Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
13th out of 130 books
—
127 voters
Free to Choose: A Personal Statement
The international bestseller on the extent to which personal freedom has been eroded by government regulations and agencies while personal prosperity has been undermined by government spending and economic controls. New Foreword by the Authors; Index.
Paperback, 368 pages
Published
November 26th 1990
by Mariner Books
(first published 1980)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
3,000)
A very effective conveyance of the meaning of free market economics and its value to the consumer. The opening quote is from Justice Louis Brandeis' opinion in Olmstead v. United States: "Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the government's purposes are beneficial. Men born to freedom are naturally alert to repel invasion of their liberty by evil-minded rulers. The greater dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but wi...more
A prototype of the current crop of approachable books on economics
12.5 hours
10 CDs
Read by James Adams
Free To Choose: A Personal Statement is the manifesto on the power of capitalism and freedom (and how they go hand in hand) that was designed to be read, digested and discussed by the common man, not the economist. In fact, this is the book that was designed as a follow-up companion to a 10 part PBS mini-series that fleshed out the ideas in the series and addressed issues and further questions t...more
12.5 hours
10 CDs
Read by James Adams
Free To Choose: A Personal Statement is the manifesto on the power of capitalism and freedom (and how they go hand in hand) that was designed to be read, digested and discussed by the common man, not the economist. In fact, this is the book that was designed as a follow-up companion to a 10 part PBS mini-series that fleshed out the ideas in the series and addressed issues and further questions t...more
Even though I am not completely convinced that Mr. Friedman is correct in all of his assertions, I must give this book four stars as work of literature.
First the positives: Milton Friedman once again proves his skill with words and logic in this brilliantly articulated book. It is hard to read through his arguments and not become all but convinced that he is correct in almost every subject. He carefully lays out the often unforeseen chains of events that follow from particular actions of individ...more
First the positives: Milton Friedman once again proves his skill with words and logic in this brilliantly articulated book. It is hard to read through his arguments and not become all but convinced that he is correct in almost every subject. He carefully lays out the often unforeseen chains of events that follow from particular actions of individ...more
Free to Choose posits the efficacy of subduing government intervention in a free enterprise market economy by rendering theoretical remedies that would alleviate government failures through more competition and personal freedom; ultimately, it would eliminate gratuitous taxes.
Freidman addresses some of the most problematic issues facing our nation that are unfortunately still prevalent today such as inflation, bad school systems, Social Security, economic equity, and consumer and worker protecti...more
Freidman addresses some of the most problematic issues facing our nation that are unfortunately still prevalent today such as inflation, bad school systems, Social Security, economic equity, and consumer and worker protecti...more
Written in 1979, one of the libertarian economist(s) Friedmans' most accessible works, the clear-written and thought-provoking work does not require the reader to agree with Mr. Friedman's assertions to enjoy it. Rather, it requires the reader to ferociously wrack their brain for a counter argument or alternative solution to their assertions that governmental controls over economic freedoms (by regulation, price and wage controls, nationalization of industries, printing money, adding programs, b...more
I really enjoyed this book, and it confirmed some of my fears that I am really a libertarian at heart.
The basic premise is that people should be free to make their own choices whenever possible, and that government's role is to protect us from each other, and not to protect us from ourselves.
The Friedmans argue from a pragmatic standpoint more than from a philosophical standpoint. Generally, government does a poor job with what it touches. We have this idea in our head that government is a sort...more
The basic premise is that people should be free to make their own choices whenever possible, and that government's role is to protect us from each other, and not to protect us from ourselves.
The Friedmans argue from a pragmatic standpoint more than from a philosophical standpoint. Generally, government does a poor job with what it touches. We have this idea in our head that government is a sort...more
Free to choose is a treatise from an economics side perspective on how free markets are the best system, and that everyone benefits if they are left to do pursue their own thing.
The author, siting Adam Smith, states that free markets "correct all" and that and an economy driven by actions pursued "in his own interest... frequently promotes that of society more effectually."
Adam Smith is an early historical powerhouse on economics and his charter is still being used today. The following statement...more
The author, siting Adam Smith, states that free markets "correct all" and that and an economy driven by actions pursued "in his own interest... frequently promotes that of society more effectually."
