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The Individualists: Radicals, Reactionaries, and the Struggle for the Soul of Libertarianism
A sweeping history of libertarian thought, from radical anarchists to conservative defenders of the status quo
Libertarianism emerged in the mid-nineteenth century with an unwavering commitment to progressive causes, from women's rights and the fight against slavery to anti-colonialism and Irish emancipation. Today, this movement founded on the principle of individual liberty finds itself divided by both progressive and reactionary elements vying to claim it as their own. The Individualists is the untold story of a political doctrine continually reshaped by fierce internal tensions, bold and eccentric personalities, and shifting political circumstances.
Matt Zwolinski and John Tomasi trace the history of libertarianism from its origins as a radical progressive ideology in the 1850s to its crisis of identity today. They examine the doctrine's evolution through six defining themes: private property, skepticism of authority, free markets, individualism, spontaneous order, and individual liberty. They show how the movement took a turn toward conservativism during the Cold War, when the dangers of communism at home and abroad came to dominate libertarian thinking. Zwolinski and Tomasi reveal a history that is wider, more diverse, and more contentious than many of us realize.
A groundbreaking work of scholarship, The Individualists uncovers the neglected roots of a movement that has championed the poor and marginalized since its founding, but whose talk of equal liberty has often been bent to serve the interests of the rich and powerful.
Libertarianism emerged in the mid-nineteenth century with an unwavering commitment to progressive causes, from women's rights and the fight against slavery to anti-colonialism and Irish emancipation. Today, this movement founded on the principle of individual liberty finds itself divided by both progressive and reactionary elements vying to claim it as their own. The Individualists is the untold story of a political doctrine continually reshaped by fierce internal tensions, bold and eccentric personalities, and shifting political circumstances.
Matt Zwolinski and John Tomasi trace the history of libertarianism from its origins as a radical progressive ideology in the 1850s to its crisis of identity today. They examine the doctrine's evolution through six defining themes: private property, skepticism of authority, free markets, individualism, spontaneous order, and individual liberty. They show how the movement took a turn toward conservativism during the Cold War, when the dangers of communism at home and abroad came to dominate libertarian thinking. Zwolinski and Tomasi reveal a history that is wider, more diverse, and more contentious than many of us realize.
A groundbreaking work of scholarship, The Individualists uncovers the neglected roots of a movement that has championed the poor and marginalized since its founding, but whose talk of equal liberty has often been bent to serve the interests of the rich and powerful.
417 pages, Hardcover
Published April 4, 2023
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October 11, 20232023-07-07 Started reading this a few days ago after seeing at least two significant reviews that seemed to get important parts of the story wrong. I am "friends" with both authors (on various social media), have met one in person and have significant respect for both. The review I read just did not seem to mesh with what I thought the book authors would write, and it is a very important topic to me, so I had to get into it.
It is slow going.
Not because the writing is bad, but because of what the authors are saying, how controversial the topics are and how precise they are attempting to write.
I have been studying this subject for over 45 years, so I have a huge amount of time, energy and overall commitment to the ideas presented here.
So far, some is right on the money.
Some if off the mark.
Some ignores, (purposely?) important ideas/people/books or at least gives them short-shrift.
More comments to come as I keep reading. Only ~40 pages in so far.
2023-10-11 I'm about 80 pages into it so far. Getting better, but still slow going. The footnotes are generally very helpful... but add to how slow I can go. But they are sometimes quite revealing in what they say or don't say. I have many notes scribbled in the margins. This is going to be a tough book to review. I don't even know if I accept the basic framework of topics that the authors use to explain/judge libertarian ideas and writers.
It is slow going.
Not because the writing is bad, but because of what the authors are saying, how controversial the topics are and how precise they are attempting to write.
I have been studying this subject for over 45 years, so I have a huge amount of time, energy and overall commitment to the ideas presented here.
So far, some is right on the money.
Some if off the mark.
