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How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World - Harry Browne
Grid:
After GizmoTX suggested this book with the following link, I've been slowly reading through and gaining insight. I'd like to hear any comments anyone has about the book. I'm currently on page 82.
http://eiiiforum.com/picsfromusers/howifoundfreedom.pdf
I currently agree with a good deal of what he has to say so far, but I still have to mull a bit more on the idea of the government trap. Does a government really have no chance of being any better than what would come about if there were none, just the General Market? And is it really more difficult to conquer a divided group of little self-governed towns instead of a nation? I doubt it, but still need to think about it some more.
arebelspy:
It's slanted very libertarian in its politics (the author was the Libertarian Party's candidate for president a couple of times.). Get through that stuff, whatever you think of it, and there's a lot of value in the rest still.
C40:
--- Quote from: Grid on January 06, 2015, 03:22:32 PM ---
I currently agree with a good deal of what he has to say so far, but I still have to mull a bit more on the idea of the government trap. Does a government really have no chance of being any better than what would come about if there were none, just the General Market? And is it really more difficult to conquer a divided group of little self-governed towns instead of a nation? I doubt it, but still need to think about it some more.
--- End quote ---
That doesn't matter much. The book is about personal freedom - not about whether a specific form of government works better or worse than another. (He has another book about that subject)
For anyone who's considering reading this book - do it. For me, one of the top 5 most influential books I've ever read.
Grid:
--- Quote from: C40 on January 10, 2015, 01:00:44 PM ---That doesn't matter much. The book is about personal freedom - not about whether a specific form of government works better or worse than another. (He has another book about that subject)
For anyone who's considering reading this book - do it. For me, one of the top 5 most influential books I've ever read.
--- End quote ---
Yes, the government stuff is a minor part of the book. He even changed his tune about the government in the epilogue he wrote for the book 25 years later. Also, I skimmed through your journal, and it's quite an encouragement! I hope to be in your shoes at your age.
--- Quote from: blahblah on January 10, 2015, 01:13:52 PM ---I Read this book on the advice of Arebelspy, and I loved it. It makes you realize how much agency you have over your own life... and once you realize that nearly everything you do is a choice - that you are sovereign over your own life - well you quit complaining about it. Because the only thing complaining does is advertise your own feebleness.
I didn't love the politics either... but that's a trivial part of the book.
--- End quote ---
I finished the book a couple days ago. I enjoyed the message about sovereignty as well. I think the biggest benefit I got from the book was feeling less guilty about pulling away from my family. They're great people for the most part, but sometimes I've felt or been made to feel guilty for valuing my own time and goals above spending time with them.
Rezdent:
I just started reading the book too (thanks, GizmoTX! )
I realized that this is going to take me a while. It's not a book that I can read quickly. I'm just a few pages in and realized that I'll have to sit with with the ideas in each chapter. So far, there's been no fluff, the writing is sharp, concise and deep.
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