Adam Smith is an early historical powerhouse on economics and his charter is still being used today. The following statement...more
I like Friedman's ideas. I just didn't find him to be the best writer of all time. Here he defends the greatness of liberty. It treats individuals as individuals and naturally brings about the most prosperity for the most people compared to all other systems of government.
Memorable quotes:
"The bottom line is that come what may, we the people shall pay for the energy we consume. And we shall pay far less in total, and have far more energy, if we pay directly and are left free to choose for oursel...more
Memorable quotes:
"The bottom line is that come what may, we the people shall pay for the energy we consume. And we shall pay far less in total, and have far more energy, if we pay directly and are left free to choose for oursel...more
I'm taking an Economics Class. One of the first things my teacher said is that most of the country is economically illiterate. I didn't disagree with him. After reading this book, I have to say I agree even more. 4 stars because... it's a book about economics. While I can't think of a more boring prospect, I have to admit it held my attention and I was quite interested to learn what the author had to say. Hopefully, I am a bit more literate on the topic of economics than I was previously. It mak...more
Mar 23, 2011
Erik Graff
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
no one
Recommended to Erik by:
David Schweickart
Shelves:
political-social-science
This book was assigned for Capitalism, Democracy, Socialism taught at Loyola University Chicago during the first semester of 1981/82 by David Schweickart. It infuriated me at the time, appearing to be an intellectually dishonest apologetic for the existing class divisions in the United States. I was more impressed by the author during a subsequent reading of his Capitalism and Freedom.
Common sense. This book makes a clear, rational case for the free market. Friedman dedicates a chapter to each of the major issues facing our country, including education, energy, taxes, and the environmental movement (the book was written in 1979 but the arguments on both sides of the issues still resonate today). Similar to Thomas Sowell, Ayn Rand, or Thomas Dilorenzo, Friedman champions the individual over the group, arguing that when people have the opportunity to choose for themselves, soci...more
Although this book was written in 1979, it is still one of the best books anyone can read and the information is still completely relevant to what is going on today in our country. If you hate big government you will love it as it will support many of your beliefs. If you love big government you should read it regardless because many of your pre-held ideas can be dispelled as what is often blamed on the free market is, in reality, the fault of misleading big government policies.
The inefficiencie...more
The inefficiencie...more
It's very frustrating to read a decades old book on socioeconomic problems and realize that those problems have only gotten worse in the interim. Especially when that book predicted the consequences of continuing along the current path and presented solutions to dig ourselves out of the worst of the results.
Milton Friedman is a giant in economics and it is our great tragedy that we have ignored his advice. Just as a man who denies law of gravity demonstrates it when he jumps off a cliff, the wes...more
Milton Friedman is a giant in economics and it is our great tragedy that we have ignored his advice. Just as a man who denies law of gravity demonstrates it when he jumps off a cliff, the wes...more
Jun 25, 2010
josh
marked it as abandoned
abandoned on p. 84 - i don't really care for it thus far... much of what they said was bound to happen within a few years - a decade or two when it was written in 1979 has not come to pass. his insistence that the free market will solve virtually all problems no matter what is entirely too hard to buy into. he states that there will never be another banking crisis or recession because all banks will survive acting in their best interest - the past 3 years have shown the bullshit of that belief....more
(Milton, the great economist, passed away recently at the age of 94.) Published around 1980, so some references are dated. "Equality of opportunity", within reason, but not guaranteed "equality of outcome". I love his quote from Adam Smith: "It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest. We address ourselves, not to their humanity but to their self-love, and never talk to them of our own necessities...more
Milton Friedman may well be the most brilliant economic mind of the 20th century, and in this book lays out clearly the case in defense of free market economics with as little government involvement as possible. He shows in example after example how governments arrogant enough to believe that they can best regulate the markets always bring economic misery to their people. Friedman was an amazing libertarian thinker and this book does a fantastic job of explaining why the free market is always be...more
It can be disconcerting to find that you have finished a book but can't really explain what it was about much. That is how I feel about Free to Choose. Yes, this is an economics book, so I can say that it is about economics. I can tell you that the main point here seemed to be that the free market is good, but America is (was, it was written in 1980) at a turning point and will soon have to make a decision about which economic policy it should adopt. I actually read the whole book, cover to cove...more
1 like · like · see review
Although almost 30 years old this book is worth reading for a number of reasons:
1) For the things that have change, e.g. examine the current economic conditions of India and Eastern Europe today versus those described. The progress of capitalism for these nations is interesting to observe compared to the views in 1979.