Some ignores, (purposely?) important ideas/people/books or at least gives them short-shrift.
More comments to come as I keep reading. Only ~40 pages in so far.
2023-10-11 I'm about 80 pages into it so far. Getting better, but still slow going. The footnotes are generally very helpful... but add to how slow I can go. But they are sometimes quite revealing in what they say or don't say. I have many notes scribbled in the margins. This is going to be a tough book to review. I don't even know if I accept the basic framework of topics that the authors use to explain/judge libertarian ideas and writers.
June 15, 2023
My new go-to recommendation for libertarianism and its history.
March 23, 2023
Let us start with this...a very clear warning...this is more of an academic book than a work for the general reader. The writing is very clear and concise but the topic is not fun, unless you define fun reading about what divides libertarian schools of thought and how a group that can be seen from the outside as being crazy and monolithic can be in fact be quite diffuse and even crazier when examined up close and personal. (FYI - I consider this fun so it definitely works for me) This is not meant as a slight, I identify with many of the thinkers, writers, intellectuals mentioned in the work but some of them, (I'm revealing my bias here) Rothbard, are just plain nuts. For those offended, please tell me which period of Rothbard's thinking you ascribe to and how do you explain his ability to do 360s throughout his entire career. The only thing he did consistently was offend and alienate people. I was a paid subscriber to the Rothbard Rockwell Report, I know what I am talking about. If you want to understand Libertarian thought and how they got to where they are today, this is the book for you. Be warned there will be splitting of hairs to a microscopic level. It can be, in word, exhausting. This is not light reading. It is structured thematically because it really is the only way you can keep track of the individuals and their respective thoughts and beliefs. Prepare to learn more than you wanted to about Lysander Spoon, Herbert Spencer, et al along with the names you would expect, Rand, Rothbard, Hayek, Mises, etc. If I keep harping on this it is because I highly recommend and just want to make sure you know what you are getting into.
The early chapters sketching a brief history of libertarian thought and explaining which general principals libertarians share are the best. This is an amazing work that can be appreciated by the right audience.
The early chapters sketching a brief history of libertarian thought and explaining which general principals libertarians share are the best. This is an amazing work that can be appreciated by the right audience.
January 17, 2024
What happens when you put together a gun-toting, America-first, Bible-loving, homophobic redneck and a weed-smoking, tree-hugging, tofu-munching, anti-racist, polyamorous hipster? The American libertarian movement. It is a Big Tent, a branching tree, a collective that contains multitudes. For all its seeming fixities and dogmas (the firmness of the NAP, the absoluteness of property rights, "give me liberty or give me death"), libertarianism is an evolving, living tradition. Its principles, justifications, doctrines, and policy conclusions are subject to an ever-flowing contestation and mutation - what the authors aptly describe as the omnipresent "struggle for its soul." It is big enough tent to contain Ayn Rand, Murray Rothbard, Herbert Spencer, Milton Friedman, and F.A. Hayek. It is a bubbling stream that carries peaceniks and Cold Warriors, racists and integrationists, slavers and anti-slavery advocates, transphobes and LGBT activists, property rights absolutists and consequentialist utilitarians, Christians and atheists, left-wingers and right-wingers, radical egalitarians and reactionary apologists for entrenched power hierarchies.
