den größten Teil des Buches nimmt die Anwendung dieser Grundbegriffe auf aktuelle politische Themen (u. a. Bildung, Umweltschutz, Martkwirtschaft) ein.
Im Anhang ist ein Test abgedruckt, mit dem man die eigene politische Einstellung (rechts, links, liberal, totalitär) einordnen kann.
Das Buch ist sehr gut gelungen. Zum Thema "Marktwirtschaft" empfehle ich als weiter führende Lektüre "Economics for Dummies".

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Rodrigo Silva
Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 5, 2015
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Amazing !

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Mr. R. E. Evans-lacey
A good book. Though not exactly a page turner
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 1, 2016
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
A good book. Though not exactly a page turner.

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Stefan Schilling
Die Qualität des Drucks ist leider unterirdisch
Reviewed in Germany on December 24, 2024
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
"Printed in Poland by Amazon Fulfillment"
Ich habe so einige Bücher im Regal. Das ist mein erstes "verpixeltes" auf Papier gedrucktes Buch.
Die Unschärfe der Buchstaben macht das Lesen überraschend unangenehm.

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Stefan Schilling

Die Qualität des Drucks ist leider unterirdisch

Reviewed in Germany on December 24, 2024
"Printed in Poland by Amazon Fulfillment"
Ich habe so einige Bücher im Regal. Das ist mein erstes "verpixeltes" auf Papier gedrucktes Buch.
Die Unschärfe der Buchstaben macht das Lesen überraschend unangenehm.

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5.0 out of 5 stars A good book for those who are curious, against or in favor of Libertarianism

4.0 out of 5 stars Broad Reaching Treatise on Libertarian Thought

5.0 out of 5 stars Small government and big individual freedom? I'm in.

5.0 out of 5 stars A convincing case argued with conviction

5.0 out of 5 stars Libertarianism - explained

Top reviews from other countries

5.0 out of 5 stars Großartige Einführung in den Liberalismus

5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars

4.0 out of 5 stars A good book. Though not exactly a page turner

1.0 out of 5 stars Die Qualität des Drucks ist leider unterirdisch

Die Qualität des Drucks ist leider unterirdisch

Images in this review

A good book for those who are curious, against or in favor of Libertarianism

Broad Reaching Treatise on Libertarian Thought

Small government and big individual freedom? I'm in.

A convincing case argued with conviction

Libertarianism - explained

Großartige Einführung in den Liberalismus

Five Stars

A good book. Though not exactly a page turner

Die Qualität des Drucks ist leider unterirdisch