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The Machinery of Freedom: Guide to a Radical Capitalism Paperback – August 19, 1989

by David D. Friedman (Author)

38 customer reviews

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The Machinery of Freedom: Guide to a Radical Capitalism
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This book argues the case for a society organized by private property, individual rights, and voluntary co-operation, with little or no government. David Friedman's standpoint, known as 'anarcho-capitalism', has attracted a growing following as a desirable social ideal since the first edition of The Machinery of Freedom appeared in 1971. This new edition is thoroughly revised and includes much new material, exploring fresh applications of the author's libertarian principles.

Among topics covered: how the U.S. would benefit from unrestricted immigration; why prohibition of drugs is inconsistent with a free society; why the welfare state mainly takes from the poor to help the not-so-poor; how police protection, law courts, and new laws could all be provided privately; what life was really like under the anarchist legal system of medieval Iceland; why non-intervention is the best foreign policy; why no simple moral rules can generate acceptable social policies -- and why these policies must be derived in part from the new discipline of economic analysis of law.

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Product details

Paperback: 267 pages
Publisher: Open Court; 2nd edition (August 19, 1989)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0812690699
ISBN-13: 978-0812690699
Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.7 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
Average Customer Review: 38 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,403,618 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #745 in Books > Business & Money > Economics > Free Enterprise
- #789 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > Ideologies & Doctrines > Radicalism
- #2725 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > Specific Topics > Civil Rights & Liberties

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Tackles the hard question.

ByBlahon July 2, 2007

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This work spends a little time on the basic points of limited government and policies of libertarianism and anarchism. However, most of the work is spent trying to explain the hard questions of national defense and police protection in a stateless society.

David Friedman is successful in laying out the viewpoint of the anarcho-capitalist. The reader may or may not be convinced of the feasibility of his proposals(I wasn't and I bet most people likewise will find his proposals unlikely to succeed.) Nevertheless, the book is well worth the read for the clear and concise way it lays out this difficult political viewpoint.

The book is quick to the point and a quick read. The reader is not inundated with frivolous facts but is given the philosophy in a nutshell, take it or leave it fashion. The author recognizes the shortcomings and instead of dodging the questions meets them head on. For this, he should be commended. The book is a quick read and accessible to anyone and is well worth the read.

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Seminal work on Anarcho-Capitalism

ByJ. Cazareson July 29, 2008

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Ignore the FUD being spread below!

This book is the best book to explain the benefits of Anarcho-Capitalism. Moreover, Friedman outlines a society distinct from Rothbard's version. Rothbard would have a common legal system agreed upon by all first, and then have private enterprise provide the rest. Friedman explains how even the justice system can and should be subject to competition!

He gives pragmatic arguments for the crucial part: getting from here to there. This is why you will see that Anarcho-Capitalism is the only logical conclusion of a belief in freedom and free markets. Every other (failed) Utopian political book never describes how to actually get to the utopia. They just assume it's possible to give everyone what they need and that "someone" will provide it for them. Friedman convincingly shows how his system is the ideal one.

Since it is quite old (some original parts are from the 70's), some of the points are blatantly obvious, and some are tragic in that they are still problems even now.

Don't listen to the people blasting this book for not fitting their preconceived notions of anarchy or political treatises. This is a economics book first and foremost, with political ramifications. At least read the Wikipedia on Anarcho-Capitalism before you blast it for having institutions. The whole point is that institutions will continue to provide services; it's just that those institutions will be privately owned and ran like a business, i.e. to make profits by pleasing customers.

David Friedman is a highly respected economist and legal scholar. His other books are required reading in Econ and Law classes, as well as at (good) law programs. This book shows you the only logical conclusion of many things you already believe. If you'd rather have a consequentialist justification, this system is the most beneficial from a utility standpoint, the most efficient, and many other superlatives...

Bottom line, read this book if you're at all interested in Capitalism, Liberty, Classical Liberalism, Economics, Law, etc. If you're not, read it anyway and it will make you care. One of my favorite books of all time.

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A refreshing utilitarian approach to market anarchism

ByKoalaFaceon December 31, 2014

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Let me first note, that the writing style of this book was very entertaining. Written in a conversational tone, as if sitting with a friend debating the subject over a couple of beers and I thoroughly enjoyed it, was even humorous at a couple of points (See Ch. 32). Onto the content itself, this book is a great introduction to the subject of market anarchy itself. When one is first delving into the subject, there is a plethora of material out there and its easy to get bogged down in certain texts with all the in depth, complex subject matter out there. I would personally recommend this book as a first read on the subject. Its short and concise, clear and to the point.

Secondly, I enjoyed this book because it takes a utilitarian approach to econ and poli sci unlike most books on the AnCap ideology. Digging into morality and ethics, natural rights, etc... can be too much for some to dig into for their entry into the ideology and in my opinion I think debating morality and ethics is a fruitless endeavor and I avoid such subjects. The State is inefficient and fails to meet any goals it seeks to fulfill, negating its own premise simply by existing. This book tackles that concept well and confronts the handful of concerns anyone would first have upon hearing of anarchism.

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Short, lovely book detailing the arguments for greater freedom and less government

ByLemonMonkeyon December 3, 2012

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

I would recommend this book to people of a wide variety of political persuasions if you want to convince them the government is not helpful to human flourishing. It is short, well written, and hits a wide variety of topics. It is the most brief and wonderful introduction to the extremes of liberty that I can imagine. It will make an capitalist out of you if you are a socialist, and it will make an anarchist out of you if you are a libertarian (slight hyperbole; no book is THAT persuasive, but this one is close).

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Mind Altering in the Best Way

ByStudio Hayekon September 27, 2010

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

This book starts off where Milton Friedman stopped and then goes ballistic. It contains some of the most innovative ideas I've ever come across.

This book convinced me that markets can produce almost everything we need, except for maybe national defense, and do it much better than government can.

I now yearn to live in a libertarian, anarcho-capitalist world.

Thank you professor Friedman.

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I especially liked the fact that it was originally written in 1970 ...

ByKellyrhon May 26, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

If you are familiar with most of the ideas of Liberty, then this will reiterate many things. I especially liked the fact that it was originally written in 1970 (revised in '89) just to gain perspective on outlooks at the time.

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This book is excellent.

ByPatrick Kernanon December 13, 2013

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This book is excellent. It's a great way to describe the functions and intricacies of a free, capitalist system. It's easy to read and should be read by those who care about freedom.

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Great Product!

ByChristopher T. Flener, MPPon November 19, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Great Product!

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