What is it about?
The book shortly describes the history of mankind from the days of the Neanderthals to the present day (or to the age of democratic states more generally) from a distinctly libertarian perspective.
The early part of the book is not too controversial (though some sociologists probably would sternly disagree with the climate-based explanations advanced with regard to differential technological and intellectual evolutionary trajectories in different parts of the world), but towards the end the libertarian agenda is front and center, including an attack against democratic order.
Was it good?
Yes, the book is quite interesting and thought-provoking, and rather enjoyable to read due to the characteristically forceful and unapologetic libertarian line of argumentation, with an individual (rather than 'us') in focus.
However, I think that there are some arguments that the author takes as self-evident, axiomatic, which may not be such. For example, democratic representatives appear to be taken as self-interested (interested in or inclined towards using their law-making powers to enrich themselves) instead of interested in making the society a better place for 'us'. Similarly, it is assumed that the rise of democracy was largely a process in which the general populus was fooled into believing that 'we' are the state, i.e. the law-makers.
In any case, if one accepts all the axiomatic assumptions on which the author makes his case, the argumentative structure is quite compelling.
The main take-away for me?
The main take-away from the book - as is the case with most Austrian economic treatises - is that first principles matter a lot. For example, if one fully subscribes to the principles of natural law, one is bound to find Murray Rothbard's (another great Austrian economist) works extremely agreeable and compelling. Thus, if two people have fundamental differences in terms of what is taken to be axiomatically true, argumentation is pretty much in vein unless it concerns those very principles.
Who should read the book?
Perhaps the best audience for the book are those who are interested in political philosophy or political economy (or politics in general), or Austrian economics in particular. If one has a strong aversion towards 'Crusoe economics', the book should be avoided.
The book on Amazon.com: A short history of man
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