The Road to Serfdom by Friedrich A. Hayek; Unabridged MP3 Audio Book; Narrator William Hughes

Featured on the Glenn Beck Program

Originally published in 1944, The Road to Serfdom has profoundly influenced many of the world's great leaders: from Orwell and Churchill in the mid-forties, to Reagan and Thatcher in the eighties. The book offers persuasive warnings against the dangers of central planning, along with what Orwell described as "an eloquent defense of laissez-faire capitalism." Hayek shows that the idea that "under a dictatorial government you can be free inside," is nothing less than a grievous fallacy. Such dictatorial governments prevent individual freedoms and they often use psychological measures to perform "an alteration of the character of the people." Gradually, the people yield their individuality to the point where they become part of the collectivist mass.

“This book was like a Mike Tyson (in his prime) right hook to socialism in Western Europe and in the United States. But its influence didn't stop there. It has inspired political and economic leaders for decades since — most famously Ronald Reagan. Reagan often praised Hayek when he talked about people waking up to the dangers of big government.”—Glenn Beck, Fox News

“Shatters the myth that the totalitarianisms ‘of the Left’ and ‘of the Right’ stem from differing impulses.”—Mark Helprin, National Review, 100 Best Nonfiction Books of the Century

“This book has become a true classic: essential reading for everyone who is seriously interested in politics in the broadest and least partisan sense.”—Milton Friedman

“This book should be read by everybody. It is no use saying that there are a great many people who are not interested in politics; the political issue discussed by Dr. Hayek concerns every single member of the community.”—Listener