2) How US taxation has changed in the last 30 years. The taxation burden on the average US citizen has remained fairly static in the last 30 years although expectation was that it...more
1) For the things that have change, e.g. examine the current economic conditions of India and Eastern Europe today versus those described. The progress of capitalism for these nations is interesting to observe compared to the views in 1979.
2) How US taxation has changed in the last 30 years. The taxation burden on the average US citizen has remained fairly static in the last 30 years although expectation was that it...more
Milton Friedman's companion to his TV series on PBS of the same name goes into greater depth regarding his arguments and examples in defense of freedom. He questions our assumptions about what good can be forced and how terrible things can be if we just leave people alone to pursue their self interests. You walk away with a compelling argument for liberty and more open eyes to the corrupting influence of compulsion. Also, funny enough, the discussions they were having back then about bailouts an...more
A powerful and fairly well-written book by one of the great Austrian schooled economists on how the free market is more efficient and beneficial to not only the individual but society as a whole rather than centralized planning, in almost all if not all areas of society. He offers excellent advice in reducing the size of government by not focusing on single issues, but instead fighting the multiheaded hydra at the base by bills such as balanced budget amendments. Today we would augment that with...more
A fascinating journey through the history of U.S. economic Policy from the publishing of Smith's"Wealth of Nations" all the way to the noxious Carter Presidency. The Friedman's not only give a great defense for laissez- faire but also articulate the why and the how markets can self- sufficiently protect personal interest and also GDP. An important book, with fantastic ideas and great questions that are asked about our current financial quagmire and how we continue to keep ourselves bogged down...more
This was a re-read; it's been nearly 20 years since I first read this book. It's interesting to look back over the 30 years since the book was originally written and see where Friedman's guesses about how certain things might happen came true and where they didn't. By and large, Friedman was eerily prophetic about the dangers of improper meddling in the economy.
Some of Friedman's critics like to claim that he believed that the free market could do no wrong. This is a horrid mischaracterization o...more
Some of Friedman's critics like to claim that he believed that the free market could do no wrong. This is a horrid mischaracterization o...more
I learned that Milton Friedman was a genius! Yet I also learned that he's not infallible, his focus on monetarism and seeming disregard for fiscal policy didn't work out. Also he likes the Fed and just thinks they're not being used properly (eg. the great depression would have been prevented if only we would have used the correct type of government interference...) The most interesting and compelling part was his argument for free trade. This is a pretty easy-to-understand book that nearly anyon...more
The fact that Friedman even considered basic income (or in this case negative income tax) a worthwhile experiment (which bureaucracy of course messed up royally), proves that
a) Friedman wasn't the evil, heartless boogey man hippies always want to portray him as, and that
b) the so-called free market economy just wasn't/isn't working (in an imperfect world).
Friedman was probably more liberal than most hippies are intolerant. Basically he just wanted to make things work better (as they all do).
Can...more
a) Friedman wasn't the evil, heartless boogey man hippies always want to portray him as, and that
b) the so-called free market economy just wasn't/isn't working (in an imperfect world).
Friedman was probably more liberal than most hippies are intolerant. Basically he just wanted to make things work better (as they all do).
Can...more
While I’m no big advocate or a particular political system I thoroughly enjoyed Milton Friedman Free To Choose. He gives a clear and well thought out view on how our freedoms have been eroded. He goes into great detail on why power should not be concentrated by giving real world examples. Friedman advocates laissez-faire approach to economic policies and he shows time and time again how government policies cost our personal freedoms and how inefficient those policies are.
