Curated list of awesome books and authors on libertarianism, anarcho-capitalism and austrian school of economics
Curated list of awesome books and authors on libertarianism, anarcho-capitalism and austrian school of economics.
Economics in One Lesson|Henry Hazlitt|4.2|1946|218|
|The Positive Theory of Capital|Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk|4.1|1891|452|
|Anarchy, State, and Utopia|Robert Nozick|3.8|1974|367|
|A History of Money and Banking in the United States: The Colonial Era to World War II|Murray Rothbard|4.2|2002|510|
|America’s Great Depression|Murray Rothbard|4.2|1963|368|
|The Case Against the Fed|Murray Rothbard|4.2|1994|168|
|Wall Street, Banks, and American Foreign Policy|Murray Rothbard|4.1|1984|108|
|The Ultimate Foundation of Economic Science|Ludwig von Mises|4.4|1962|124|
|The Anti-Capitalistic Mentality|Ludwig von Mises|4.0|1956|88|
|Liberalism: In the Classical Tradition|Ludwig von Mises|4.2|1927|171|
|Bureaucracy|Ludwig von Mises|4.3|1944|137|
|Planned Chaos|Ludwig von Mises|4.3|1947|90|
|The Politics of Obedience: The Discourse of Voluntary Servitude|Étienne de la Boétie|3.9|1549|100|
|Chaos Theory: Two Essays on Market Anarchy|Robert P. Murphy|3.8|2002|76|
|Against the State: An Anarcho-Capitalist Manifesto|Lew Rockwell|4.1|2014|192|
Ludwig von Mises, 1979
An introductory book suitable for anyone interested in free market economics.
Very accessible, it is a good starting point for the Austrian School of
Economics.
Frédéric Bastiat, 1849
An introductory book and critique of regulation and the use of legislation by
authorities. Your criticism is very current even for a book written more than
150 years ago. It is especially good for lawyers and people interested in
legislation from a libertarian perspective.
Murray Rothbard, 1974
This is a simple and excellent book for deconstructing the aura of the state
and starting to think objectively about your need. A good starting point for
anarcho-capitalist ideas.
Murray Rothbard, 1963
An easy-to-read book that discusses the role of money in society, the banking
system with its regulatory aspects, and the implications of Keynesian economics
in society.
Carl Menger, 1892
This book is a discussion of something we hardly ever ask about its origins.
Money. It is a simple and objective approach. Very useful to understand the
origins of the gold standard.
Gustave de Molinari, 1849
This book is a pioneering case for security as a private service. It was
written about a hundred years before the beginning of the development of
anarcho-capitalism.
Lysander Spooner, 1867
This book aims to analyze how the American Constitution is enforced against
the will of American citizens. And how this goes against people’s rights,
attacking the concept of the social contract.
Ludwig von Mises, 1920
The original paper that introduced the economic calculation problem argument in
socialist economics. Very important from a historical and theoretical point of
view.
Ayn Rand, 1957
Perhaps the most popular and influential book on the defense of liberty. This
tale is a classic that hit the mainstream, the plot takes you back to the
present day, when regulation and the state are stifling society and taking away
the incentive to produce. The author uses the dialogues between the characters
to introduce ideas favorable to the free market and the moral defense of
liberty.
Ayn Rand, 1943
This book is a novel about a brilliant architect and his objective visions of
the world. The difficulties that a person who only focuses on doing his job in
the best way can face is the central theme. Highly recommended as a first
contact with libertarian ideas or for those who just want to enjoy a good
romance.
Ayn Rand, 1938
A short novel about a dystopian world where the state and collectivist ideas
evolved in such a way that any form of individualism was forgotten by its
inhabitants, reflected even in language. Until the rediscovery of ideas from
the past by the protagonist.
Murray Rothbard, 1962
A treaty covering the whole economy, starting with pure free market economics
and then discussing the effects of government intervention. This book started
out as a Rothbard revision of Human Action by Mises, but introduces a number of
new ideas. This is the most complete book on economics on this list.
Ludwig von Mises, 1949
This book is a masterclass in capitalism. Mises introduces praxeology and then
uses to analyze the entire economy. It is the most influential book in the
Austrian school of economics and a must-read if you are interested in these
ideas.
Carl Menger, 1871
This book is considered the beginning of the Austrian School of Economics. Him
introduces very important concepts that most if not all authors will follow.
The book presents his pioneering work in the theory of value so far called
marginal utility.
Murray Rothbard, 1973
This book is a good introduction and starting point to anarcho-capitalist ideas
by its creator in simple terms with real-world examples.
Hans-Hermann Hoppe, 2012
A collection of selected articles on varied topics that covers much of the
author’s thought, gives a broad view of various aspects of libertarianism,
such as the evolution of primitive man, life in society, state intervention in
the economy and questioning of state monopolies, up to autobiographical
articles.
