No Treason: The Anarchist Classic with a New Introduction

By: Lysander Spooner

Narrated by: Ayrton Parham

Length: 3 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's Summary

Lysander Spooner was one of slavery’s fiercest enemies. As a lawyer, he offered free legal services to escaped slaves, defending them in court. He advocated smuggling guns to slaves, with which to overthrow their masters, and take possession of their property. “Give the Slave-holders, then, a taste of their own whips.”    

Yet when the Civil War erupted, Spooner wasted no time in opposing the Union’s war against the Confederacy. After the war, when Northern troops occupied the conquered Southern lands, purging their governments of the warped scaffolding that had propped up slavery for centuries, Spooner called them the enemies of freedom.   

What odd logic could harmonize these seemingly dissonant opinions? What philosophy could possibly despise slavery, and despise Abraham Lincoln?   

The answer lies in the essay before you, Lysander Spooner’s most influential work: No Treason.

Here you will find many unorthodox, and certainly unpopular, perspectives. Many notions, foundational to our concept of democracy, will be questioned, and the solutions offered will undoubtedly run against the grain of our upbringing, and everything we’ve been told about freedom.   

He’ll advocate peace and violence, the rule of law, and anarchy.  

You may not be convinced, but you will certainly be interested.

©2019 Ayrton Parham (P)2019 Ayrton Parham

I HAVE SEARCHED FOR THE WORDS FOR A LONG TIME

IT HAS TAKEN ME 20 PLUS YEAES TO KNOW THE WORDS TO THE EVIL I HAVE FELT AROUND ME. THE INDOCTRINATION NEVER TOOK. AND I KNEW THERE WAS THIS SHADOW AROUND US. THAT COWARD men WITH BADGES WERE NOTHING MORE THAN THE THUGS OF OLD ROBBING, RAPING, MURDERING ONLY ACCOUNTABLE TO THEMSELVES. THAT "government" WAS NOTHING MORE THAN THE ORGANIZATION OR CULT OF SAID MEN. I WISH IT HAD NOT TAKEN 25yrS TO KNOW THESE WORDS. BUT IT IS MY GOAL THAT THE NEXT 25yrs I MAKE SURE 500 MORE WILL AT LEAST KNOW.THE WORDS.

Superb Audiobook!

It is perhaps of some interest to say that I for many years, marginalized Lysander Spooner. These years were my sojourn in neoconservitism, in which I considered him simply as a antislavery advocate. I emerged from neoconservatism into a libertarian belief system.

Libertarian literature has many citations from Lysander Spooner, and this led me to believe that he was a man dedicated to liberty. And not just a antislavery advocate. With this in mind, I found "No Treason" to be a truly excellent treatise on liberty, and I can highly recommend it. Also, Ayrton Parham did a great job reading, and presenting the text - many, many thanks!

This book is a juggernaut.

The ideas espoused by Lysander Spooner shake ones current beliefs to their foundation. If this isnt one of the greatest arguments for anarchism then i dont know what would be.

A Must Read

this is a must read to introduce ANYONE to the reality of what the US Constitution and government actually are. then next one should go on to read Anatomy of the State by Rothbard for deeper examination

True Nature of the State

I never knew who Lysander Spooner was until I read Hologram of Liberty. I was so happy (and amazed) I found this on audible. If you’re an ‘outside the box’ thinker and believe in the ideas of freedom and liberty, this book might be for you.

The basic premise that Spooner shares is this: The federal government of the United States of America is sham because the constitution on which it is based is also a sham. I know it’s a difficult idea to accept (and I’m not sure that I fully do - yet) but the more you read/listen to this wonderful book, you realize he makes a very strong case.

Well?

I really enjoyed this book. This is a topic I’ve never read about and a perspective I’ve never heard. It was really nice to learn something now and this book has given me many questions and I’ll be reading more to get them. I disagreed with him on parts here or there but that doesn’t change the fact I learned. He really explains things in a way that it’s not so difficult for someone who knows nothing on the topic to understand it. This was on my recommend and I really did enjoy it.

Good read!

This was a great way to get into Spooner. Looking forward to hearing more philosophers on here.

A must listen or read book!

Lysander Spooner explains everything in an eloquent way. A must listen to audiobook for anyone really interested in understanding voluntarism and real freedom.

Amazing

Enlighten yourself and read this incredible book. It will help you see the world from a different perspective.

Required reading for earthlings

Probably one of the best books i've ever come into contact with. What a slap in the face to be told we have the ability to stop these robbers murderers and frauds by not using their currency and to forge agreements where everyone is responsible!? What an amazing listen. Cannot reccomend any higher.

Good book!

I like the book, it was well written. It tells the truth about how it really is, in this society we live in.
Well done!