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Summary: A Timeless Classic on Freedom and Personal Liberty
Review: I am somewhat embarrassed to admit that, approaching fifty-four years of age, I have just now discovered Frederic Bastiat's The Law. The clarity and brevity of this work make it a timeless classic. In a mere seventy-six pages Bastiat completely shatters the foundations of liberalism. This should be required reading for civics students in every school in America. I shall treasure it always and recommend it to everyone I know.
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Summary: Text also available on-line
Review: The text of Bastiat's most prominent essays is available on-line, so you can make up your mind on your own. Start browsing from bastiat.org, it's well worth the trip. When you've read Bastiat, you'll just want to acquire a paper copy of the book, and you can still use digital copies to share it with other people.
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Summary: Simple, clear, elegant...and cheap!
Review: One of the earliest books in the classical liberal/libertarian tradtion. It should be read before moving one to more complex works, such as Henry Hazlitt's "Economics in One Lesson" or most anything by Murray Rothbard. (The culmination of complexity is probably Ludwig von Mises's "Human Action.") Bastiat points out there are only two ways to gain wealth--steal it (usually done by government under the guise of taxes for 'redistribution' of wealth) or create it (which is done through the free market). His arguments are clear, easy to understand, and oftentimes humorous. A little classic.
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Summary: Life-changing
Review: It is impossible to read this book and not agree with him. How our world is in its current state while such compelling works exist is beyond me.
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Summary: Concise, Powerful, Elegant Defense of Liberty and the Law
Review: When I read F.A. Hayek's "The Road to Serfdom," I thought I had read the most inspired and compelling book ever to discredit socialism and other collective-isms. I was wrong...very wrong. I cannot believe Bastiat wrote "The Law" in the middle of the 19th century since it has so much applicability to the 20th (and soon to be 21st) century. If ever there was a concise and powerful argument for defending Liberty and the Law against every social engineer, this has to be it (only 75 pages!). Bastiat is a master of words and the analogy. Every lover of freedom who wishes to get a nutshell understanding of why Liberty and Law matters ought to read this book. Every enemy of freedom (e.g. liberals, socialists, communists, etc.) ought to fear it.
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Summary: Could all you beleive in be wrong?
Review: Are you a socialist? Are you a capitalist? Allow Bastiat to reason with you. Listen to this man of another century make a brilliant and yet short annihilation of things you may hold dear.
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Summary: Must reading for anyone who values Freedom!
Review: Such an extraordinary little book! An eye-opener for sure. Should be required reading in every high school in the free world. Bastiat makes a clear and convincing case for bare-bones limited government and explains, quite irrefutably, how this practice leads to maximum freedom for all.
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Summary: Incredible, excellent, true!
Review: This is one of the most incredible books I have ever read. What was written in 1850 is true today. It shows the intelligence and wisdom of the author, because this book was written even before the Soviet style communism. A MUST READ!!!
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Summary: The most common sense logic written on government.
Review: I read this book in 1980; at the time I was chairman of the democratic party in my county. I really began to do some serious soul searching. I finally concluded I was going to leave my party, as It no longer represented it's founder Mr Thomas Jefferson. This small simple easy to read book totally changed my life That same year I met Jim Hansen, he was making his first run for congress from the state of Utah, I made a deal with him, I would vote for him if he would read The Law by Bastiat. He promised, and I did. I received a nice letter from Jim after he was elected. " Never read a book that has so impressed me". P.S. "Find Yourself another copy, Im keeping Yours". Jim.Best three dollars ever spent. Ron Steele Moab, Utah
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Summary: Eloquent & rational
Review: Well written and logical appraisal of what Law is, and what Government is (and should be!) Full of examples for historians and 'laymen' to enjoy this short and brilliant work is something that every voter would benefit from reading - especially in todays 'big government' dominated West. Bastiat was one of the first to recognise and write about the arrogence of legislators and paternalistic governments.
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