What Makes Us Free?

In *In the Ruins of Neoliberalism*, Wendy Brown explores how neoliberalism's emphasis on market discipline and individual freedom has inadvertently fostered antidemocratic movements. She argues that neoliberalism's attack on social values and its legitimation of inequality have led to a nihilistic political landscape, where hard-right ideologies thrive. Brown examines how these developments undermine democratic institutions and principles.

Left Behind is the first book in the Left Behind series and narrates the story of the Rapture and its immediate aftermath. The novel follows characters such as Rayford Steele, a pilot, and Buck Williams, a journalist, as they navigate a world where millions of people, including all children and babies, have suddenly vanished. The story delves into Christian eschatology, particularly dispensationalism and premillennialism, and introduces the character of Nicolae Carpathia, who is revealed to be the Antichrist. The book sets the stage for the seven-year Tribulation period and the formation of the Tribulation Force, a group of Christians resisting the Antichrist's reign.

In this book, Milton and Rose Friedman argue that free-market principles are more effective than government intervention in achieving economic prosperity and personal freedom. They critique the explosion of laws, regulations, agencies, and spending in Washington, highlighting how these have eroded freedom and undermined affluence. The book provides examples of how free markets have succeeded in various historical contexts, such as Hong Kong and the United States before the Great Depression, and contrasts these with the failures of centralized planning in countries like India. The authors also propose remedies for various economic and social issues, including education, inflation, and consumer protection, advocating for a minimalist economic policy and greater personal freedom[1][2][5].

In this influential book, Hayek argues that the abandonment of individualism and classical liberalism leads to a loss of freedom, the creation of an oppressive society, and ultimately, the tyranny of a dictator. He challenges the view that fascism and Nazism are capitalist reactions against socialism, instead positing that these ideologies share common roots in central economic planning and the empowerment of the state over the individual. The book emphasizes the dangers of collectivism and the importance of maintaining a free market system to preserve human freedom and dignity.