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 enlarge | Authors: Milton Friedman, Rose Friedman
Publisher: Harvest Books
Category: Book
List Price: $15.00
Buy Used: $6.95
You Save: $8.05 (54%)
New (38) Used (43) Collectible (5) from $6.95
Rating:  79 reviews
Sales Rank: 3018
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 360
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 7.9 x 5.3 x 1
ISBN: 0156334607
Dewey Decimal Number: 330.122
EAN: 9780156334600
ASIN: 0156334607
Publication Date: November 26, 1990
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 An absolute must read for capitalists February 12, 2007
5 out of 8 found this review helpful
This book did for me, a born-and-raised capitalist conservative, what the Bible does for me spiritually. My ideas about capitalism and the free market and government are reborn.
Classic February 3, 2007
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
I read this book years ago, and Milton Friedman's recent death reminded me how perfectly it expressed my own view -- that most things work really well when government just leaves them alone and let's us make the choices. I realized that I had to own this book, and find that it has indeed stood the test of time. It's a masterpiece.
Free to Choose January 30, 2007
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
Outstanding and ageless. Should be required reading annually by everyone over the age of 16.
One of the best books I have readin the last year... January 10, 2007
5 out of 7 found this review helpful
For people who have an open mind, this book will change the way you think about capitalism, government, and choice. For those who are set in their political ideals and goals (I'm talking about staunch democrats AND republicans), this book will not be worth reading.
As a relatively young person, who went through public schooling in the 80s/90s, I could only wish that our mandatory econmics classes or history classes covered or debated the information presented in this book. Kids, including myself, grow up with this idea of government as someone who steps in to right things that are "wrong", and that anytime something "wrong" happens the answer is more government. This book opened my eyes, showing that well-meaning and kind-hearted people try to solve a problems through government, but in many cases those people affected would have a more effective solution through the free market. This book explains how capitalism works, and elegantly explains why the "invisible hand" is often more effective at providing people's needs than top-down organization. I also like that instead of just pointing out problems (like poor schooling, welfare abuse, etc) there is an attempt to identify a solution.
I recommend this book, as well as capitalism and freedom, for anyone interested in understanding how a free-market economy works and for a healthy debate of the role of government in such a system to provide the greatest freedom. This book is obviously more current than the latter, is more easily read, and contains a chapter on inflation which I think is well-written and informative, especially considering the recent inflation fears over the price of energy. The only downside to this book, as well as capitalism and freedom, is that they are "dated". Some of the solutions and proposal are no longer feasible due to changes in the political climate and acceptance that "we've always had X governmental involvement".
Please don't reject this book because of political ideology (especially those who have a negative feeling towards reaganomics and associate this book with that idea) - peruse it and seriously consider what it has to say.
A must read for everyone December 13, 2006
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
I read this first in high school, again in college, and I pick it up every now and again to review. This book opened my eyes to how the world works (to steal a phrase from Jude Wanniski). Everyone, no matter your political bent, should read this book from the master. During a recent car trip, I gave it to my 8th grade son, and he said "How come everyone doesn't read this? It makes so much sense!" Well said!
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