The Case Against Socialism

By: Rand Paul

Narrated by: Kelley Paul

Length: 10 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's Summary

A recent poll showed 43 percent of Americans think more socialism would be a good thing. What do these people not know?

Socialism has killed millions, but it’s now the ideology du jour on American college campuses and among many leftists. Reintroduced by leaders such as Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the ideology manifests itself in starry-eyed calls for free-spending policies like Medicare-for-all and student loan forgiveness.

In The Case Against Socialism, Rand Paul outlines the history of socialism, from Stalin’s gulags to the current famine in Venezuela. He tackles common misconceptions about the “utopia” of socialist Europe. As it turns out, Scandinavian countries love capitalism as much as Americans, and have, for decades, been cutting back on the things Bernie loves the most.

Socialism’s return is only possible because many Americans have forgotten the true dangers of the 20th-century’s deadliest ideology. Paul reveals the devastating truth: For every college student sporting a Che Guevara T-shirt, there’s a Venezuelan child dying of starvation. Desperate refugees flee communist Cuba to escape oppressive censorship, rationed food and squalid hospitals, not "free" healthcare. Socialist dictatorships like the People’s Republic of China crush freedom of speech and run massive surveillance states while masquerading as enlightened modern nations. Far from providing economic freedom, socialist governments enslave their citizens. They offer illusory promises of safety and equality while restricting personal liberty, tightening state power, sapping human enterprise and making citizens dependent on the dole.

If socialism takes hold in America, it will imperil the fate of the world’s freest nation, unleashing a plague of oppressive government control. The Case Against Socialism is a timely response to that threat and a call to action against the forces menacing American liberty.

©2019 Rand Paul (P)2019 HarperAudio

Understanding socialism

As a former refugee from communist country I truly despise socialism. I don’t always have the words to explain it, but it’s instinctual. I wanted to understand why people point to Scandinavian countries as socialist models and difference between socialism and communism. The book did the job and more, especially around client change policies. I also understand a little more on first steps criminal justice reform. This is fact filled book along with many great stories. I enjoyed the book a great deal. Thank you.

I stand with Rand!

A very good treatise on what socialism is, what it means vs capitalism, and why we should run away from it, screaming. Pulling no punches for those on either the "left" or the "right", Rand lays it out with no concern for anything but truth.

Facts Logic Reason

An extremely factual well written book. Should be required reading for all young Americans. Kelly does a great job narrating.

So skewed it should come with a warning

Republicans love to scare everyone with that evil concept “socialism”. In the 50’s, they used the words “Reds” and “Commies” which were enough to incite terror in the hearts of many Americans and lead people to lose jobs and end careers.

Now they use “socialism” and pair it with catastrophic examples: Venezuela comes first. Not mentioning how America had a role to play in what led to the current state of affairs in that sad place that once held such promise.

I’m not a lefty nor on the right. I believe in common sense. Common sense says, everything is not black and white. There are many variables between polar opposites. And there are many ways of integrating social programs without replicating communistic dystopias.

Think Canada. Think France. Think England, think Australia and New Zealand. Think of all the places in the world that offer their residents free healthcare and education. They are not on the verge of collapse and destruction. People are healthy, they don’t have to go into bankruptcy because of sudden illness, they are better educated, they can afford to buy cars and houses and go to work and keep capitalism going.

Stop listening to scary stories. They might not be telling you outright lies, but they’re telling you only the truths that serve their purposes. While deliberately obscuring other realities that aren’t helpful to their agendas.

To Rand’s dire call of Venezuela!
I answer CANADA!

Socialism equals slavery

This book exposes how all socialist are supporters of slavery because they want to force working individuals to pay for the needs of other people who are not related to them.

Amazing Book!

I'm a millennial - I think every millennial should listen to or read this book!

MUST READ...Keep Our Free Market Economy

I was shocked and then angered over the suffering fellow humans have experienced when subjected to the effects of socialism and its ilk. I learned a lot and am ever thankful to Rand Paul and Kelly Paul for doing the research to create this enlightening book. I knew I was blessed to live in this country with all of our freedoms, but this book really nailed it!!

Threat of socialism updated to 2019

I had expectations based on Rand Paul’s politics. The book did not disappoint. A rational lucid discussion of socialism from a factual basis is much needed for today’s emotion-driven youth. This is a great book to start with. Send a copy to AOC and her minions.

Makes me wish for death

The narrator reads in monotone while quoting endless statistics and quoting people no one has ever heard of.
BORING!!!
WISH I COULD RETURN IT

Waste of money! #ReturnBook #Refund

Poor argument, quoting out of context, biased reasoning for facts, in short: simply an audacious pseudoscientific mediocrity.

* This writing style won’t make it beyond high school!! Strengthening the stereotype: if your daddy is rich, so you shouldn’t do well in essays!

Moronic arguments.

The author straw mans the idea that contemporary political figures such as Bernie Sanders advocate for Venezuelan/Marxist planned economies. If you actually read their policies they are proposing Nordic style democratic socialism which has resulted incredible gains in quality of life in those European countries. This awful book is full of lies and misinterpretations designed to pander to the typical right wing ideologue.

Uncomfortable read

As a lifelong UK Labour Party supporter, I do not usually expose myself to a sustained exposition of the opposing view.

However I share Rand Paul's view that it is not healthy to become too tribal or to prefer the echo chamber to the Forum.

The strength of the book is the coherence and consistency of its libertarian thesis that we should beware of acquiescing or supporting the increased role of the state.

The weakness of the book (for a UK reader at least) is that it seeks to bolster it's arguments by scoring 'points' against US politicians with opposing views. This seems to lead to unnecessary personalisation of the issues.

Similarly the analysis of 20th century regimes in other countries is not even-handed or balanced.

The most uncomfortable part of the book for me was the analysis of the modern philosophical basis of the views of Rand Paul. I have to admit to being a fan of Karl Popper's ideas without realising (as I probably should) that his views would be espoused by those I have always perceived to be in the other camp.

The book has therefore served a good purpose for me. it has made me less sure regarding my political allegiance. This is as it should be as no group has a monopoly on wisdom

Important book relating to contemporary tensions

Hopefully this book will inform as many people as possible. Great narration and excellent dialog

Like father like son!

Like father like son!
Rand Paul gives many compelling arguements against Socialism, including a strong focus on the kind of Socialist ideas being put forward now by the left.
I bought the audio version of this book; his wife Kelley narrates it particularly well.
Lastly, don't be deterred by the one stars, they've almost certainly been given by lifelong Bernie supporters.

Disappointing

I was looking forward to some genuine food for thought, stepping out of my comfort zone to hear the other side. From very early on when the very first definition of socialism was wrong this became a manual for many logical fallacies. Strawman after strawman, cherry picking, guilt by association etc. There are some good points he brings up but since the rest of the book consists of bad faith arguments designed to stir people up it's hard to not think the nicer comments towards the end of the book is just hypocrisy. Glad I bought it at a discount though I should ask for my money back.