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What It Means to Be a Libertarian: A Personal Interpretation Paperback – 29 Dec. 1997

English edition by Charles Murray (Autor)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 143 ratings
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Charles Murray believes that America's founders had it right--strict limits on the power of the central government and strict protection of the individual are the keys to a genuinely free society. In What It Means to Be a Libertarian, he proposes a government reduced to the barest essentials: an executive branch consisting only of the White House and trimmed-down departments of state, defense, justice, and environment protection; a Congress so limited in power that it meets only a few months each year; and a federal code stripped of all but a handful of regulations.



Combining the tenets of classical Libertarian philosophy with his own highly-original, always provocative thinking, Murray shows why less government advances individual happiness and promotes more vital communities and a richer culture. By applying the truths our founders held to be self-evident to today's most urgent social and political problems, he creates a clear, workable vision for the future.
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  1. Print length
    208 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Crown
  4. Publication date
    29 Dec. 1997
  5. Dimensions
    13.97 x 1.19 x 21.59 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    0767900391
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0767900393
  8. See all details
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From the Inside Flap

ay believes that America's founders had it right--strict limits on the power of the central government and strict protection of the individual are the keys to a genuinely free society. In What It Means to Be a Libertarian, he proposes a government reduced to the barest essentials: an executive branch consisting only of the White House and trimmed-down departments of state, defense, justice, and environment protection; a Congress so limited in power that it meets only a few months each year; and a federal code stripped of all but a handful of regulations.



Combining the tenets of classical Libertarian philosophy with his own highly-original, always provocative thinking, Murray shows why less government advances individual happiness and promotes more vital communities and a richer culture. By applying the truths our founders held to be self-evident to today's most urgent social and political problems, he creates a clear, workable vision for the future.

From the Back Cover

For the legions of Americans expressing or exploring libertarian beliefs, Charles Murray has created a radical, compassionate blueprint for solving today's most urgent social and political problems.

Murray believes that America's founders had it right -- that strict limits on the power of the central government and strict protection of the individual are the keys to a genuinely free society. In What It Means to Be a Libertarian, he proposes a government reduced to the barest essentials: an executive branch consisting only of the White House and trimmed-down departments of state, defense, justice, and environmental protection; a Congress so limited in power that it meets only a few months each year; and a federal code stripped of all but a handful of regulations. Combining the tenets of classical libertarian philosophy with his own provocative thinking, Murray shows why less government advances individual happiness and promotes more vital communities and a richer culture.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crown; reprint edition (29 Dec. 1997)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 208 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0767900391
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0767900393
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 13.97 x 1.19 x 21.59 cm
  • Customer reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 143 ratings

About the author

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Charles Murray

Charles Murray

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Charles Murray is a political scientist, author, and libertarian. He first came to national attention in 1984 with the publication of "Losing Ground," which has been credited as the intellectual foundation for the Welfare Reform Act of 1996. His 1994 New York Times bestseller, "The Bell Curve" (Free Press, 1994), coauthored with the late Richard J. Herrnstein, sparked heated controversy for its analysis of the role of IQ in shaping America's class structure. Murray's other books include "What It Means to Be a Libertarian" (1997), "Human Accomplishment" (2003), "In Our Hands" (2006), and "Real Education" (2008). His 2012 book, "Coming Apart" (Crown Forum, 2012), describes an unprecedented divergence in American classes over the last half century. His most recent book is "By the People: Rebuilding Liberty Without Permission" (Crown Forum, 2015).

