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Summary: The Most Concise and Precise Economic Doctrine
Review: Henry Hazlitt, one of America's greatest economists, presents the best refutation of socialist and Keynesian beliefs. It is a tremendous pity that such a brilliant thinker is rarely considered among the greatest economists. He certainly is more rational, realistic, and correct than Marx or Keynes, and I would even go as far as to say he provides a better constructed argument for free market capitalism than either of the celebrated neo-classical economists, F.A. Hayek or Milton Friedman. Both men are brilliant thinkers and economists as well, but they have never been able to convey their ideas in such an concise manner. Hazlitt's "brick through the window" analogy is the best economic illustration since Adam Smith's pin machine. It displays the fundamental fallacies of controlled economics, which always misses the secondary and future consequences for the short term gain that may be incurred. For anyone interested in why minimum wage laws, price controls, tarriffs, taxes, and inflationary policies have failed to provide the social justice and economic progress promised by radicals and leftists and has instead caused economic decline and stagnation, this book is a must read. It has stood the test of time and deserves to be regarded as the finest inquiry into the nature of economics since Adam's Smith "The Wealth of Nations".
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Summary: The most amazing book!!!
Review: I am a homeschooler, I and am 16, I used to hate economics before I read this book. The book changed my views on almost all economic standpoints, and really opened my eyes to foolish things proformed by almost all politicians. I think this manual should be maditory to read before taking any public office. It really shows how ignorant we really are! A MUST READ FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO KNOW THE TRUTH!!!!!
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Summary: a brilliant, well-written economics primer
Review: Hazlitt presents a clear, concise lesson on basic economics. His message is well-articulated and well-supported. This is a must read for every person who has ever worked or voted (or is planning to do either) because it discusses the essentials in both economic theory and the politics that put the theory into practice.Unfortunately, there are some erroneous ideas in this book. Hazlitt occasionally makes claims or implies that the government should make some interventions into the economy; he also seems to think that capitalism's merit lies in its service to the "common good." However, these fallacies are rare, and they do not significantly detract from the book. For a great back-to-back lesson in economics and its moral base, read this book followed by CAPITALISM: THE UNKNOWN IDEAL by Ayn Rand.
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Summary: Explains why economics and politics don't mix!
Review: Hazlitt's view is simple: economics can only be understood if we look at the effects on everyone over time. He views most government economic tinkering as myopic: focussing only on one group of people for a moment. He shows how government intervention--well intentioned as it might be--always hurt people in general over the long-term including the people we mean to help. He champions the forgotten man--the people who are hurt when the governmet tries to improve on the workings of the marketplace.
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Summary: Toss out the college textbooks
Review: A superb book; truly a classic. It will make sense of the almost uniformly poorly-written economics textbooks used in universities. It also clearly and logically exposes how inept, unrealistic and dangerous many "professional" economic theories are. If you want to understand economics, then this book is a must.
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Summary: Recommended Reading from the Local Government Council
Review: This book is a must read for anyone involve in public policy. Hazlitt lays out the basics in a simple and understandable format. Anyone involved in local government or thinking about running for public office should read this cover to cover -- the taxpayers will thank you!
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Summary: Eye-Opening
Review: This book made clear what was muddled by 16+ years of public education. All high schoolers should read this book!
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Summary: Outstanding, timeless, a must-read
Review: Members of both the bleeding-left and bleeding-right would benefit tremendously from a read through this book. In a simple, accessible writing style Hazlitt demolished the idea of a free lunch over 50 years ago. It is pertinent even moreso today. After you're done with this, read Ayn Rand's "Capitalism, The Unknown Ideal" and Von Hayek's "The Road To Serfdom" and you'll understand why we in the West are so screwed up today.
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Summary: Economic theory that makes sense!
Review: This book is excellent! A must reading for all political liberals! He gets right to the point and uses good clear examples. Most of this book was written mid century, but the economic truths Hazlitt discusses are still quite relevent. I just wish more Americans were required to read this book.
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Summary: For years this has been the one book I would recommend.
Review: Excellent! For years this has been the one book I would recommend to anyone interested in Economics. Hazlitt states that "the art of economics consists in looking not merely at the immediate but at the longer effects of any act or policy; it consists in tracing the consequences of that policy not merely for one group but for all groups." He then goes on to apply his art to issue after issue. It is such a magnificent production that it is little wonder it has been in print for over 50 years. Hazlitt's book was a large part of the inspiration for my own book, The Concise Guide to Economics.
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