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Free to Choose: A Personal Statement Audiobook
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(4.00) - 2,086 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
All who listen to this masterful and lucid polemic for a free-market economy will never question Milton Friedman’s Nobel Prize in economics.
Milton Friedman and his wife Rose team up to write a most convincing and readable guide that illustrates the crucial link between Adam Smith’s capitalism and the free society. They show how freedom has been eroded and prosperity undermined through the rapid growth of governmental agencies, laws, and regulations. While a large central government may have good intentions, the results it produces are lamentable. More than another indictment of government planning and bureaucracy, however, Free to Choose offers several convincing and creative remedies to the world’s woes.
Powerful and persuasive, here is the important analysis of what has gone wrong in America in the past and what is necessary for our economic health to flourish.
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"Milton Friedman possibly had the best grasp of the true nature of capitalistic free-market economics of any other scholar over the last century. He is someone I truly admire and have gained much knowledge from. This book should be required reading for all students of a college freshman level. I feel we'd see a large drift from liberalism to conservatism if that ever were to happen."
— Alan (5 out of 5 stars)
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“Noteworthy for its clarity, logic, candor, and unequivocal stand on political implications.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“Milton Friedman puts verities back into focus and puts us back in touch with how a free and abundant society can work—if we let it. That is why he deserved his Nobel Prize in economics, and it is why you should read this book.”
— Reader’s Digest -
“Excellent book…This reviewer has never read a more straightforward and simple statement of the present ills facing our society and what we as citizens in a democracy must do about them.”
— Chicago Sun Times -
“Powerful.”
— Christian Science Monitor
Awards
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A #1 New York Times bestseller
Free to Choose Listener Reviews
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" I couldn't actually get all the way through this book...i got depressed. i know it is important but and isn't that difficult to understand, but i just didn't want to believe him. there is a series online where he made the book into a PBS special and I found that easier to handle...and Donald Rumsfeld it is in it!!! "
— KayTe, 2/20/2014 -
" I read this as a sophomore in high school and it helped create the framework I've used to analyze public policy ever since. "
— Paul, 2/6/2014 -
" It's amazing to me how little has changed in this country since 1978. This book is definitely worth another read--a slower read. "
— Steffanie, 2/4/2014 -
" While some of the examples are dates, the principles remain true. "
— Amanda, 1/26/2014 -
" This has been part of my self-education on the roots and vacillations of the American financial eco-system. I was amazed to learn how such "hot topics" as school vouchers, etc. were so well thought out and analyzed even in the time of this book. The indictment of our government-directed economy as drifting socialist and toward inflation was particularly enlightening. "
— Tom, 1/20/2014 -
" Brilliant! Milton Friedman is the ultimate economist of our age. "
— Vic, 1/11/2014 -
" A very good book expaining how our freedom has eroded due to the rise in regulations, the growth of the government and the misuse of the Constitution to justify it all. "
— Tony, 1/10/2014 -
" Milton Friedman was a very smart guy. I'd recommend this for anyone looking for an easy read to give him or her a very basic understanding of free market economics. Nothing particularly in depth, so not everyone will find this all that informative. "
— Mark, 12/30/2013 -
" Fantastic. A must read for those who hold freedom in high regard, and for those who don't know that their freedom is being eroded. "
— Keegan, 12/27/2013 -
" great book. these two really had the right idea. "
— Tom, 11/28/2013 -
" The most reader-friendly of Friedman's books, written with his wife Rose. Great discussion of economics and free market principles, perfect for those just getting into economics and those with plenty of experience. "
— MJ, 11/3/2013 -
