Defending the Undefendable II: Freedom in All Realms

by Walter Block, Patrick Smith (Narrator)

Walter Block's daring, funny, iconoclastic Defending the Undefendable is a libertarian classic. In this sequel Block defends even more of society's hidden heroes, those unfairly maligned entrepreneurs, workers, and capitalists who create value through free and voluntary interaction, and he does it in the same colorful and engaging style. (Peter G. Klein)
Walter Block has assembled thirty chapters defending behavior that is probably offensive to most Americans, such as dwarf tossing and stereotyping, and many that are downright illegal, such as dueling and smuggling. Plus, he's provided us with humorous cartoons at the end of many chapters. The bottom line message in Freedom in All Realms: Defending the Undefendable is that the true test of our commitment to personal liberty doesn't come when we permit others to engage in those peaceable, voluntary acts with which we agree. It comes when we permit others to engage in peaceable, voluntary acts we find offensive. (Walter E. Williams)
In an age when all too many people run for cover when their controversial neighbors evoke the ire of intellectual elites, Walter Block heroically comes to the rescue. You don't have to agree with him on everything to respect his thoughtfulness on behalf of the unpopular and the misunderstood. Liberty's very survival depends upon such courage! (Lawrence W. Reed)
Walter Block is the most courageous of libertarian economists. No issue is too tough for the application of solid principles-and that makes him unique. I find him to be absolutely consistent in his logic, clear enough for anyone to grasp, and bold enough to take on any and all challengers. On top of it all, he's provocative and fun to read. (Ken Schoolland)
Defending the Undefendable: Freedom in All Realms is a worthy, indispensable sequel to DTU, written in a fun, punchy, and accessible style, but with no punches pulled. (Stephan Kinsella)

Genres: Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Nonfiction, Audiobook

7 pages, Audible Audio

First published September 12, 2013

About the author

Walter Block earned his PhD in Economics at Columbia University. He is an author, editor, and co-editor of many books which include Defending the Undefendable; Lexicon of Economic Thought, Economic Freedom of the World 1975-1995; Rent Control: Myths and Realities; Discrimination, Affirmative Action, and Equal Opportunity; Theology, Third Word Development and Economic Justice; Man, Economy, and Liberty: Essays in Honor of Murray N. Rothbard; Religion, Econonomics, and Social Thought; and Economic Freedom: Toward a Theory of Measurement.

Dr. Block has written more than 500 articles for various non-refereed journals, magazines and newspapers, and is a contributor to such journals as The Review of Austrian Economics, Journal of Libertarian Studies, The Journal of Labor Economics, Cultural Dynamics, and the Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics. He is currently a professor and chair of economics, college of business administration, at Loyola University.

Reviews

[Pier Francesco Berardinelli · Rating 2 out of 5]

Il libro, scritto del 2013, è presentato come ideale prosecuzione di un precedente volume del 1986, pubblicato in Italia dallo stesso editore, e che costituisce un gioiellino di intelligenza e di salutare provocazione, apprezzabilissimo a prescindere dalla condivisione delle idee libertarie dell'autore. Purtroppo questo volume è di un prodotto di livello assai inferiore. Nonostante alcune perle di intelligenza qua e là, manca il rigore logico – e quindi lo stimolo intellettuale – del volume precedente. I vari esempi sono discussi più con vis polemica che con forza intellettuale.

[Marcus Goncalves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting read. The author offers an implication of Liberty and non-agression applied to (controversial) specific occupations. He takes common assumptions about life and shows how we have been deceived as many occupations in life provide a service one would not normally think of.