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A Dazzling Lesson in Liberty

David Bergland's Libertarianism In One Lesson (Ninth Edition)

Reviewed by Bill Winter

Libertarianism In One Lesson (Ninth Edition), by David Bergland. Published by the Advocates for Self-Government. Trade paperback, 192 pages, $12.50.

There's a reason why no one's ever written a book entitled Libertarianism for Dummies. It's because libertarianism is just too multifaceted and complex to simplify to a "dummy" level.

Think about it. The first time average folks encounter libertarianism, they must examine -- from an utterly new perspective -- tough issues like poverty, health care, the environment, and foreign policy. They must also rethink some basic assumptions about economics, history, and politics. In short, grasping the essence of libertarianism requires people to think and learn.

That's why, when newcomers ask libertarians to explain the philosophy, they frequently get a reading list. They're told: "Read one book to understand libertarian economics; another to learn foreign policy; and another to appreciate civil liberties. Then, when you're done, read Atlas Shrugged -- just for fun." It's no wonder that many potential supporters throw up their hands. They want a quick lesson and get a library instead.

Thank goodness for David Bergland. In Libertarianism In One Lesson, he does something extraordinarily difficult: he explains the freedom philosophy in fewer than 200 pages. And he does so in an intelligent, straightforward, and informative manner. Now in its Ninth Edition, the book remains the best concise introduction to libertarian ideas for a general audience.

In the book, Bergland does several shrewd things. First, he establishes a central premise of libertarianism: "You own yourself." As he notes: "To own something means that you decide what to do with it." Second, he examines the proper role of government, which "should be limited to helping the citizens defend their rights against any person or group who violates or threatens them." The rest of the book explores the far-reaching ramifications of those two deceptively simple statements.

Bergland devotes separate chapters to the 10 most important public policy questions facing America. He takes a topic like foreign policy and explains how libertarians approach it. (In this case, they follow Thomas Jefferson's advice: "Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations; entangling alliances with none.") With specific examples (ranging from Yugoslavia to Iraq), he points out how big government methods have failed. And he explains why libertarian policies would keep Americans more secure at a much lower cost.

Bergland does the same with Social Security, health care, education, the War on Drugs, the environment, and more. In each chapter, he makes a compelling case that liberty works better than government coercion. And in every chapter, you'll run across some fascinating fact or tidbit. For example, did you know that the U.S. government has the power to seize 100% of your income in taxes? That U.S. literacy rates were higher before public education was established? That the White House admitted that the Social Security Trust Fund contains no "real economic assets"? That the federal government is a worse polluter than all chemical and oil companies combined? The book is chock-full of such mind-stretching information.

Libertarianism In One Lesson also contains what may be the most important single chapter in any book about liberty. Entitled "Obstacles to Clear Thinking About Government," it dismantles the reasons why many people reflexively turn to government for solutions. It contains six dazzling insights, including "The Utopian Fallacy." Fans of big government frequently hold up an impossible standard -- a utopian world where everything is perfect -- to criticize "imperfect" libertarian solutions. Bergland writes: "It is true that no advocate of liberty can guarantee Utopia. So what? No advocate of any political view can guarantee Utopia." In other words, don't get trapped when a liberal or conservative promises flawless results from their next government program. Such perfection never materializes. As Bergland wryly notes, "Utopia is not an option." His five other "Obstacles" are just as smart and useful.

There's more. Libertarianism In One Lesson presents a brief history of the American libertarian movement, sharply contrasts the conservative, liberal, and libertarian approaches to issues in a fast-paced Q&A chapter, and suggests what a libertarian federal government would look like. And, yes, Bergland offers a recommended reading list -- but only for those who want to learn more.

Bergland wrote the first edition of Libertarianism In One Lesson in 1984 (while running for president on the Libertarian ticket). The book does not show its age. This extensively revised Ninth Edition is so up-to-date that it includes sections on President Bush's Social Security "reform" proposals, the war in Iraq, and the battle over medical marijuana.

As mentioned, no one has ever written a book entitled Libertarianism for Dummies. They don't need to. Libertarianism In One Lesson offers an easy-to-understand introduction to libertarianism that's smarter, more comprehensive, and more insightful that any possible "dummy" book could ever be. Writing a book -- about such a complex subject -- that is both short and comprehensive is an almost impossible task. With this new Ninth Edition of Libertarianism In One Lesson, Bergland has done the impossible -- and done it brilliantly.

* About the reviewer: Bill Winter was the editor of LP News, the Libertarian Party's national newspaper, from 1997 to 2004. His op-eds have appeared in newspapers around the country.

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