Free to choose
a personal statement
by Milton Friedman, Rose D. Friedman · first published 1980
51% recommend46% neutral2% critical
Why HN recommends it
Readable, mass-market case for free-market economics and libertarian policy, with a companion PBS series. Suited to newcomers wanting an introduction, and less dense than Hayek.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
In this powerful and persuasive book two distinguished economists, Milton Friedman and his wife, Rose, unravel the mysteries of economics for the man or woman in the street (Wall Street or Main Street). They show us how our freedom has been eroded and our prosperity undermined through the explosion of laws, regulations, agencies, and spending in Washington, how good intentions often produce deplorable results when government is the middleman. And then they tell us what to do if we want to expand our freedom and promote prosperity. If you have ever wondered why you are paying someone else's old
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Economics in One Lesson by Hazlitt: http://jim.com/econ/, http://www.fee.org/pdf/books/Economics_in_one_lesson.pdf Basic Economics by Thomas Sowell Applied Economics by Thomas Sowell Free to Choose by Milton Friedman (video series, too) Use of Knowledge in Society by Hayek (short, non-technical paper which is full of brilliant insights): http://www.econlib.org/library/Essays/hykKnw1.html Not a…
on “Ask HN: Best book(s) to learn about the basics of economics?” ↗…demand. Oh, and of course No Free Lunch. So in that spirit, here are a couple of economics books that I quite seriously believe everyone should be forced to read. Economics in One Lesson, by Hazlitt Free to Choose: A Personal Statement, by Milton and Rose Friedman Freakonomics, by Levitt and Dubner (this book is just so damn fun to read) and for the hackers: The God of the Machine, by Paterson (Think engineering…
on “What books would you recommend reading? Why?” ↗I'm glad you're finally talking to an actual one. Many people call themselves one who haven't actually thought much or read much about it. If you want a book written by another actual libertarian, "Free to Choose" by Milton Friedman is a good start. The neato thing about libertarianism is it doesn't have to be perfect in order to work. Since nothing about human societies can be perfect, this is fine feature.…
on “Post-Apocalyptic Programming” ↗…different conclusion than Rawls. Both books are good and completely accessible to an ordinary reader (i.e. philosophy degree not required). However, they are serious and not as entertaining as the Friedmans' Free to Choose. While the two philosophy books address the question of what should a fair society look like from a philosophical perspective, I feel they don't address the aspects of human nature that have proven troublesome…
on “Why Are the Highly Educated So Liberal?” ↗I recommend reading Friedman's Free to Choose after reading The Shock Doctrine http://www.amazon.com/Free-Choose-Statement-Milton-Friedman/... (Friedman is the guy that Naomi Klein blames on the book)
on “Just the Facts: S&P's $2 Trillion Mistake” ↗I found Milton Friedman's "Free To Choose" fundamental and very readable. https://www.amazon.com/Free-Choose-Statement-Milton-Friedman...
on “Ask HN: What are the must-read books about economics/finance?” ↗Free to Choose by Milton Friedman https://www.amazon.com/Free-Choose-Statement-Milton-Friedman... I'm not trying to be cute here btw.
on “YC's Winter Reading List” ↗https://www.wsj.com/opinion/prop-45-california-permitting-bu... A bit of advice: resorting to insults is what happens when one doesn't have an argument. If I may, I recommend a book for you: "Free to Choose" by Milton Friedman (Nobel Prize winning economist). https://www.amazon.com/Free-Choose-Milton-Rose-Friedman/dp/B... It's an easy read.
on “Tesla Roadster” ↗Free to Choose - Milton Friedman Emotional Intelligence - Daniel Goleman
on “Ask HN: What books fundamentally changed the way you think about the world?” ↗…isn't what Libertarianism is about. Also, most people only hear about Libertarianism from non-Libertarians, hence they only hear negative things about it. Libertarianism is mainly about people being free to choose, and being responsible for their choices, as long as they aren't hurting others in the process. Milton Friedman's book "Free to Choose" is a good introduction if you're interested in more.
on “Preindustrial workers worked fewer hours than today's (2009)” ↗…debunking internet-forum libertarianism. To the non-naive libertarians among us, however, you have provided no new information. If you have the time, you should pick up some Friedman or Hayek. Friedman's "Free to Choose" is a mass market book on libertarian economic policy. Hayek's "The Use of Information in Society" is a beautiful exposition on the function of a decentralized market. But there are plenty others. You…
on “The Two Flaws Of Libertarian Economics” ↗Hong Kong is a good example. You can watch the first episode of Milton Friedman's PBS series "Free to Choose" for more details. *edit for clarity
on “Quotations Of The Dread Pirate Roberts, Founder Of Silk Road” ↗>Milton Friedman's book "Free to Choose" is a good introduction if you're interested in more. At some point you have to acknowledge the irony at refusing to see Libertarianism as anti-poor ideology, while simultaneously pointing people to…
on “Preindustrial workers worked fewer hours than today's (2009)” ↗…capitalism is a good system that works. I grew up in a family that pretty much believed the opposite so I probably never would have become an entrepreneur otherwise. I mainly credit Milton Friedman's "Free to Choose" series for persuading me, as well as some of Paul Graham's essays.
on “Ask HN: Name one idea that changed your life” ↗…prices are self regulated by supply and demand, without coercion. It perfectly suits for the exchange of of FIATs (or crypto) between parties. You can call it whatever you want, anyways. I recommend “Free to Choose” from Friedman as starting point.
on “Russian central bank confirms block on foreign bids to sell Russian securities” ↗