As libertarians, we are blessed with a range of high-quality literature, unmatched by that of any other political movement. As libertarianism relies upon rationality, independence of thought, and freedom of expression, libertarianism naturally attracts many of the best authors and most attentive readers. Even when authors themselves are not libertarians, many of the great novels of history have supported that cause, as the most powerful motifs in human history have always been those of struggle against tyranny and the call of freedom.
Here are a few favourite books that highlight libertarian principles in theory and in practice.
Introductory books
Economic Fallacies - Bastiat, Frédéric
The Law - Bastiat, Frédéric
Libertarianism: A Primer - Boaz, David
Capitalism and Freedom - Friedman, Milton
On Liberty - Mill, John Stuart
The Road to Serfdom - Hayek, Friedrich August von
Intermediate books
Human Action: A Treatise on Economics - von Mises, Ludwig
Libertarianism Defended - Machan, Tibor R.
What It Means to Be a Libertarian - Murray, Charles
Anarchy, State, and Utopia - Nozick, Robert
Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology - Rand, Ayn
Power and Market - Rothbard, Murray
Fiction
The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress - Heinlein, Robert A.
Nineteen Eighty-Four - Orwell, George
Atlas Shrugged - Rand, Ayn
The Fountainhead - Rand, Ayn
The Rainbow Cadenza - Schulman, J. Neil
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich - Solzhenitsyn, Aleksander
This list is by no means exhaustive, and some libertarians may even resent being recommended such a constricted and unimaginative list! A longer recommended reading list has been put together by the LSE Hayek Society, and can be found here.
