The Law
#787 of 2,654 all-time
The Law
Frédéric Bastiat
8 people recommended it in 8 threads, 2011–2022.
What people on Hacker News said
The Law is the greatest work of classical liberal political though that I have encountered.
It's very short--more of a long essay than a full length book--but it packs an earth shattering wallop.
The Law by Frederic Bastiat, extremely good book describing the fundamental purpose of law and government.
Weighing in at 75 pages, you can read this 176 year old classic in a weekend.
For some reason Locke's Second Treatise on Government made it into the canon as the be-and-end-all of the classical liberal political philosophy, and this masterwork was overlooked.
Where it comes up
- Ask HN: What book changed your life? 2022 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Mind bending books to read and never be the same as before? 2020 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What are your favorite books or essays written at least 100 years ago? 2019 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What books changed the way you think about almost everything? 2019 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What was the one book that you read and it actually changed your life? 2018 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What's one book that changed your life? 2018 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What are the most thought-provoking books that you have read? 2015 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What books are you reading 2011 · 1 recommendation