Murray Rothbard, 1995
Analyzes the history of economic thought before Adam Smith with an emphasis on
a comparison with the current vision of the Austrian school of economics,
studying Chinese philosophy, the Greeks, the scholastics, the mercantilists,
as well as names such as Richard Cantillon, John Locke, Turgot and a lucid
review of what Adam Smith really represented.
Murray Rothbard, 1995
In the second volume of this review of the history of economic thought, the
focus is on the economists who came after Adam Smith, such as the French
liberals J.B. Say, Frederic Bastiat and Gustave de Molinari, the utilitarian
Jeremy Bentham, David Ricardo, John Stuart Mill and his son James Mill, as well
as a detailed analysis of the origins of Marxism and personalities such as
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.
Hans-Hermann Hoppe, 1988
This book shows that there are only two economic systems. Capitalism and
socialism. Everything else can be explained as a combination of these ideas.
Jesús Huerta de Soto, 2006
This treatise on economics is a rigorous analysis of central banks, policies
of credit expansion and its effects on the economy.
It contains a historical study of how it was legally treated in the past
fractional reserves, as legislation has changed since then, the emergence of
central banks, to its present state.
Presents legal arguments for treating fractional reserves as a
fraudulent practice, with or without the presence of a central bank.
Ludwig von Mises, 1922
This book is a complete analysis of socialism, where Mises presents his famous
argument about the impossibility of economic calculation under socialism. It
contains a lot of historical information, some ethical considerations, and a
incredible defense of private property and capitalism.
Jesús Huerta de Soto, 1992
An Austrian analysis of socialist economics, it presents a new definition of
socialism, theoretical advances from a business point of view, and the history
of the economic calculus debate with arguments from both sides of the debate.
Ludwig von Mises, 1957
This book is a discussion of the methodology and philosophy of research in
human sciences that introduces the term praxeology as the method of studying
economics. It presents the problems of many methodologies used in current
research and a strong defense of the Austrian method: the praxeology.
Hans-Hermann Hoppe, 1993
It is a collection of essays that gives the reader an overview of the author’s
economic views, discusses ethics, praxeology and economics.
Murray Rothbard, 1974
This book is a collection of essays by Rothbard, which discusses a variety of
topics, in order to familiarize the reader with anarcho-capitalist ideas.
The book addresses the egalitarian ideas of the left, the state and its
policies in war, over private property, women’s and children’s rights, rival
ideologies and ideas to anarcho-capitalism and forms of action and posture
by libertarians.
Ludwig von Mises, 1933
The methodology of economic science is discussed with an emphasis on value
theory and a defense of rationalism, analysis of the foundations of sociology
and current doctrines in the work of historians and applies a consistent
analysis refuting socialist alternatives in these topics.
Bruce L. Benson, 1990
Arguments in favor of privatizing the legal system are presented, combined with
historical examples and a theoretical discussion of the difficulties and
possible ways to achieve the objective. A very complete book that aims to
eliminate any doubt about the efficiency and superiority of the private sector
in providing security and justice.
Hans-Hermann Hoppe, 2021
Discusses the evolution of society from the primitive human collector, the role
of the division of labor, technology and the market in social development, the
social origins of the modern state and strategies for freedom.
Jörg Guido Hülsmann, 2008
An ethical discussion of the central bank’s influence on the economy, and how
it affects the time preference of the whole society.
Murray Rothbard, 1982
This book defines libertarian ethics, which involves applying the methodology
developed by Mises (praxeology) in the field of ethics. It can be said that
this work formally defines anarcho capitalism and the principle of
non-aggression, in theory the only necessary book.
Hans-Hermann Hoppe, 2001
This is the author’s most influential book, a pioneering classic in questioning
democracy as an optimal or ethical system. It presents the historical context
of the flight from monarchies to democracy, and through the impossibility of
limited government, shows the reader the alternative of a stateless society to
freedom.
Ludwig von Mises, 1912
A work that forms the basis of the Austrian Theory of business cycles. The
original approach to expanding credit and lengthening the supply chain has
become the signature of Austrian economists.
Murray Rothbard, 1983
A very thorough discussion of banking that explains in depth how it works, the
incentives involved, and the consequences for society.
Hans-Hermann Hoppe, 2018
It develops the argument that conservative moral values combined with the
Austrian school’s understanding of economics is the correct path to
libertarian moviment. An introduction to right-wing libertarianism or
paleolibertarianism.
Israel Kirzner, 1978
This book is an analysis of the entrepreneur’s role in balancing the market,
brings elements of Mises’s praxeology and Hayek’s view on decentralized
knowledge and spontaneous order.
Albert Jay Nock, 1935
This classic book presents the dichotomy in the way the state and the market
obtains its resources, as irreconcilable forms of action, was very influential
in development of libertarian ideas that came later.
Friedrich Hayek, 1944
This book shows how central planning always converges with authoritarianism and
socialism. A good critique of Keynesian economics.