This, anyway, is the sometimes shocking narrative advanced by Zwolinski & Tomasi in their excellent, thought-provoking, timely biography. The story is constructed out of meticulous research. Indeed, the endnotes and bibliography are well-sourced, appropriate, and extensive. Of course, a book of this size has to make some narrative omissions, selections and occasional shortcuts. It cannot touch every single philosophical argument pertinent to the justification and grounding of freedom. Nor does it pretend to be a comprehensive history of all the events, characters, and arguments in the saga of modern libertarianism. It is intended primarily for a general educated readership (although it does not dumb down philosophical arguments beyond necessity). The book also takes an America-centric approach to the history of libertarian ideas, which means that other important places, like France, Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands, are mostly relegated to the sidelines (with a few exceptions, like Bastiat). But none of this distracts from the cohesiveness of the narrative. Indeed, the book succeeds precisely because it knows what it wants to say and how to say it. The streamlined narrative manages to straddle a fine line between its different modalities. It alternates between a history of ideas, of people, of places, of ethical views, of political alignments, of economic doctrines, of civil society activism, etc.... The unifying narrative about radicals and reactionaries (although the authors make their own sympathies clear) is fun to read, well-balanced, cohesive, cogent, and timely. The antithesis is the jolt that brings it all together. The binary pair helps to give cohesion to the thematically organized chapters. I am sure many readers will find themselves identifying more with some characters and positions in the story than others. The authors do not force the "correct" interpretation down your throat.
Precisely because of its controversial framing, the book holds together surprisingly well. Readers are treated to a vibrant tour of some central liberty-loving theorists and activists. The protagonists are presented, here, "in medias res," as active history-makers, struggling and coping, fighting and retreating, creating and destroying.... And often failing in their successes and succeeding in their failures. I also appreciate how the book emphasizes several important but often neglected characters, like Thomas Hodgskin, William Lloyd Garrison, Benjamin Tucker, and Lysander Spooner. The authors also adroitly defend the needlessly tarnished legacy of the "Social Darwinists" Herbert Spencer and William Graham Sumner. Indeed, a recurring theme in the narrative is that libertarians are frequently (if not always) much more friends of the poor, the oppressed, and the downtrodden than they are given credit for. Some even support something like Universal Basic Income (UBI) on libertarian principles. At the same time, many awful, elitist, and reactionary things have been said and done in the name of liberty and property. Analogous libertarian arguments ("liberty is mine!") have been appealed to on BOTH sides of many controversial issues (e.g., slavery, warfare, redistribution, animal rights, feminism, etc.)! 21st century proves to be no exception to that rule. We need to better understand the past in order to forge the best path ahead, whether it lies inside, outside, or beyond the label "libertarian." Friends of liberty need to constantly ask themselves: "Who/what are we fighting for (this time)?" The answer might surprise each generation anew. I highly recommend the book as a palliative against boredom and anomie.
This, anyway, is the sometimes shocking narrative advanced by Zwolinski & Tomasi in their excellent, thought-provoking, timely biography. The story is constructed out of meticulous research. Indeed, the endnotes and bibliography are well-sourced, appropriate, and extensive. Of course, a book of this size has to make some narrative omissions, selections and occasional shortcuts. It cannot touch every single philosophical argument pertinent to the justification and grounding of freedom. Nor does it pretend to be a comprehensive history of all the events, characters, and arguments in the saga of modern libertarianism. It is intended primarily for a general educated readership (although it does not dumb down philosophical arguments beyond necessity). The book also takes an America-centric approach to the history of libertarian ideas, which means that other important places, like France, Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands, are mostly relegated to the sidelines (with a few exceptions, like Bastiat). But none of this distracts from the cohesiveness of the narrative. Indeed, the book succeeds precisely because it knows what it wants to say and how to say it. The streamlined narrative manages to straddle a fine line between its different modalities. It alternates between a history of ideas, of people, of places, of ethical views, of political alignments, of economic doctrines, of civil society activism, etc.... The unifying narrative about radicals and reactionaries (although the authors make their own sympathies clear) is fun to read, well-balanced, cohesive, cogent, and timely. The antithesis is the jolt that brings it all together. The binary pair helps to give cohesion to the thematically organized chapters. I am sure many readers will find themselves identifying more with some characters and positions in the story than others. The authors do not force the "correct" interpretation down your throat.
