Customer Reviews: Read 90 more reviews...
 Pal mal de tout January 6, 2009
An interesting book divded into many short chapters. His writing style reminds me of Diderot. Overall an interesting explanation of economics and cause-and-effect that both literary and financial people will benefit.
 The Law January 6, 2009
A "must read" for all those dedicated to the rule of law and due process. From these earlier times, Bastiat has made it clear what the law is and what it is not and how it should be applied in a free society. Unfortunately, it also is clear that today, in America, we no longer live in a free society but one that shuns the law and the rule of law in favor of despotism and tyranny. Make this work a staple of your reading and your life.
A quick enlightenment. December 12, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
At 66 pages, this is more a pamphlet than a book. But "Wow!," what a wallop. A very succint and direct statement of the purpose of law in society. It changed (simplified) my way of thinking about government. I highly recommend it. A social system based on the premise contained herein would be a great improvement over the current one. A move in that direction would start with a general understanding of what is stated in this book.
It's not expensive a doesn't take long to read. Buy it and read it.
Mike Bloom
A perfect masterpiece November 29, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Bastiat is one of the greatest. This book is so short, so simple, and so devastatingly effective that it is truly an all-time classic. If you are not a socialist, you should master the simple arguments in this essay and keep them handy for discussions with your socialist friends. If you are a socialist, you should in all intellectual honesty read this book (it can be done in an hour or so) and see if you can answer Bastiat's objection to socialism: that anytime the law is used to organize anything other than justice, such as equality or prosperity, it necessarily and inescapably works against justice. His logic is ironclad and uncomplicated. It's a real shame this is no longer part of our cultural consciousness, since it means we are now embarked on a journey of massive, organized, government-supervised injustice. Read this book, give it to your family, give it to your friends, spread the message. You can also download it for free from the von Mises website.
The law demystified November 20, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
'The Law' is the basis of all justice and the free market. While this is a presumptous statement, I will stand by it because Bastiat actually dissects all fallacies about Big-Government intervention in the lives and business of private citizens, all in the name of 'helping society'. He goes on to predict the evils that would later convulse worthy nations. His prognosis is as relevant today as it was in his day.
This book is also the first place where economics and politics are clearly put in their correct sequence; therefore it should be required reading for all politicians. More importantly, if a sufficient number of individuals in a country were to read this book, they'd throw out 90% of all laws and legislators.
It is a dangerous book.
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