Hans-Hermann Hoppe, 1998
This little book contains some of Hoppe’s ideas on libertarian action.
It discusses central themes such as the importance of influencing public
opinion, the role of private security agencies and insurance companies in the
provision of services of security, discrimination as a form of defense and
the efficiency of services provided by the market.
Bruno Leoni, 1961
A study on the differences between laws obtained through market practices and
laws obtained through state imposition, with historical analyzes and
discussions of the implications for freedom and preservation of property
rights, a classic that has an extremely simple and clear presentation of the
legal system and its implications for the individual.
Hans-Hermann Hoppe, 2014
This essay analyzes the evolution of medieval society, the transition to
monarchy and finally to the modern state and democracy, addresses the topic
from a historical point of view and the transition of the legal system, it can
be seen as a condensed text in relation to the classic same author
Democracy: The God That Failed.
Hans-Hermann Hoppe, 1995
This is an advanced book. For people interested in praxeology, epistemology and
the scientific foundations of economics, humanities and a general discussion
about the subject. This book is recommended for people who already understand
Austrian school of economics reasonably well and want to have a better
understanding of its fundamentals or people interested in methodology.
Karsten & Beckman, 2012
A very clear and concise analysis of democracy, the type of incentive it
creates in the state and in the rulers, how this affects society’s time
preference.
It was written based on Hoppe’s book Democracy: The God That Failed. As
intended to be an introductory text on the subject.
Morris and Linda Tannehill, 1970
This book looks at the problems that aggression causes in society, shows how
would a stateless society work (with some pioneering insights), and then
discusses how to achieve this goal.
It’s a great introduction to anarcho-capitalism, in very accessible language.
This book was written with strong influence from the writings of
Ayn Rand and Rothbard.
Mises, Haberler, Rothbard, Hayek, 1978
This book is a collection of four articles on Austrian business cycle theory.
It is recommended for anyone interested in economic cycles and on the influence
of central banks and Keynesian policies on the economy.
Friedrich Hayek, 1948
This book presents Hayek’s views on social sciences metodology and how
knowledge is decentralized and influence people’s decision in the market, with
criticism for central planing and socialism. This book is recomended for people
interested in a criative view of market process.
Friedrich Hayek, 1976
This book presents ideas about free banking, private money and how to implement
it in a world with central bank. Many ideas presented in this book are now seen
in tech communities.
Samuel Edward Konkin III, 1986
One of the few pratical libertarian books, in this book Konkin introduces the
Agorism. A life philosophy which is compatible with libertarian principles.
Samuel Edward Konkin III, 1980
This book is yet another Konkin presentation of his theory of libertarian
action (known as agorism), which considers correct anarcho-capitalist ideas,
and seeks a form of action consistent with these principles.
In this book, the focus is on discussing how individuals act to combat
the current statist situation to the point of disconnecting from this reality.
Larken Rose, 2011
This book is an incredible discussion of the moral problems involved in blind
obedience to political authority. It’s a very easy read, not too rigorous,
very good for the general public. The author fully understood the libertarian
ethic and has created a very accessible book that will try to shock the reader
from beginning to end.
Hans-Hermann Hoppe, 2009
This book is a very short and concise presentation on strategies for coping and
challenge the central government’s monopoly on security and justice. Very
little has been written about libertarian action, here we have a small
discussion on the subject.
Hans-Hermann Hoppe, 2015
An Austrian analysis of the evolution of man and his social organization from
the beginning of communication with words to the post-industrial revolution
era. And a reflection on what can be done to escape the inevitable decline we
are undergoing as a species.
Stephan Kinsella, 2008
This book presents a discussion of ethical foundations on the legitimacy of
intellectual property, in doing so he presents a revised discussion of some
rothbard’s popular ideas.
Walter Block, 1976
A book dedicated to the defense of professions with a bad reputation but which
essentially exist to meet the existing demand in society, the author presents
economic arguments and a coherent defense of individual freedom throughout the
examples.
Michael Huemer, 2012
A commonsense analysis of what is morally acceptable to an individual and how
political authority violates obvious and reasonable principles in human
interaction.
Jörg Guido Hülsmann, 2008
This monograph reviews the definition of inflation and deflation. And it shows
that the kind of market adjustment that deflation brings is beneficial to
society and should not be feared.
George Selgin, 1990
A great analysis of Lachman and Kizner’s debate on market equilibrium, where he
refines Kizner’s arguments and builds a case against the kaleidic future
advocated by Lachman.
Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk, 1890
This book brings the history of economic theories and politics behind interest.
It is a great exposition of the most populars ideas on interest, it presents
great refutations on then and prepare the reader for his next book where he
introduces his time preference theory.
David Friedman, 1971
A presentation of Anarcho-capitalism ideas using an utilitarian approach, which
can be good as a first view on the topic.