Precisely because of its controversial framing, the book holds together surprisingly well. Readers are treated to a vibrant tour of some central liberty-loving theorists and activists. The protagonists are presented, here, "in medias res," as active history-makers, struggling and coping, fighting and retreating, creating and destroying.... And often failing in their successes and succeeding in their failures. I also appreciate how the book emphasizes several important but often neglected characters, like Thomas Hodgskin, William Lloyd Garrison, Benjamin Tucker, and Lysander Spooner. The authors also adroitly defend the needlessly tarnished legacy of the "Social Darwinists" Herbert Spencer and William Graham Sumner. Indeed, a recurring theme in the narrative is that libertarians are frequently (if not always) much more friends of the poor, the oppressed, and the downtrodden than they are given credit for. Some even support something like Universal Basic Income (UBI) on libertarian principles. At the same time, many awful, elitist, and reactionary things have been said and done in the name of liberty and property. Analogous libertarian arguments ("liberty is mine!") have been appealed to on BOTH sides of many controversial issues (e.g., slavery, warfare, redistribution, animal rights, feminism, etc.)! 21st century proves to be no exception to that rule. We need to better understand the past in order to forge the best path ahead, whether it lies inside, outside, or beyond the label "libertarian." Friends of liberty need to constantly ask themselves: "Who/what are we fighting for (this time)?" The answer might surprise each generation anew. I highly recommend the book as a palliative against boredom and anomie.
April 19, 2023
I listened to the audiobook of The Individualists. I enjoyed it rather a lot and happily recommend it to anyone with an interest in real-world libertarianism and not just what one might imagine it is or ought to be. Disclaimer: This is firmly in my wheelhouse.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I learned despite the number of people I have personal connections with and despite having read libertarian histories and primers like Radicals for Capitalism: A Freewheeling History of the Modern American Libertarian Movement, The Libertarian Mind: A Manifesto for Freedom, Libertarianism: What Everyone Needs to Know (etc.) and being a pretty big nerd about the topic.
The book is written for this political moment, in which the centre of gravity of libertarianism is contested. I appreciated very much that the authors, with bleeding heart sympathies, did not dismiss as no-true-Scotsman or otherwise wish away the reactionary elements of libertarianism, but instead situated it as deeply embedded in the ideology from the very beginning. While I often felt like their sympathies were obvious, I didn't feel as though reactionary libertarian views were presented with condescension. It has never rung true to me that libertarianism has always been overwhelmingly liberal, egalitarian, and emancipatory, but attracted anyway so many people whose sympathies are not at all in that vein...so I should admit that Zwolinski and Tomasi's history fits my priors.
The book is not written so I would recommend it to anyone regardless of whether or not they're interested in libertarianism. But if you are, I suspect you'd enjoy reading it.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I learned despite the number of people I have personal connections with and despite having read libertarian histories and primers like Radicals for Capitalism: A Freewheeling History of the Modern American Libertarian Movement, The Libertarian Mind: A Manifesto for Freedom, Libertarianism: What Everyone Needs to Know (etc.) and being a pretty big nerd about the topic.
The book is written for this political moment, in which the centre of gravity of libertarianism is contested. I appreciated very much that the authors, with bleeding heart sympathies, did not dismiss as no-true-Scotsman or otherwise wish away the reactionary elements of libertarianism, but instead situated it as deeply embedded in the ideology from the very beginning. While I often felt like their sympathies were obvious, I didn't feel as though reactionary libertarian views were presented with condescension. It has never rung true to me that libertarianism has always been overwhelmingly liberal, egalitarian, and emancipatory, but attracted anyway so many people whose sympathies are not at all in that vein...so I should admit that Zwolinski and Tomasi's history fits my priors.
The book is not written so I would recommend it to anyone regardless of whether or not they're interested in libertarianism. But if you are, I suspect you'd enjoy reading it.
April 27, 2024
This is a brilliant book, an intellectual history of the libertarian movement around the world, tracing the different motivations behind libertarianism in Britain, France and the USA over the years. It is an excellent complement to Brian Doherty's Radicals for Capitalism: A Freewheeling History of the Modern American Libertarian Movement. Where Doherty's book deals with people and events and some political analysis, The Individualists focuses on the ideas and how they have developed and changed over the years. The British 18th century libertarians, Herbert Spencer, Auberon Herbert and others, were anti-socialist. They were free traders. 18th century American libertarians were abolitionists, primarily concerned with ideas of self-ownership and opposition to slavery. Many were, in fact, anti-capitalist.