" A thoughtful, reasoned, and easily understood argument for a free market economy. Clear examples of the disastrous and unintended consequences of government's attempts to "fix" our problems. This is a must read for all citizens! "
— Mark, 10/17/2013 -
" You can't write a good essay when you are simply wrong about everything. I expected it before to read it and it was even worse than what I expected. Annoying. "
— Lou, 10/5/2013 -
" Delightful and thoughtful--The Friedmans present the case as Ronald Reagan stated, "As government expands, liberty contracts." The Federal Reserve must set as its object a monetary policy that is inflationarily hawkish in the extreme. "
— Myron, 9/6/2013 -
" Valid on many levels but not an effective challenge to "real" (Keynesian) economics. "
— James, 7/29/2013 -
" Well written bit of social theory/propaganda written by a great economist, but a shitty social thinker. Then again, I despise the man's social theories, and I despise this book more than almost any other. "
— Troy, 1/2/2013 -
" Waiting to read Friedman for a while, this was a Christmas present.... "
— Tim, 10/18/2012 -
" For me a transformational book that caused me to rethink the role of government and the capitalist system. Read this as part of the Master of Public Administration course (Economics/Political Science 4352 class). "
— Jim, 7/4/2012 -
" Good book, I wish it was updated to 2010. I don't think people today understand the link between freedom and prosperity. "
— Ken, 6/1/2012 -
" This book molded my ideas about capitalism. Taught in my honors government class in HS and we all debated it, wrote papers about it, and loved it. "
— Christina, 8/7/2011 -
" He makes some great points and has some very interesting policy suggestions, but they are not politically feasible with the current US intellectual and electoral environment. "
— Thirsty, 7/21/2011 -
" Good introduction to libertarian economic thought, but repetitive and outdated to anyone already familiar with free market, small government philosophy. "
— Trevor, 6/19/2011 -
" Milton Friedman helps lay the foundation of modern conservative thought. "
— Chase, 6/6/2011 -
" It's amazing to me how little has changed in this country since 1978. This book is definitely worth another read--a slower read. "
— Steffanie, 5/18/2011 -
" A very interesting book indeed! "
— Void, 5/13/2011 -
" Read this one in college, in 1981. Shaped my thinking and made me a card carrying capitalist. One of the most formative reads imaginable for a young mind.<br/>Also one you can recommend to your children. Actually, it is a must read! Put it on the shelf!<br/> "
— Amanda, 4/24/2011 -
" It converted me from a socialist to capitalist. "
— Ramana, 12/26/2010 -
" Great book. Fascinating story of a pencil - Made of many parts by people with different aims. Almost all unaware nor cared of the ultimate goal to make a pencil. But nonetheless the pencil was made to the exact specification demanded by the customer. Thus is the power of the invisible hand. "
— Paul, 12/24/2010 -
" I'm not a big fan of government regulations but I don't believe corporations should be left to run rampant either. The degree of freedom that Dr. Friedman advocates in this book is frightening to say the least. "
— Cario, 12/13/2010 -
" Though many examples are outdated the premises are still valid to this day. The chapter 8 is masterpiece. "
— Slobodan, 11/25/2010 -
" Notable insights especially the second half of the book - particularly relevant to current printing of $$ around the world. "
— Jason, 10/26/2010
About the Authors
Milton Friedman (1912–2006) was perhaps the most influential economist of the twentieth century. Professor, columnist, author, and advisor, he was awarded the 1976 Nobel Prize in economic sciences.
Rose D. Friedman (1910–2009) was a professor at the University of Chicago Law School. She was the author, with her husband Milton Freidman, of two books on economics and public policy, Free to Choose and Tyranny of the Status Quo, as well as their memoir, Two Lucky People.
About James Adams
James Adams is one of the world’s leading authorities on terrorism and intelligence, and for more than twenty-five years he has specialized in national security. He is also the author of fourteen bestselling books on warfare, with a particular emphasis on covert warfare. A former managing editor of the London Sunday Times and CEO of United Press International, he trained as a journalist in England, where he graduated first in the country. Now living in Southern Oregon, he has narrated numerous audiobooks and earned an AudioFile Earphones Award and two coveted Audie Award for best narration.