Libertarianism What everyone needs to know

Review by Choice Review

In yet another volume of Oxford's "What Everyone Needs to Know" series, Brennan (ethics, economics, and public policy, Georgetown Univ.) has written a highly accessible primer to libertarian thought. This book is not an assessment of libertarianism in light of its critics, and it does not offer alternative ways of thinking. Instead, it is a defense of the libertarian approach, on the doctrine's own grounds, in plain language. As such, it offers clear answers to questions on diverse topics from marriage equality to anarchism to the Tea Party. Brennan helpfully distinguishes the thinking of classical liberals such as Adam Smith and David Hume from "hard" libertarians such as Robert Nozick and Ayn Rand, as well as from "social justice" thinkers such as Brennan himself. The author might be more fair to opponents in places; for example, he claims that "many on the left oppose free immigration," which seems inaccurate, if not disingenuous. Still, students and laypersons looking for a concise, well-organized overview of libertarianism certainly will find that here. Summing Up: Recommended. General readers and undergraduate students. R. J. Meagher Randolph-Macon College

Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.

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Review by Booklist Review

Live and let live is the basic premise behind libertarianism. But how does that translate in politics, economics, social policy, and modern culture? Brennan, ethics and economics scholar, offers a very clear and concise explanation of libertarianism, its historical roots, and its increasing relevance to contemporary politics. Libertarianism is a political philosophy that puts respect for individual liberty at the center of a just society, with no exceptions to the principle that all human relations should be voluntary. Brennan debunks popular misconceptions from the equating of libertarianism with conservatism to the assumption that most libertarians are followers of Ayn Rand. Noting the range of beliefs among libertarians, Brennan details basic support for individual freedom, including same-sex marriage, reproductive rights, and open borders, and opposition to drug laws, foreign interventions, and regulations. Brennan details disagreement with the Tea Party and Occupy movement and presents libertarianism as an alternative to Democrats and Republicans. A fascinating primer on a philosophy that is gaining attention.--Bush, Vanessa Copyright 2010 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.

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Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

Freedom to live your life as you see fit does not seem like a controversial political stance at first, or even a political stance at all, until it is applied to civil rights, economic freedoms, and social justice. Application of this basic tenet of libertarianism is what Brennan (A Brief History of Liberty) aims to do here, beginning with an explanation of the political philosophy itself- an umbrella term for several ideologies constructed from the premise that each individual is a sovereign entity-then systematically describes what would reasonably follow when the ideas are consistently applied to politics or life. In Brennan's formulation libertarianism is a legitimate political alternative to the prevailing American two-party system: surprising to left, right and center alike. Libertarianism isn't a radical philosophy with outlying political proposals; at times its stances align with liberals, on expansion of human rights and civil liberties, and at times with conservatives, on promoting small businesses. Brennan structures his book as a series of plausible queries and hypothetical scenarios, but his attempts to counter criticisms read more as evasions or appeals to abstractions. Instead of being able to pick this up and read clean, concise answers, readers will be left with more unanswerable questions. (Nov.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

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