The book charts the ideas of Murray Rothbard and other seminal thinkers in the movement. The anti-communism and isolationism of the WWII years and the post war years. They trace the connecting threads that led to the paleo-libertarian movement and the bleeding heart libertarian movement.
It's a fascinating and informative book, with lots of footnotes with sources for further reading. Highly recommended.
The book charts the ideas of Murray Rothbard and other seminal thinkers in the movement. The anti-communism and isolationism of the WWII years and the post war years. They trace the connecting threads that led to the paleo-libertarian movement and the bleeding heart libertarian movement.
It's a fascinating and informative book, with lots of footnotes with sources for further reading. Highly recommended.
October 30, 2024
The book opens with, "This book is a history of libertarian thought..." and it certainly traces the movement in its entirety, starting largely with the abolitionist movement and eventually ending with the disparate strains of libertarianism today. Balanced between a massive amount of anti-government philosophies, ranging from the famous to the virtually unknown, it largely highlights the choice between an emphasis on personal liberties or economic liberties that advocates have made. "Tangible" versus theoretical liberty is another major topic in this history, which jumps around topics and analyzes quite a bit.
Pointing out that the capitalism that we live under is not truly libertarian, it nonetheless holds laissez faire and socialist views alike on the economy up to scrutiny. One other strength of the book is how it traces the history of racism and prejudice in relation to the anti-government philosophy, something often absent in works of libertarian thought. This is a deeply nuanced work from two libertarian philosopher-historians, one which I believe could provide a good starter for non-libertarians who want to learn more about the practical and radical elements of the movement.
Pointing out that the capitalism that we live under is not truly libertarian, it nonetheless holds laissez faire and socialist views alike on the economy up to scrutiny. One other strength of the book is how it traces the history of racism and prejudice in relation to the anti-government philosophy, something often absent in works of libertarian thought. This is a deeply nuanced work from two libertarian philosopher-historians, one which I believe could provide a good starter for non-libertarians who want to learn more about the practical and radical elements of the movement.
December 13, 2023
I know not everybody cares to go this deeply into the weeds on the history of libertarian ideas... BUT that is not going to stop me from praising and recommending this work.
Zwolinski and Tomasi give a fair and insightful account of what unites - and just as frequently - divides those within the small yet large umbrella of libertarianism. The authors dive deep into the philosophical underpinnings of these ideas, wrestling with, rather than avoiding difficult questions.
Many times during my reading, I had to pause and question what I really believe about something or to recognize some deeper truth sitting unacknowledged in my head.
If you have any interest in understanding the differences between anarchy and anarcho-capitalism, classical liberalism and libertarianism, and much more. If you are unsatisfied with the philosophies (or lack thereof) of the Two US political parties -- pick up The Individualists, you never know what you may find.
Zwolinski and Tomasi give a fair and insightful account of what unites - and just as frequently - divides those within the small yet large umbrella of libertarianism. The authors dive deep into the philosophical underpinnings of these ideas, wrestling with, rather than avoiding difficult questions.
Many times during my reading, I had to pause and question what I really believe about something or to recognize some deeper truth sitting unacknowledged in my head.
If you have any interest in understanding the differences between anarchy and anarcho-capitalism, classical liberalism and libertarianism, and much more. If you are unsatisfied with the philosophies (or lack thereof) of the Two US political parties -- pick up The Individualists, you never know what you may find.
August 9, 2024
This book is two different things:
1. a book about the history of libertarian thought in all of its diversity.
2. an argument for a left wing form of libertarianism.
As someone who is fascinated with the history of thought and libertarianism in particular, I loved the first thing.
