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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.
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.
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-.
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.
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