An interesting book divded into many short chapters. His writing style reminds me of Diderot. Overall an interesting explanation of economics and cause-and-effect that both literary and financial people will benefit.
The Law:
A "must read" for all those dedicated to the rule of law and due process. From these earlier times, Bastiat has made it clear what the law is and what it is not and how it should be applied in a free society. Unfortunately, it also is clear that today, in America, we no longer live in a free society but one that shuns the law and the rule of law in favor of despotism and tyranny. Make this work a staple of your reading and your life.
A quick enlightenment.:
At 66 pages, this is more a pamphlet than a book. But "Wow!," what a wallop. A very succint and direct statement of the purpose of law in society. It changed (simplified) my way of thinking about government. I highly recommend it. A social system based on the premise contained herein would be a great improvement over the current one. A move in that direction would start with a general understanding of what is stated in this book.
It's not expensive a doesn't take long to read. Buy it and read it.more info
A perfect masterpiece:
Bastiat is one of the greatest. This book is so short, so simple, and so devastatingly effective that it is truly an all-time classic. If you are not a socialist, you should master the simple arguments in this essay and keep them handy for discussions with your socialist friends. If you are a socialist, you should in all intellectual honesty read this book (it can be done in an hour or so) and see if you can answer Bastiat's objection to socialism: that anytime the law is used to organize anything other... more info
