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Freedom Book of the Month
Email List Archive
Free-Market.Net's F r e e d o m B o o k o f t h e M o n t h
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Edited by Sunni Maravillosa. To join or leave this and other
lists, click to: http://www.free-market.net/features/lists/
* June, 2003: "Eco-nomics," by Richard L Stroup
* New and notable
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Freedom Book of the Month for June, 2003:
"Eco-nomics: What Everyone Should Know about Economics and the
Environment"
by Richard L Stroup
Cato Institute 2003, paper, 91 pp.
ISBN: 1-930865-44-9
Once a teacher, always a teacher, I suppose. I used to be a teacher,
and the quest for high-quality textbooks was neverending. I'm still
questing for good teaching materials, but the focus has shifted from
collegiate-level psychology to the freedom philosophy. Reaching new
minds is as important as informing ones already committed to liberty.
Thus, it's great to feature another book that accomplishes both
tasks.
"Eco-nomics: What Everyone Should Know about Economics and the
Environment" is a free-market environmentalism gem. In just four
chapters and spanning around 90 pages of text, Richard Stroup makes
a clear case for why the free market is a better solution for
environmental problems than state-based coercion. Despite the
thinness of the tome, and the jargon-free writing style, "Eco-nomics"
is packed with information and insights that will inform many. From
environmental and/or libertarian neophyte to educated lay person,
Stroup offers observations and perspectives that will have readers
thinking long after they finish the book.
Each chapter is organized around ten questions or statements that to
some degree reflect commonly-held perceptions about environmental
issues. Starting with scarcity, and progressing through rights and
coercion, and concluding with choosing, Stroup's four chapters offer
a sound introduction to free-market environmentalism. Not only does
he avoid academic jargon, Stroup stays away from terminology that can
be threatening to collectivist-environmentalists. The result is a
book that is easy to read and understand, and can be given to
"greenies" without undue fears that one's money will be poorly spent.
It's appropriate for a wide age range as well.
Does "Eco-nomics" cover everything? No, of course not -- the
precautionary principle isn't even mentioned, for example (and the
book doesn't suffer a bit for its absence). However, examples of
principles, problems, and unintended consequences of choices abound,
adding texture to the ideas Stroup presents. He supplements his
narrative with references to other works, any of which would be a
good choice to continue one's education in economic and/or
environmental issues.
Despite the lack of today's environmental catch-phrases, it cannot be
said that "Eco-nomics" lacks breadth and sufficient depth. As a book
with a single purpose -- to outline "what everyone should know about
economics and the environment" -- "Eco-nomics" meets that purpose, as
well as others. This is a book that can be used to help turn
resources away from failed "public" solutions to environmental
problems, and toward a variety of market-based solutions. With a
price of under $15 including shipping, "Eco-nomics" ought not be a
scarce commodity in our efforts to teach others about the
compatibility of economics and the environment.
Order "Eco-nomics" from Amazon.com:
http://www.free-market.net/rd/971768131.html, $9.95
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New and notable
o "Handbook for Liberty," by Richard G Rieben
Not new -- it was published in 2001 -- but certainly notable.
Rieben's excellent primer on creating liberty offers a unique,
thought-provoking perspective on culture and freedom, and ways to
build liberty and keep it. This slim book ought to be must-reading
for all Free State Project members and similar thinkers.
Order "Handbook for Liberty" here:
http://www.free-market.net/rd/985599323.html, $10.75
o "Dumpster Diving: The Advanced Course," by John Hoffman
A wide-ranging, sometimes apparently hallucinogenic-influenced book
offering a wide variety of ideas on how to get creative and serious
about dumpster diving. Informative and amusing -- like a book
version of a Grateful Dead concert.
Order "Dumpster Diving: The Advanced Course" from Amazon.com:
http://www.free-market.net/rd/28651699.html, $14.
Keep doing freedom,
Sunni Maravillosa
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