Mises: The Last Knight of Liberalism
Jörg Guido Hülsmann's master treatise on the life and work of Ludwig von Mises is now published. The size and scope are impressive beyond what anyone expected: 1,200 pages, 10,000 footnotes, and bibliography that covers the world's libraries in four languages - and yet it reads like a great novel. This is a Mises we didn't know: his struggles, his intellectual change and development, his courage, his near misses with death in battle and later as a refugee.
And yet it covers more than the work and life of one man, whom colleagues called the "last knight of liberalism" because they assumed his ideals were those of a bygone era. The book also provides mini-biographers of all the main thinkers of Mises's time, and reconstructs the history of economic thought on the Continent, England, and the United States. Indeed, through the lens of Mises's life, we come to see the history of the whole of the 20th century in a new way.
It is an unforgettable and even revolutionary treatise that heightens awareness of all the issues that led us to where we are today, and will continue to be central in determining our future. FULL ARTICLE
Comments (9)
KV
This is really exciting.
Just thought I'd note that on the merchandise page it says Mises was born in 1891, whereas he was actually born in 1881.
I'm not sure whether to buy the book now though, or wait. With the 25th anniversary coming up, I think the might reduce prices by 25%. They often make reductions, don't they?
Published: September 3, 2007 9:23 AM
jeffrey
We decided to release under the reduced price from $50. It won't go any lower, and when you get it, you will be shocked at the value, I can promise.
Published: September 3, 2007 10:11 AM
Norman
ooooooh I want one...
Published: September 4, 2007 12:14 AM
Paul Wakfer
As a long-time reader, student (a lecture in 1961 at the American School of Economics) and admirer of Ludwig von Mises, I was highly disappointed to read that "early on he conceived of himself as a public persona" and for that reason "took great care to destroy any evidence — from receipts to love letters". Such actions are not those of an open, confident, forthright and candid person. In fact, they are generally the actions of someone who is not truly proud of himself as an individual and thinks that he needs to hide many things about himself in order to evade the full scrutiny and evaluation of others.
Moreover, my disappointment is not merely confined to the person of Mises, but now must extend to concern about all of his writings. The reason for this is that a person who hides his persona from others cannot be fully trusted to be a completely unbiased follower of truth in anything that he does. Therefore, in reading Mises from now on I will need to be far more circumspect, constantly wondering and attempting to discern what he may have omitted, understated, or distorted in order to display the persona, impression and image that he was after. I can no longer have any certainty that Mises has written the whole undistorted truth and nothing but the truth with no ulterior motives in mind.
Very sad to read indeed!
Published: September 4, 2007 9:24 PM
Anthony
I think that is an extraordinairy leap to make. Simply because the man did not want his actual persona to be revealed means that he had no commitment to an unbiased pursuit of the truth? I myself am a private individual and like conveying a specific image of myself; that does not stop me from weeding out falsehoods and seeking to understand true arguments. If anything it shows a human side of the great man.
Published: September 4, 2007 9:43 PM
IMHO
"early on he conceived of himself as a public persona" and for that reason "took great care to destroy any evidence — from receipts to love letters"
Peter,
During WWII many people developed habits that stayed with them for the rest of their lives.
The fact that Mises destroyed his personal papers may have been a holdover from the war. Come to think of it, I believe that the Germans got their hands on some of his work.
Anyway, receipts would have revealed his comings and goings. Love letters might have disclosed information that could have put people in danger. It would have been perfectly logical to destroy them.
The fact that he tried to hide his persona may have been a choice between life and death.
Published: September 5, 2007 12:10 AM
IMHO
My apologies. I should have said Paul, not Peter.
Published: September 5, 2007 12:13 AM
Pam Maltzman
Just to note in passing... in the photograph of Mises used on the cover of this book, he bears a resemblance to the actor Lawrence Olivier.
Published: September 5, 2007 2:22 AM
d.r. mente
It seems specious, this argumentation which disallows a pure search for the truth living in harmony with any desire toward an anonymous persona.
Surely, Von Mises recognized the inherent ignorance and baseness of his fellow man, the institutions driven by them, and quite rationally determined a course of action without which would have resulted in further brutish and subterranean behavior by the citizens of his time.
His decisions to destroy valuable, likely precious documents were surely angst-ridden; and among the reasons to admire and emulate his strength of character.
Through this strength, he was able to discern and articulate most valuable insights and instructive instruments as to rank in the highest regard of members of our society.
Even with fair sailing on its side, we can little more than wish to see Von Mises's principles put into action by our governing body.
And it seems clear that only one candidate for President of these United States gives the Austrian process any thought---Ron Paul, of course. Unfortunate, indeed, that public opinion can easily be controlled these days. Unfortunate, indeed, the majority of citizens will never come to appreciate the statesmanship of Ron Paul.
Published: September 5, 2007 2:42 PM