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Top reviews from Germany

  • Thomas Stamper
    5.0 out of 5 stars Here's a book that might make you think a little
    Reviewed in Germany on 28 April 2000
    Charles Murray has his own views of what the perfect Libertarian world would be. He isn't asking that the federal government privatize roads, or eliminate the EPA, but he would like to see them do their constitutional duties first and leave other tasks for the market place. His premise is that we should judge government actions not by intentions, but by outcome.
    He makes a good case that New Deal and Great Society programs have been around long enough to quantify the benefits, but the numbers indicate no improvement. Also, Murray contends the government has been neglecting their real duties such as national defense and foreign policy to look after the welfare state.
    Murray discusses education, the environment, drug policy, discrimination, economics, and responsibility from a fresh point of view. If you are tired of the same old ideas on the evening news, read this book.
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  • T.J. Winer
    5.0 out of 5 stars An important contribution to the national political debate
    Reviewed in Germany on 5 April 2000
    You do not need to be a libertarian to appreciate the arguments that Charles Murray makes in this important and lucid book. I would not describe myself as a follower of Mr. Murray's political philosphy, but I have an affinity for many of the points that he makes: government is too large, too inefficent, and often does more harm than good. The author makes a crucial point that freedom is the most important quality that a person owns. That governemnt infringes on this quality is beyond dispute. What Murray may neglect to acknowledge is that other people can infringe on our freedom too. This includes criminals, business monopolies, and racist neighbors. It is always a tricky dilema to ask Washington to affirm and ensure our freedom. You are practically making a deal with the devil. But as the civil rights moment amply demonstates, sometimes authorities are needed to ensure our liberties. What isn't as obvious is the role government should play to ensure equality. Here Murray's arguments are especially powerful. You can certainly have equality without freedom (see the Soviet Union). But is a society where everyone drives the same automobile worth sacrifising future growth - not to mention the political right to question the legitimacy of that ideology? It is an answer that every free society has answered: "No." Communism is an ideology of force, not choice. Even creeping socialism is reversed when free countries see the defects it imposes, as seen in the conservative movements in Britain and West Germany in the 1980s. Freedom is the paramount good in society. Equality is an ideal, perhaps, but should not be coerced by an autocratic government. But along with freedom comes responsibility. That is something that is easily forgotten in American society today. Freedom was not bestowed on us to make any choice we want; it is only worthy when we make the right choice. Freedom is a luxury enjoyed only by responsible people. The challenge for us is to prove ourselves deserving of the society that our Founding Fathers wished for us to enjoy.
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  • Thersities
    4.0 out of 5 stars Murray is a Burkean as well as a libertarian
    Reviewed in Germany on 29 May 2000
    This is the best introduction to the resurgence of 19th century European liberal thought that Americans call libertarianism. Murray's book is clear and brief; a good read for busy professional people. It is also highly operational, in that he presents a detailed view of what the USA Federal government would look like if he could reshape it according to his ideals. The only aspect of government he does not address (but should have) is taxation. For a good idea of what the income tax would look like under a libertarian order, read The Flat Tax by Robert Hall and Alvin Rabushka.
    But Murray is more than an enthusiastic libertarian; his thinking also draws on Burke and Tocqueville, with their emphasis on private voluntary endeavour, and the role of unconscious evolution in shaping man and society. In this respect, he appears to be a genuine intellectual son of the late Karl Hess.
    A reviewer has written above:
    "This book suffers from an uncritical take on the role of law and the transparency of language, a highly impressionistic and Whiggish reading of history,and a failure to distinguish sufficiently between political and economic liberty."
    These criticisms have a germ of truth, but apply with equal or greater strength to many who strongly disagree with Murray. The pervasive importance of the common law as a fundamental economic and political institution is only beginning to be appreciated. Murray knows this, without going into detail. That language is an imperfect tool is something with which anyone working with the young becomes all too aware. But that imperfection afflicts all political doctrines. Murray is bit of a philistine in his reading of world history, but he is far from alone in this fault. And as for a strong positive correlation between economic and political liberty, belief in this lies at the very core of libertarian thinking. Richard Pipes's new book "Freedom and Property" bears out the truth of this correlation.
    The appendix on Sources and References is a good guide to further reading.
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  • Anne C. DeBaillon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Epiphany
    Reviewed in Germany on 19 December 1999
    I picked this book up because of the cogent and clear style I enjoyed so much in previous books by Mr. Murray. As I read it I realized that he was crystallizing my own belief system in this small book. One can only wonder what this world would be like today if the students in colleges like Berkely in the 60's, who are so involved politically today, had been carrying around this instead of the "Little Red Book" by Mao. Mr. Murray not only makes clear the "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" nature of the libertarians, he also puts into context that view as it was expressed by the founders of this country. I especially found his section on "the common good" enlightening. Please read this book!
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Top reviews from other countries

  • C A Wilson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 May 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Great book.
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  • Ed Barton
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Compelling Vision
    Reviewed in the United States on 1 April 2013
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    Charles Murray introduces the reader to his view of Libertarianism,with a "small l". The vision painted by Murray in the 180 or so pages is nothing short of revolutionary. The pros and cons of a libertarian society are rationally explored, and the common and expected objections are hit head-on by the author in a practical way that both makes the reader think about the possibility that libertarianism just might be a solution to some of the country's ills, but also allows for the admission that there are practical challenges with a libertarian way of living - which cannot be glossed over or ignored.

    This isn't a scholarly textbook, and the style is very approachable and allows for a quick read. The information contained in the book itself isn't footnoted or heavily supported by statistics. However, the author does have a comprehensive list of other sources to go peruse to build your knowledge and explore the foundations of liberal thought.

    A solid and interesting read, and one that many of the country's fiscal conservatives would probably find hits close to home. Murray's view of practical libertarian thought crates a basis from which actual change may be explored.
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  • David C Wile
    5.0 out of 5 stars Personal Freedom And Personal Responsibility - Opportunity Missed
    Reviewed in the United States on 10 August 2016
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    Hey folks,

    Charles Murray has a great talent for explaining and simplifying things. Libertarian thought is very much targeted toward personal freedom and personal responsibility and the rights of other folks to also have personal freedom and responsibility. Murray's "interpretation" of libertarian principals is very astute and should be simple for us as a society to accomplish. While I applaud his idealism and hope for our libertarian future, the negative skeptic in me thinks our nation and society has long since passed its tipping point where we can achieve a true libertarian society. To me, it seems we are on the same path as our socialist nanny-state neighbors in Europe and elsewhere.

    Murray is a great thinker with admirable ideas for our future, but it can never come about under our current constitutional government. Our only chance for a libertarian society relies on our reforming our government under a new constitution carefully crafted to avoid the pitfalls we have made under our current one. If we were to reform our government with the goal of a libertarian society, I would nominate Charles Murray to be one of the thinkers involved in crafting a new constitutional government.

    Best wishes,
    Dave Wile
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  • c.j.gillam
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 February 2015
    Verified Purchase
    excellent every politician should read
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  • bic
    3.0 out of 5 stars No country for old Ben
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 January 2013
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    You may not agree with all the points Murray makes and this side of Libertarianism may not be exactly what you had in mind for the New World, but it makes a lot of good valid points.
    If you're for Chance, Freedom and gov limitation, you'd sure want to read this book.

    I didn't agree with all his views, but that's exactly what Libertarianism is about.
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