“Anyone looking for a lively, succinct history of the libertarian movement in the United States will find no better guide than Brian Doherty. Idiosyncratic personalities and eccentric ideas come alive in this book. Both fans and critics of libertarianism will walk away from it entertained and edified.”
——MATT ZWOLINSKI, coauthor of The Individualists: Radicals, Reactionaries, and the Struggle for the Soul of Libertarianism
In this lively new history, Brian Doherty provides a concise, thorough account of the intellectual roots of the American libertarian movement, with helpful summaries of key figures, institutions, and events. Modern Libertarianism effortlessly combines historical insights and intellectual profiles of important figures, including Ludwig von Mises, F. A. Hayek, Ayn Rand, Murray Rothbard, Milton Friedman, and Barry Goldwater, well as of key institutions such as the Foundation of Economic Education and the Mont Pelerin Society. A superb introduction for the newcomer, yet rich and varied enough for others interested in the tradition, Modern Libertarianism is a tribute to those who advocated for the cause of political liberty in America in the 20th century.