As someone who is not particularly interested in compromising libertarian ideals to accomodate right or left wing deviations, the second thing was not exactly my cup of tea. However, I was interested to learn more about it and to understand it better.
1. a book about the history of libertarian thought in all of its diversity.
2. an argument for a left wing form of libertarianism.
As someone who is fascinated with the history of thought and libertarianism in particular, I loved the first thing.
As someone who is not particularly interested in compromising libertarian ideals to accomodate right or left wing deviations, the second thing was not exactly my cup of tea. However, I was interested to learn more about it and to understand it better.
September 23, 2023
One of the best histories of an idea I've read
March 29, 2024
A really excellent book, obtained via the wonderful Interlibrary Loan service of the University Near Here library. All the way from Kansas State!
The authors, Matt Zwolinski and John Tomasi, are self-described "bleeding-heart libertarians". In fact, they were major contributors to the same-named website, which was founded in 2011, and continued until 2020, when they decided they had said everything they needed to say.
The book is an "intellectual history" of libertarianism, dealing with the origins, development, and current state of the ideology. Or rather: the various tribes and factions that comprise something that is far from a unified philosophy. Libertarians love to point out the evils of statism; they also love pointing out the evils of other libertarians. (The episode where Ludwig von Mises declared "You're all a bunch of socialists" before stomping out of a meeting of the freakin' Mont Pelerin Society is recounted.)
Rest assured: despite being firmly in a subset of the big (circus) tent that is libertarianism, the authors treat the other members fairly, even while making clear their personal dissents.
But even given the internecine squabbling, the authors identify six "markers", areas of general agreement: "private property, skepticism of authority, free markets, spontaneous order, individualism, and negative liberty." The primordial thinkers are examined: Bastiat in France, Herbie Spencer in England, both horrified by creeping socialism. The American thinkers had a different motivating, but equally horrifying, issue: slavery. In all cases, though, the struggle to develop a positive philosophy—OK, we know what you're against; what are you for—gave rise to a broad agreement.
The authors trace the development of those "markers". Is there a coherent justification for acquisition of private property, does it make sense to talk about "mixing one's labor" with it? Is any sort of state permissible, or must a consistent libertarian be an anarchist? Does our enthusiasm for free markets mean we have to be fans of big business? Can poverty be alleviated without coercive wealth-redistribution? Does a thoroughgoing individualism involve ignoring racial injustice? And what, generally, does libertarianism imply for people outside our borders: foreign policy, international trade, and immigration?
All thorny issues, right?
In the twentieth century, the libertarian hostility to totalitarianism formed an uneasy common-enemy alliance with conservatism. But even then, the cracks showed; for example, Whittaker Chambers' famous pan of Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged in the pages of National Review. (This didn't stop opponents from labelling libertarians as "right-wing".)
Murray Rothbard's pinballing ideology is examined closely. I always thought Rothbard wanted to be to libertarianism what Karl Marx was to communism; this led him to a certain degree of hucksterism, a continual search for unlikely allies, from the "New Left" to paleoconservatives. This odd odyssey is (again) fairly presented in the book, although you can almost see the authors sadly shaking their heads.
Speaking of head-shaking, the book concludes with the takeover of the Libertarian Party by the so-called "Mises Caucus", a group that (frankly) has other things on its mind than liberty. Leaving folks like me even more politically homeless than before. Ah, well.
Bottom line: this is a great, very accessible, look at the messy, but inspiring, history of libertarianism. Unlike recent caricatures (e.g., A Libertarian Walks Into a Bear or Burning Down the House) it is sympathetic, fair, and honest.
May 16, 2023
A lot of this was excruciating... the type of history that I hate: details and dates that are somewhat decontextualized from meaning and purpose and application. This was the early history of Libertarianism, and I don't think I retained much. It was probably helpful in understanding some of the more modern stuff, though, even if I glossed over it (enough got in for the why and the different schools of thought).
