Customer Reviews:
 Good read of capitalism and freedom January 31, 2007
I have seen some old interviews with Milton Friedman and read a couple of his books; including this one.
Not only is the content of this book interesting and enlightening, but the presentation is well done too.
There have been very few authors and public speakers that have caught my attention as thoroughly as Milton Friedman. I highly recommend this book.
 The Hidden Conundrum January 21, 2007
4 out of 16 found this review helpful
This book well deserves to be a classic, but it does not present any of the problems with Capitalism, so don't expect a balanced view. Via capitalism, we are like a bacterial colony on a dead squirrel. Bacteria metabolize all of the useful nutrients, and then there is a mass die-off. This works for the bacterial genetics because some of the bacteria will be blown or otherwise transported to another dead squirrel or such, and the cycle will continue. We, on the other hand, only have one "dead squirrel" (planet Earth), and no alternative ecosystems are within reach. So capitalism is betting all of our marbles that science will save our collective butts. For the science of rational selection that is economics, the end-game dependency on hope shows its non-rational weakness.
Challenge what you *know* about government and economics January 10, 2007
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I purchased this book because I wanted to know more about economics, but other than a few rudimentary courses, I did not know much and I had heard Milton Friedman was good at explaining economic concepts to non-economists. Indeed, Friedman is very good at explaining the concepts he discusses at a level for lay people. That does not mean you will easily get all the concept in this book, I did need to reread passages to understand some of his points. What I found surprising and refreshing in this book is that the ideas are opposite of what I've been taught throughout my schooling (like the great depression was caused by the stock market crash). Whether you think his ideas are good or not, or whether you agree with him, I think the truly intellectual mind should be able to consider his ideas - and the basic tenet that capitalism, even though it has a number of problems, insures the greatest freedom and that government reduces freedom. I would have, until reading this book, assumed without thinking too hard, that public schooling was necessary and that doctors need to be liscensed. This book challenges you to think about what government's purpose is, and whether it regulations are helpful or hurtful and how best to achieve freedom. I found this book so interesting I purchased Free to Choose, which is basically and expansion of the ideas in this book, with a few extra topics and easier to understand examples. I would recommend this book strongly and intend to purchase more books by Milton Friedman in the future.
Milton Friedman, Capitalism and Freedom January 10, 2007
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
At a current time of cynicism towards Democracy, (especially within the U.S. , with its liberal left wing professors teaching our college students to criticize capitalism, instead of helping them to understand how ideally it functions in preserving our individual freedoms), this book is a brilliant reminder that if we veer towards Socialism, as the Democratic party always does, it will lead to less incentive and less personal freedom, to create ones own life and successes, rather than having the government (strangers) redistribute our wealth. If strangers in the government decide for us how to regulate our wealth (sound like China with the starving farmers, or Russia with an undeveloped economy, comrades?), then we are less free to do with it as we please, or to develop freely and invest it in our own interests. Hence, less freedom, more servitude to a centralized government.
College students who are struggling to keep communist/socialist (left wing democrat) professors from turning them into weak, mindless,conformists and altruists, should read this book in their own spare time (as well as Ayn Rand) to continue to think for themselves and allow our system to reward and elevate those who do so, without taxing them more than those who do not.
Political Philosophy, Personal Freedom and Economics that works January 6, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
By far the best book ever written on the topics of political thought and personal freedom; explaining clearly and intelligently the necessity of having a capitalistic, free-market economy in order to achieve a free and prosperous society.
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