If you have ever come across a libertarian, one thing you’ll understand right away is that they have an extensive collection of books, whether it’s political theory (Frederic Bastiat), economic thought (Friedrich Hayek) and/or issues that affect personal freedom (Ron Paul).
However, since there is a large selection of books out there, it’s pretty much a given that a libertarian in the United States or Canada doesn’t have every single book by Murray N. Rothbard, Milton Friedman or Thomas Sowell. With Christmas only six days away, now would be the perfect time to surprise the libertarian in your life with some free market economics.
Here are five books that you should give a libertarian for Christmas if he or she doesn’t already have it.
“Free to Choose” by Milton Friedman
Although Friedman isn’t a friend of Austrian Economics – he was a member to the Chicago School of Economics – this is a defining book of all things freedom, personal responsibility and liberty. It addresses everything from welfare to education to government to economics. A television series was even produced based on this groundbreaking book.
“Economics in One Lesson” by Henry Hazlitt
If you know someone that has recently converted to the political philosophy of libertarianism and wants to learn more about economics then Henry Hazlitt’s “Economics in One Lesson” is an outstanding book that covers all of the basic political issues: taxes, unions, Keynesianism, inflation and much more.
“The Road to Serfdom” by Friedrich Hayek
This is one of the top picks for most of the libertarian community to understand why freedom trumps a socialist society. It was so popular when it was published that a cartoon was made of it that can also be found on YouTube with the background music of Richard Wagner. “The Road to Serfdom” is definitely a classic for anyone who understands the dangers of the growth of government.
“A History of Money and Banking in the United States: The Colonial Era to World War II” by Murray N. Rothbard
Want a thorough understanding of monetary policy in the U.S.? Check out Rothbard’s in-depth historical account of the nation’s currency and banking system from the founding of the U.S. to the era of World War II. Another important Rothbard book is “America’s Great Depression,” which looks at how the government and the Federal Reserve caused and exacerbated the Great Depression.
“The Revolution: A Manifesto” by Ron Paul
Dr. Paul has published numerous books, but this one stands out the most because he influenced a lot of people during his 2008 presidential campaign. It offers insight on economics, analysis of the government’s many failing policies and hope for those who yearn for freedom.
Honorable Mentions:
“Intellectuals and Society” by Thomas Sowell
“Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal” by Ayn Rand (essays by multiple authors)
“The Theory of Money and Credit” by Ludwig von Mises
“A Foreign Policy of Freedom” by Ron Paul
“The Law” by Frederic Bastiat