It turns out that I don't think I'm a big fan of primarily philosophical works. Ideas, yes... but I appreciate more concrete application rather than thought-experiments and how things should/might work under certain circumstances. So this was also tough for me through the middle section. Nuanced ideas that are JUST ideas... Some in how abolitionists considered anti-government views, and some of how maybe it played into the Civil War, but still a lot of small differences that didn't seem to have much real-world evidence to back them up. There were finally some names coming up that made sense to me: Frederick Douglass and Ayn Rand. Now I could start contextualizing.
I did get a little more interested as things got a more modern (and more applicable). There were moments when I found myself questioning ways of thinking or considering how this way of thinking might play out. And even the consideration of the types of Libertarians that are fighting for the title right now.
I'm glad I read it, and there are people who love theory and philosophy and these minor differences that would love this.
It turns out that I don't think I'm a big fan of primarily philosophical works. Ideas, yes... but I appreciate more concrete application rather than thought-experiments and how things should/might work under certain circumstances. So this was also tough for me through the middle section. Nuanced ideas that are JUST ideas... Some in how abolitionists considered anti-government views, and some of how maybe it played into the Civil War, but still a lot of small differences that didn't seem to have much real-world evidence to back them up. There were finally some names coming up that made sense to me: Frederick Douglass and Ayn Rand. Now I could start contextualizing.
I did get a little more interested as things got a more modern (and more applicable). There were moments when I found myself questioning ways of thinking or considering how this way of thinking might play out. And even the consideration of the types of Libertarians that are fighting for the title right now.
I'm glad I read it, and there are people who love theory and philosophy and these minor differences that would love this.
August 8, 2023
This book certainly delivers on its premise. As someone interested in Libertarianism and especially the historical and intellectual roots of the ideas espoused, this book was perfect. I think my previous familiarity with a lot of the content made it a much easier read than perhaps for someone who was approaching the subject for the first time. But Zwolinski and Tomasi display an expert grasp of the subject and are thorough in their exploration of Libertarianism's many branches, victories, and controversies.
I'm only docking the 5th star due to the fact that the book can get quite repetitive and convoluted at times. 4/5
I'm only docking the 5th star due to the fact that the book can get quite repetitive and convoluted at times. 4/5
May 4, 2023
Enjoyable history of libertarian thought by topic. My only real quibble was that it didn't flesh out left-libertarianism and bleeding-heart libertarianism. I was left scratching my head about what those branches advocate for in practical terms. For example, in the last chapter it discusses how bleeding-heart libertarians might take issue with emergent order if it leads to what they deem undesirable outcomes, like segregation, but I have no idea how these libertarians would propose to deal with such a thing.
July 7, 2023
This is an intellectual history of libertarian thought. The authors believe libertarianism is best understood as a cluster concept with commitments held, in varying degrees, to six major categories: private property, skepticism of authority, free markets, spontaneous order, individualism, and negative liberty.
I am somewhat of a political nomad but have often been drawn to some libertarian principles and arguments intellectually. This book was helpful in exploring the diversity of libertarian thought throughout its history and seeing where I agree and disagree.
I am somewhat of a political nomad but have often been drawn to some libertarian principles and arguments intellectually. This book was helpful in exploring the diversity of libertarian thought throughout its history and seeing where I agree and disagree.
November 23, 2023
A thorough history of of the philosophical elements of libertarianism (and the varying fractions within it) dating back to 18th century England and France. A good read for those interested in history/philosophy, and a good compliment to other historical books on the birth of ideologies like Julia Lovell's Maoism. The book's title in my opinion does it no favors, as it implies that it's a "political" book, which I would argue it's not.
May 16, 2024
Zwolinski's bias is evident, particularly in his discussion of Rothbard and paleolibertarianism, as well as in the assumption that his bleeding heart libertarianism has garnered enough significance or interest to be included in this book. Nevertheless, it serves as a decent - although somewhat americentrist - introduction to the history and variety of libertarian thought.
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