Why Liberalism Works

How True Liberal Values Produce a Freer, More Equal, Prosperous World for All

By: Deirdre Nansen McCloskey

Narrated by: Janet Metzger

Length: 15 hrs

Publisher's summary

An insightful and passionately written book explaining why a return to Enlightenment ideals is good for the world

The greatest challenges facing humankind, according to Deirdre Nansen McCloskey, are poverty and tyranny, both of which hold people back. Arguing for a return to true liberal values, this engaging and accessible book develops, defends, and demonstrates how embracing the ideas first espoused by 18th-century philosophers like Locke, Smith, Voltaire, and Wollstonecraft is good for everyone.

With her trademark wit and deep understanding, McCloskey shows how the adoption of Enlightenment ideals of liberalism has propelled the freedom and prosperity that define the quality of a full life. In her view, liberalism leads to equality, but equality does not necessarily lead to liberalism - and the fixation of the left on inequality is counterproductive. Liberalism is an optimistic philosophy that depends on the power of rhetoric rather than arms, and on ethics, free speech, and facts for us to thrive.

©2019 Deirdre Nansen McCloskey (P)2019 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Best book I have read about why classical liberalism works

The word liberal has changed in meaning 180° at least twice in the last 150 years. In the early 1800s it meant people who were conservative fiscally, But often liberal socially. In the late 1800s people who considered themselves progressive had
the idea that most things are handled better from the top down by disinterested bureaucrats Than by individuals looking out for their own welfare.After finding that there were not many bureaucrats who were seriously disinterested in outcomes, many of them started calling themselves liberal which meant very liberal socially and usually well-meaning but were disinterested in outcomes of government programs, often assuming that if a program meant well they didn’t look very hard at whether it actually accomplished what it was intended to or the opposite. I was especially interested in her history of the minimum wage, which I was ignorant of. The minimum wage was started in the mid-1800s with the Openly expressed idea of pricing blacks, other minorities and immigrants out of entry level jobs. It was and still is very effective at doing that, but this seems to be ignored on the left, Every time it has been instituted or increased, it has increased unemployment among poor unskilled Mostly young people. Most people who are convinced that increasing the minimum wage helps the poor are unaware of its origin and economic effects. I highly recommend the book for a basic education about how economics really works.

True Liberalism

This was a tad more scholarly than I like, but, I wish it had existed years ago when I was in college. McCloskey makes the case that government should get out of the way and let the individual progress at their own rate. This has been shown to help more than just the single individual but group as a whole.

Outstanding

Professor McCloskey delivers an outstanding explication of liberalism, and the innovative, commercially tested betterment that follows from it. Filled with thorough historical facts and context, her book feels refreshing and tragically rare in this age of twitter bullies, who would sooner shame and cancel their critics than listen carefully to the content of their arguments. Indeed, if she can be accused of anything, it’s being too charitable to those she critiques. I do have a few quibbles, and fewer complaints (mostly of evaluations and assumptions, not of her data, science, or history), but I will follow her good example and listen closely, very closely, and consider the possibility that I may be mistaken. And so should you.

Don’t Tread On Me!

Mcclosky takes back the word liberalism, and makes the case that government should get out of the way to let individuals progress on their own. Expertly written (if not a little academic) with intellectual thought and reference. Filled with historical facts and present day reflection on impact of progressive policy disasters. Should be on every college reading list.