The Capitalist Manifesto

Why the Global Free Market Will Save the World

By: Johan Norberg

Narrated by: Mark Elstob

Length: 8 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

Marx and Engels were right when they observed in the Communist Manifesto that free markets had in a short time created greater prosperity and more technological innovation than all previous generations combined. A century and a half later, all the evidence shows that capitalism has lifted millions and millions from hunger and poverty.

Today's story about global capitalism, shared by right-wing and left-wing populists, but also by large sections of the political and economic establishment, does not deny that prosperity has been created, but it says it ended up in far too few hands. This in turn has made it popular to talk about the global economy as a geopolitical zero-sum game, where we have to fight to control new innovations, introduce trade barriers and renationalise value chains. While, more broadly, capitalism is accused of fuelling glaring inequality, populist revolts, climate change and China's global conquest.

In this incisive and passionate investigation, Johan Norberg instead states the case for capitalism and the vital role played by the free market in today's uncertain world. Ultimately, he argues that that a move away from global capitalism would not only squeeze the growth out of the economy but also deepen an already large social exclusion for the vulnerable—for the world's poor, it would be a killing blow.

©2023 Johan Norberg (P)2023 W. F. Howes Ltd

An economic system worth fighting for

This book comes at a critical point when the Zeitgeist is heavily and openly anti-Capitalist. Arming yourself with knowledge, data and history and the disastrous outcomes of communism and socialism in the last century and a half is the best way to deal with the seeming daily criticism of free markets and open societies.

The book I was looking for

This was an excellent point by point defence of the system we -know- works better than any other because we can see the results. The author lists and more importantly explains those results as well as the results and failures of other systems.
The author does not shy away from the most difficult critiques of capitalism. He steel mans those arguments and meticulously refutes them.
The length is not overwhelming and makes a clear and cogent argument for why living in an era of democratic capitalism is really the best of all worlds. Yes, for the person obsessed with equality or the environment. Capitalism -is- the answer.

The best new book about capitalism

If you want to know how to make the world a much better place, give people freedom to trade. With beautiful and engaging writing, this book makes a compelling case for free market capitalism as the most potent driver of human progress throughout history and up to the present.

Hard facts and not just feelings or logical conclusions.

The book provides hard data to measure, reduction and poverty increase in quality of life – including healthcare, education, and opportunities to improve livelihood.
There is always a lot of talk about everything that is wrong with capitalism, and crony capitalism shouldn’t even be called capitalism, but it’s difficult to come around databased arguments that back up the results and consequences of this economic model.

Fantastic book

As a fan of free markets, and and the freedom of entrepreneurship, I can’t stop reading this book because of the wealth of information included

Last chapter the most effective

Notwithstanding some glaring statistical mistakes early in the book ( e.g. average monthly income of $31,000), the message is clear and generally well argued. No one with a basic knowledge of philosophy and economics can argue with the fundamentals of the presentation ( some of which appears in Norberg's previous books), even if the elevation of American economic freedom ( which is not the most extensive in the world) is at times a bit tiresome and exaggerated. The last chapter is an excellent argument for freedom and capitalism, and deserves to be widely read.

Excellent

I really liked this narration. A great contribution to my library. Johan Norberg is an excellent writer. Many thanks!

Grest listen

Eye opener and proposes challenging arguments for anlot of things taken for granted previously. Must-listen for anyone interested in economics, socionomics and history.

An unknown perspective

Lots of information and statistics but lots of cherry picking too. In any case happy to hear about different perspectives.

Should be required reading

Mr. Norbert spends the majority part of the book to expertly explain how the world has improved and the reasons why. The last chapter seeks to explain philosophical superiority of capitalism.