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175th out of 352 books
—
184 voters
How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World: A Handbook for Personal Liberty
by
Harry Browne
Freedom is living your life as you want to live it.
You can have that freedom now, without waiting to change the world or the people around you.
You've been taught from childhood that you must make compromises, that you must accept the bad with the good, that in marriage you must be prepared to give 60% and get 40%.
You've been told that you shouldn't be selfish, that you sho
...moreHardcover, 387 pages
Published
March 1st 1998
by Liamworks
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A query from a friend prompts me to explain my four-star rating here. It was about 10 years ago that I read the book and I remember at the time that I liked it very much; I probably would have given it five stars then. But a long time has passed and I do not want to trust my judgement from that time. At the time Harry Browne (the author) was the Libertarian Party presidential candidate, and I was rather a fan of him. I recommended him to many people as a man of integrity. Later on I had reason t...more
This can be a life changing book. It was for me. It is often misunderstood. You want to call it being selfish? Go ahead, but the book is chock full of practical advice. For me, one of the best, is to always keep your contracts short and renewable. The other was: there’s always a price to pay for your freedom, and it's usually never too high, no matter how much it costs you. (This is not the quote, but you get the idea.)
One reader here says, “this book is now available for both the Kindle and Noo...more
One reader here says, “this book is now available for both the Kindle and Noo...more
I read How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World about 20 years ago as a self-help book. I liked the message, and the granular way Harry Browne took the reader through questioning assumptions and offering alternatives. I found the book to be energizing and hopeful then, as I do now. It helps you think about your own life and options and encourages you to do what you really want to do with it.
This book is now available for both the Kindle and Nook platforms, so if you don't want to spend the high pr...more
This book is now available for both the Kindle and Nook platforms, so if you don't want to spend the high pr...more
Harry Browne did more to help me recognize my libertarian nature than anyone else, and I've striven to adopt his common-sense, positive, and dare I say even loving, approach to being a libertarian (as opposed to more in-your-face styles of libertarianism that piss me off even when I agree substantially, or at least sentimentally, with the arguments being made). I was fortunate enough to stumble upon his short-lived radio programs, and went on from there to read Fail-Safe Investing when I still h...more
This is an encapsulation of the personal Libertarian manifesto of Harry Browne, who once ran for president of the United States. The book has some good advice for living free - but some of it doesn't make much practical sense. Frankly, despite his protestations otherwise, to be alive is to find oneself enmeshed with people or situations that make you miserable. Yet, he's right that most of what makes us "unfree" is our own mental constructs. We have control - and we should use it to make ourselv...more
This book made me deeply uncomfortable, challenging several basic premises of my life. After making it all the way through, I still think the author is selfish and hedonistic. Some good ideas, though, and enough of a challenge that it was worth reading.
There is truth in here, but the elements he chooses are often extended to absurd lengths. This is accomplished mainly by making gross simplifications of human behavior. For example, he asserts that all humans make choices in their own self-interes...more
There is truth in here, but the elements he chooses are often extended to absurd lengths. This is accomplished mainly by making gross simplifications of human behavior. For example, he asserts that all humans make choices in their own self-interes...more
This book was simply the begnning of some questions and thoughts that I have been using to change my life. It asks you a few things (assuming that you are an individualistic American, implicitly...if you are not, please don't bother to read on...)
It makes you dig down into yourself and explain why you do the things you do. Why do you put yourself into situations where you feel obligated to others in ways you don't wish to be obligated? It can be as simple as your mother making you feel obligated...more
It makes you dig down into yourself and explain why you do the things you do. Why do you put yourself into situations where you feel obligated to others in ways you don't wish to be obligated? It can be as simple as your mother making you feel obligated...more
This is my first "libertarian" read. Although the book focuses on personal development, I found it stimulating in the subject of minimalist government recommendations. I also especially enjoyed the topic of quantifying daily activities as a gauge of personal progress, similar to Your Money or Your Life but broader (and less specific) in scope.
Great book, very insightful and full of information that will make an impact in your life. This book covered a lot of insight that I already had but also changed the way I looked at relationships and other areas of my life. Something a book can rarely accomplish for me.
Challenging book. Get's you thinking about your life and goals and how to pursue happiness. The guy's extreme, to say the least. I'm not sure he wasn't a true sociopath. But the book is still worth the time just to challenge your thinking.
All about respecting individual sovereignty - yours and everyone else's. He goes a bit far with pure relativism, but on the whole worth reading to help free yourself from every weight.
Fortunately a quick read, or I'd have never gotten through it. I picked this up because it was recommended by a blogger I used to admire. He (the blogger) made some personal choices lately which I had mixed feelings about; he credited this book with the change, and I was curious. There are a few interesting ideas, a little food for thought for someone willing to dig through the crap. But mostly, if you're reasonably honest and self-aware, you're not going to find anything new here. And if libert...more
Oct 20, 2010
Nick
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Libertarians, Depressed people
Wow. Well I've never read a Libertarian "self help" ish book before. I guess it's too early to tell how applying this book to my life will go. Will report back.
It started out good with realisations on ways to increase ones freedom and alternatives to common contracts, employments, etc. which emphasize personal freedom but towards the end it was very repetitive and not very informative. The postscript for the second edition also says he doesn't agree with chunks of what he wrote earlier. Would have been nice to see that in the introduction so I could weigh that information!
My favorite book of all time
Amazing book. It definitely makes you think and might even change the way you live your life.
Obviously a libertarian wet-dream that I don't entirely agree with, but it definitely makes some interesting arguments towards personal responsibility, and taking charge of your own life. If you can't find a copy, let me know and I'll email it to you. Used copies are crazy expensive.
Sep 13, 2008
Rick
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Rick by:
Jeff bushman
I have mixed feelings about this one. On the one hand, besides much of it being dated, some of Browne's pilosophy is also kind of piggish. On the other hand, some of his advice worked for me. This book actually helped me initiate and get through my divorce.
Quite possibly the greatest book I've ever read...
It's actually helpful as long as the reader has an open mind, able to discern, and don't necessarily take the advises given literally. One can benefit a lot from this book.
The best book I've found on seriously taking control of your own life and breaking free from barriers society tries to impose. I highly recommend this book!
A bit long and tough to read at times, Harry Brown's clasic book is worthwhile for anyone who feels strongly about personal and economic liberty.
This book was like a buffet. There were some great things, of which I wouldn't mind a second helping. Some things left a horrible taste in my mouth.
The title says it: A handbook for Personal Liberty!
May 13, 2013
Chad Perrin
marked it as to-read
May 13, 2013
Ashley
marked it as to-read
May 17, 2013
Adrian M
is currently reading it
May 07, 2013
Oriana
marked it as to-read
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Feb 20, 2009 11:43pm