The Science of Liberty: Democracy, Reason, and the Laws of Nature Audiobook (Unabridged)

" Flat out fantastic. I definitely need to read more Tim Ferris books. "

" This book I think gives a really good explanation for why free societies advance further than non-free ones. It gives great insight into the differences between the America and French revolutions, and between the idealistic dreams of fascism & communism and their realities. "

" The title of this book is a bit misleading. Instead of "The Science of Liberty", a better title might be "Science and Liberty". Ferris's thesis is that conditions that lead to free scientific inquiry and the scientific inquiry itself develop liberal democratic thought and implementation. He also examines various liberal and illiberal historical regimes to demonstrate the connection between liberal science and liberal government and to demonstrate that illiberal regimes in history that have reputations for noteworthy scientific achievements (Nazi Germany, Soviet Union) did not achieve as much as they should have in science. Ferris makes an interesting case, and his examination of connections like Newton to Locke provide a fun historical study. This isn't really a typical social science book, though. Ferris tells some stories and presents some timelines that make sense, but he fails to really make a case through citation of academic studies like readers would expect in a typcial pop social science book. "

" Fantastic expose on the benefits of science under liberal democracy. Timothy Ferris excels at showing us why science seems to flourish under a free society, and languish under repressive regimes. A must read for anyone who loves freedom and the benefits that science brings to the world. "

" Dynamite book! That's what I think! "

" I still kind of think it's more democracy that fuels science, than the other way around. But this was very enjoyable--terrifically well-written and able to join past and present seamlessly. "

" These kinds of books always seem to go a bridge too far in my estimation. To make their entire point, they exaggerate some claims and gloss over a bunch of the things that would throw that point on its head. I'll buy that the scientific method contributed to the formations of democracy. I think he makes a pretty convincing argument there. Just his glossing over of democracy's many deficiencies (esp. slavery) escaped the scientific rigor he lauds so much in this book. And what's up with his hatred of the deconstructionists? I admit, Derrida was a twit, but lumping them in with the Nazis and Soviets was a bit much. "

" Never a better example of you are what you read! Ferris views on science, history, religion, & politics almost perfectly mirrors my own. "

" "The Science of Liberty: Democracy, Reason, and the Laws of Nature by Timothy Ferris (2010)" "

" A nice, if brief, look into the founders' scientific background and training, along with a compelling placement of the word "liberal" in historical context. Good solid basic political philosophy presented in an engaging way, if you like that sort of thing. "

" Really thought provoking read - I have a feeling I'm going to go back to it and pull out sections and ponder them for years to come. "

" Interesting bridge between the handful of political books I've stomached and the pop-sci books I'm hooked on. Democracy and its inherent chaos are good for liberty and good for real science. Totalitarianism of any sort: Bad for real science. "

" The book had a lot of information, but I was hoping for more focus on the creation of democracy itself in the scientific thinking of the age of enlightenment. "

" Great read, it really puts the relationship between scientific progress and discovery, and freedom in perspective. In a nutshell you don't get one without the other. "

" Never a better example of you are what you read! Ferris views on science, history, religion, & politics almost perfectly mirrors my own. "

" A good provocative book.I've never thought of the French philosophers of the time of the Revolution as precursors to Fascism. "

" Interesting reading, but more for the historical quotes and anecdotes than the argument. I found the first few chapters to be a bit too disorganized and his claims sometimes poorly supported. But, I really enjoyed the last few sections, definitely worth the time! "

" Fantastic expose on the benefits of science under liberal democracy. Timothy Ferris excels at showing us why science seems to flourish under a free society, and languish under repressive regimes. A must read for anyone who loves freedom and the benefits that science brings to the world. "

" I still kind of think it's more democracy that fuels science, than the other way around. But this was very enjoyable--terrifically well-written and able to join past and present seamlessly. "

" Great read, it really puts the relationship between scientific progress and discovery, and freedom in perspective. In a nutshell you don't get one without the other. "

" Interesting bridge between the handful of political books I've stomached and the pop-sci books I'm hooked on. Democracy and its inherent chaos are good for liberty and good for real science. Totalitarianism of any sort: Bad for real science. "

" Ferris is better at cosmology "

" This book I think gives a really good explanation for why free societies advance further than non-free ones. It gives great insight into the differences between the America and French revolutions, and between the idealistic dreams of fascism & communism and their realities. "