Today I want to take a break from modern day issues and focus on more of a book review.  A few weeks ago, Dr. Robert Murphy came to speak in one of my Economics classes.  His lecture focused on the hidden thoughts behind many mundane issues such as: seatbelt laws, airbag legislation, discrimination laws, and environmental protection laws.  Many of these issues he discusses in his book:  The Politically Incorrect Guide to Capitalism.

Dr. Murphy continued to host a seminar later that evening about his new book:  The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Great Depression and the New Deal.  I found his lecture about his book to be terrifically spot on, and dispel a great myth that has been spun in classrooms around the country for decades.  I particularly enjoyed this book because Dr. Murphy doesn’t beat around the bush; he flat out tells you that the New Deal was not the reason we got out of the Great Depression.

More interestingly, this book is not theory, or math intensive.  While critics of his may like to point out that lack of empiric proof could be grounds for dismissal, the idea behind this book was for people of little to no Economics background to be able to read through it.  This book is also a great introductory book for people who are not familiar with free-market thought or just enjoy a good political thriller.

Throughout the book, Dr. Murphy also provides a bunch of “what if” columns; not only for entertainment, but to also stimulate intellectual thought.  Lastly, I like how Dr. Murphy includes quotes and arguments from famous speakers and Economists on the matter of the New Deal.  These arguments help convey the theme of the book and strengthen his argument.  Overall, I thought this book was a great read, and more importantly a very informative piece on of the most defining moments in current American Economic policy.