Harry Browne (1) (1933–2006)

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 [b:Fail-Safe show more Investing|82103|Fail-Safe Investing Lifelong Financial Security in 30 Minutes|Harry Browne|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1316738629s/82103.jpg|79275] when I still had money to invest. (I still follow an ETF-based version of his "Permanent Portfolio" in my IRA.) Having two daughters of my own, I always try to remember to read his "A Gift for my Daughter" each Christmas, some paragraphs of which are found verbatim in this book. My only regret is that I discovered Browne (and libertarianism generally) too late to cast a vote for his presidential bids.

How I Found Freedom... has been on my list for awhile. Given my familiarity with Browne's ideas, I didn't find much surprising in it. The only eyebrow-raisers were his chapters on marriage and government — both of which he half-recants in the Epilogue of this 25th Anniversary Edition. Knowing that Browne was happily married for quite a long time before he died, and given his two-time presidential candidacy with the Libertarian Party, I suffered a little cognitive dissonance reading those chapters. (I also bit my lip a little at his multiple exhortations against "organizing" against the government, considering he co-founded Downsize DC.) The anniversary edition could've benefitted from a little more editing to clarify these positions earlier. That, along with perhaps a slightly less "self-help" feel in the last few chapters would've let me give this book 5 stars.

Still, it's well worth the read, for both libertarians and those who are simply curious to know more about the practical side of freedom (vs. the political side). show less

A bit long - but a good read - especially for any one who is at a turning point in their lives or thinking about making a big decision. Many of the ideas are similar to my own (but are better articulated here). Much in here about responsibility for your own choices and "leading" your life. Even though its a short book he does go on a bit in places, but its easy to sift out the good ideas.

(Alistair) Disclaimer #1: This is definitely the book of the capital-L Libertarian Party, rather than the book of the lowercase-l libertarian faction. (Obviously enough, since I am a minarchist, as is the within-it described program of the Libertarians, and yet I disagree in several areas. Most glaringly, foreign policy.)

Disclaimer #2: Moreover, it's also definitely the book of Harry Browne's Presidential bid of the time of its publication.

That notwithstanding, however, it's still a good show more read, and I personally would add - especially with my life experience in nations that have tripped much further down the statist road than this one - that Harry Browne was one hell of a diagnostician, even if I disagree with him about the technical details of the cure.

(Also, I appreciate very much that he took the trouble to include an appendix in which he cites his sources. It's a courtesy that many people, myself included, would do well to emulate as assiduously.)
( http://weblog.siliconcerebrate.com/cerebrate/2008/03/why-government-doesnt-work-... ) show less

Written in the early 1969, Harry Browne, a libertarian economist describes firstly what money (really) is (this bit is excellent), and secondly, the likely result from taking the US dollar completely off the Gold Standard (which it as still on at that time for the purposes of central bank payments). He advocates a simple investment program to protect yourself from even horrendous possible outcomes. Gets a bit extreme at the end talking about survivalist strategies if society breaks down. But show more then even within living memory, society did completely break down in continental Europe, and has in many other places since then... Food for thought. show less