The Anti-Capitalistic Mentality

by Ludwig Von Mises (Author)

130 customer reviews

ISBN-13: 978-1467934831

ISBN-10: 1467934836

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The Anti-Capitalistic Mentality by Austrian School economist and libertarian thinker Ludwig von Mises is an investigation into the psychological roots of the anti-capitalistic stance that is widespread in segments of the general population of the capitalist world. Von Mises suggests various reasons for this mentality, primarily his claim that free competition in the market economy allows no excuses of one's failures. Rather, he argues, it creates great incentive for one's desire for improvement and greater effort to succeed, as well as a greater reward for that success.

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Product details

Paperback: 56 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (November 13, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1467934836
ISBN-13: 978-1467934831
Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 0.1 x 9.7 inches
Shipping Weight: 5.8 ounces
Average Customer Review: 130 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,066,353 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #668 in Books > Business & Money > Economics > Free Enterprise
- #1542 in Books > Textbooks > Social Sciences > Political Science > Political Ideologies
- #1791 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > Ideologies & Doctrines > Communism & Socialism

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J. Edgar Mihelic, MBA

All the Strawmen

August 5, 2018

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Mises is interesting to me in part because he helped kick off the Socialist Calculation debate in the 20s by trying to show how socialism wouldn’t work in his estimation. I thought Mises’s argument was tortured, but Hayek did put a nice bow on it by looking at the problem of incomplete information.

I wanted to read more Mises without having to slog through Human Action, so I pulled this text. This text is especially salient to me because I am highly critical of capitalism as it really exists. The problem is that in reading the book, I really didn’t see myself. I think this is because the Capitalism Mises describes is a very rosy idealized version that doesn’t exist – there are no embedded power structures that prevent the rise of the talented or anything that distributes rent to people who don’t earn it. For Mises, in fact, even crisis and depression are not part of the capitalistic system, but are instead “the result of interventionist attempts to regulate capitalism” (pp. 60). For Mises, the person who is against capitalism is so because of a sort of envy of those who have been successful – he internalizes the idea that the fruits of labor and capital are evenly distributed and any questioning of this is sour grapes. To me, this is laughable in that same vein of argument that communism will work only just we haven’t tried real communism yet – with that being defined differently by the speaker. Ultimately, I wasn’t convinced. Perhaps I’ll have to slog through Human Action to get at his arguments in more depth, but I’m in no rush.

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J. Manis

The psychology behind Liberalism explained...

February 21, 2014

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This book is almost pure conjecture but it doesn't matter. It's a tiny little book, but the words pack a powerful punch. Von Mises may be speculating but when you are as smart as he is, and as familiar with the mindset from which "The Anti-Capitalist Mentality" evolved, you tend to see where he is coming from. It becomes easier and easier to support his statements. The question is, can this book help you to understand where communists/socialists/progressives are coming from? The answer is yes. Systematically, he takes the thought processes back into Freudian obscurity, borrowing some of the fellow Austrian's explanation as to why it is difficult for those who see capitalism as a threat, who fear being personally responsible for their lot in life. This also contains fascinating studies about Lenin, and his approach to Marxism. When you see these former Soviet leaders for what they really were, they become as common as the next person. Where I may have had respect for Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin as historical figures, I no longer think that they had an ounce of respectability, nobility, or courage to do the things they did. These were not revolutionaries, but very very unprincipled thinkers, unintellectual, and very confused due to lack of experience and closed mindedness. In one part, Von Mises tells the story of how Lenin assumed the economy was a simple game which could be easily undertaken by "bean-counters." Lenin's revile for accountants and economists make him a tragically stupid figure in world history. Basically he was all bark and no bight. He knew political philosophy, strategy, persuasion, and could lead the military, but was never really a viable candidate to run a large country.

17 people found this helpful18 people found this helpful

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THOMAS P KELLY

Great explanation of anit-capitalist prejudice in schools and media

May 3, 2013

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Most significantly, von Mises explains and demonstrates that the vast and irrefutable improvement in people's material well-being during the past two centuries is attributable solely to capitalism and its ability to support innovation. Innovation then spreads throughout society as capitalist enterprises compete for the most customers. And, if you think otherwise, your own I-Phone, Kindle, computer, automobile, and stocked refrigerator stand as mechanical testaments of just how wrong you are.

While not as exacting as his economic works, von Mises provides an excellent insight into the bias and prejudice against capitalism. He also thoroughly refutes the common arguments offered against capitalism. The book is highly readable, even for those without a background in economics. Readers of Hayek and Friedman will quickly recognize von Mises as the teacher of both.

7 people found this helpful8 people found this helpful

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Althusius

Re-introduce this to your socialist friends

April 14, 2016

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Great example of the hate, envy, and conscious rejection of the clear evidence for the beneficial fruit of free men and free markets, by socialists, progressives, communists, statists, and welfare state proponents. His reminder of Sorel's connection to anti-semitism was sobering ... Just act, just kill.

2 people found this helpful3 people found this helpful

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Rob Weinhold

Outstanding Read!

April 1, 2015

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Von Mises has a unique ability to explain and contrast the protagonists and antagonists of Capitalism. He presents an enlightening argument of why the Western world has succeeded while many countries of the Far and Middle East, and Africa in general, have suffered in squalor and many of these countries continue to do so. His views on Capitalism are as relevant today as they were in 1957.

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David M. Heacock

Helpful introduction. Get it, read it!

July 31, 2017

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Though a bit outdated, this is a very helpful introduction to the theory and practice of Capitalism as well as a succinct critique of the baseless arguments against it. Get it, read it, then educate yourself about Socialism.

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William E Lambert

Answered many questions.

October 16, 2014

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One of the burning question which followed me through my life: What is the fascination with socialism and communism amongst the upper middle class, intellectuals and entertainers? I read many books, none could provide the answer to this anti-capitalist mindset, that is until this book. If you wonder why Marx is held in high regards (by some)? This is the book which answer the question and many others.

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Jonathan Trout

Short, sweet, and to the point

April 6, 2018

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Most clear and concise essay written about the leftist mentality that I have read so far.

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