This pretty much says i...more
This pretty much says i...more
I know very little about economics and so decided to check out an iTunes U course. This was one of the recommended readings. I eventually stopped listing to the course, but had already used a Audible credit to pick up this book. It sat on my shelf for a while, until I recently finished Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story. Arnold mentions that he read this book when it was first published (circa 1979) and highly recommended it. I figured I might as well give it a try.
I was quite impres...more
I was quite impres...more
A theorem asserting that voluntary free trade in our society will work best. He gives some examples of successes due to Capitalism that happened in the past. Friedman, likewise discussed Adam Smith's "Wealth of Nation" invisible hand......how a simple exchange between two individuals (the buyer, and sellers)could coordinate the activity of millions of people seeking each its own interest to make everybody having an advantageous position in our institution.
According to Mr. Friedman our freedom ha...more
According to Mr. Friedman our freedom ha...more
This is the best book I have ever read on economics. While I don't agree with everything Friedman proposes, his ideas are clear, sound, and hard to argue with. What he espouses seems to be the theoretical ideal for self-interested economics, and while I believe there are times when we need to deviate from this ideal we should at least understand the cost of doing so.
His theory of the price system as information is nothing short of remarkable and helps explain the negative consequences of America...more
His theory of the price system as information is nothing short of remarkable and helps explain the negative consequences of America...more
Oct 12, 2012
Lisa (Harmonybites)
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Everyone Who Doesn't Foam at the Mouth at Free-market Thinking
This book published in 1979 by a Nobel-Prize-winning economist and his wife is still relevant (and in print) over 30 years later. The Preface tells us the book had "two parents;" Friedman's 1962 book Capitalism and Freedom where he argued free markets make for free societies, and the ten-part 1980 PBS TV series Free to Choose. (The ten episodes of the series are mirrored in the ten chapters of the book.) The book based on the series is "less abstract and more concrete." Having read the first boo...more
I bought this book back in the "good old days" when you could purchase a hardcover book for less than ten dollars. Due to the inflationary policies that Milton Friedman warns about, and that he provides a cure for, a comparable book today carries a price tag more than double the price of the book I purchased. It was a good investment.
In the book, Milton Friedman and his wife discuss the principles of the Free Market. It is this discussion, based on the foundation laid earlier in Capitalism and...more
In the book, Milton Friedman and his wife discuss the principles of the Free Market. It is this discussion, based on the foundation laid earlier in Capitalism and...more
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Milton Friedman was an American Nobel Laureate economist and public intellectual. He made major contributions to the fields of economics and statistics. In 1976, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics for his achievements in the fields of consumption analysis, monetary history and theory, and for his demonstration of the complexity of stabilization policy. He was an advocate of economic freed...more
More about Milton Friedman...
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“When unions get higher wages for their members by restricting entry into an occupation, those higher wages are at the expense of other workers who find their opportunities reduced. When government pays its employees higher wages, those higher wages are at the expense of the taxpayer. But when workers get higher wages and better working conditions through the free market, when they get raises by firm competing with one another for the best workers, by workers competing with one another for the best jobs, those higher wages are at nobody's expense. They can only come from higher productivity, greater capital investment, more widely diffused skills. The whole pie is bigger - there's more for the worker, but there's also more for the employer, the investor, the consumer, and even the tax collector.
That's the way the free market system distributes the fruits of economic progress among all people. That's the secret of the enormous improvements in the conditions of the working person over the past two centuries.”
—
29 people liked it
That's the way the free market system distributes the fruits of economic progress among all people. That's the secret of the enormous improvements in the conditions of the working person over the past two centuries.”
“For example, the supporters of tariffs treat it as self-evident that the creation of jobs is a desirable end, in and of itself, regardless of what the persons employed do. That is clearly wrong. If all we want are jobs, we can create any number--for example, have people dig holes and then fill them up again, or perform other useless tasks. Work is sometimes its own reward. Mostly, however, it is the price we pay to get the things we want. Our real objective is not just jobs but productive jobs--jobs that will mean more goods and services to consume.”
—
11 people liked it
More quotes…
May 19, 2013 06:25am