Capitalism and freedom
by Milton Friedman · first published 1962
44% recommend56% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Short, dense, well-written case for free-market libertarianism, covering school vouchers, negative income tax and occupational licensure. Suits readers wanting an Econ 101 grounding in the libertarian view.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Selected by the Times Literary Supplement as one of the "hundred most influential books since the war"How can we benefit from the promise of government while avoiding the threat it poses to individual freedom? In this classic book, Milton Friedman provides the definitive statement of his immensely influential economic philosophy—one in which competitive capitalism serves as both a device for achieving economic freedom and a necessary condition for political freedom. The result is an accessible text that has sold well over half a million copies in English, has been translated into eighteen lang
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…Left Behind to the Iraq war to the Treasury's bailout of wall street. Before we continue, I'd like to recommend two books for those curious about what libertarianism actually is -- Milton Friedman's "Capitalism and Freedom" and David Boaz's "Libertarianism: A Primer". Both articulate a lot of the philosophical and pragmatic aspects. Of course, Atlas Shrugged is interesting for its presentation of a moral argument in favor…
on “A Defense of libertarianism (and response to Zed, etc.)” ↗…Kaynes - The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money Marx - Capital Benjamin Graham - The Intelligent Investor Galbraith - The Affluent Society Galbraith - The Great Crash Milton Friedman - Capitalism and Freedom Nassim Taleb - Black Swan Ron Suskind - Confidence Men Scott Patterson - Dark Pools If you want to delve into heterodox economics afterward, start with the following: Hayek - Individualism and Economic…
on “Ask HN: What are the must-read books about economics/finance?” ↗Henry Hazlitt - 'Economics in one lesson' Mises - 'Theory of Credit and Money' Adam Smith - 'Wealth of Nations' Milton Friedman - 'Capitalism and Freedom' Murray Rothbard - 'A New Liberty' Have been my personal, but somewhat one-sided favourites.
on “Ask HN: What are the must-read books about economics/finance?” ↗…https://www.amazon.com/Worldly-Philosophers-Economic-Thinker... A couple of more right-leaning books - Hayek, The Road to Serfdom https://www.amazon.com/Road-Serfdom-Fiftieth-Anniversary/dp/... Friedman, Capitalism and Freedom https://www.amazon.com/Capitalism-Freedom-Anniversary-Milton... Less right-leaning The Marx-Engels Reader https://www.amazon.com/Marx-Engels-Reader-Second-Karl-Marx/d...
on “Ask HN: What are the must-read books about economics/finance?” ↗…accreditation is enough. I will trust a doctor that has received a credential or accreditation from an institution I trust. I certainly trust Harvard more than I trust the AMA or HHS. You should read Capitalism and Freedom by the way. Milton Friedman is an excellent author. He makes this issue crystal clear.
on “The End of the Financial World as We Know It” ↗Yea, it's a classic book in the same way Keynes' "General Theory" was, but I'm not sure I'd say that Austrian economics (such as Hazlett, Hayek, Mises, etc.) is a good way of understanding our modern system. To get a good balance, I'd say to read something from Paul Krugman, Rob Reich, Greg Mankiw to understand left, center and rightist views on neo-Keynesian thought. For "Chicago School" / monet
on “Ask HN: Best book(s) to learn about the basics of economics?” ↗This is an interesting book, but I think it's inferior to Friedman's Capitalism and Freedom when it comes to illustrating the core concepts underlying a free market viewpoint.
on “Economics in One Lesson” ↗…is a decent start: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0nERTFo-Sk then read Keynes' The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money and Hayek's The Road to Serfdom. * Milton Friedman's - Yes, read Capitalism and Freedom. I hesitated to include it as the guy's so good at making the case that it can turn you into a market advocate bot. Please resist that. Can someone help me on this, is there a book balance Hayek and…
on “Ask HN: What are the must-read books about economics/finance?” ↗If you're genuinely trying to understand, read Friedman's "Capitalism and Freedom" as a starting point. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitalism_and_Freedom#Chapter...
on “Ask HN: Libertarian thoughts on poverty/monopoly power?” ↗Milton Friedman is an excellent writer. Try "Capitalism and Freedom" or "Free To Choose". Not so much academic discussions about partial derivatives applied to indifference curves, but very informative.
on “Good book for economics” ↗…asking for a summer reading list. Here are ten very different books I like that are fun enough that you would not be embarrassed (well, not too embarrassed) reading them at the beach: Milton Friedman, Capitalism and Freedom Robert Heilbroner, The Worldly Philosophers Paul Krugman, Peddling Prosperity Steven Landsburg, The Armchair Economist P.J. O'Rourke, Eat the Rich Burton Malkiel, A Random Walk Down Wall Street Avinash…
on “Ask HN: Getting a grip on economics” ↗My favorite non-software books (I've mentioned these a few times around HN before): * Atlas Shrugged (also good: The Fountainhead) by Ayn Rand * Made to Stick by Chip Heath and Dan Heath * Capitalism and Freedom by Milton Freedman * The Plague by Albert Camus
on “Ask HN: Interesting (Non software) books?” ↗Capitalism and Freedom by Milton Friedman Also, as a good counterpoint (sort of)... Small is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered by E.F. Schumacher I personally don't think the whole book is that great, but the chapter,…
on “Ask HN: Summer Reading Recommendations?” ↗…Lawrence Cunningham + Buffet by Roger Lowenstein + The Knack by Norm Brodsky + Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar by Thomas Cathcart, Daniel Klein + The Return of the Great Depression by Vox Day + Capitalism and Freedom by Milton Friedman + Road to Serfdom by Hayek + Iacocca:An Autobiography by Lee Iacocca
on “If you could give a book to your younger self, what would it be?” ↗On War by von Clausewitz. Capitalism and Freedom by Friedman for me from my 3rd year in university it completely changed me as a person.
on “What is the single most influential book every programmer should read?” ↗