Preview
  • Socialism

  • An Economic and Sociological Analysis
  • By: Ludwig von Mises
  • Narrated by: Bernard Mayes
  • Length: 24 hrs and 7 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (224 ratings)

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Socialism

By: Ludwig von Mises
Narrated by: Bernard Mayes
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Publisher's summary

Published in 1922 during those dark and dreary years of socialism’s near-complete triumph, Socialism stunned the socialist world. Mises has given us a profoundly important treatise that assaults socialism in all its guises, a work that discusses every major aspect of socialism and leaves no stone unturned. A few of the numerous topics discussed include the success of socialist ideas; life under socialism: art and literature, science and journalism; economic calculation under socialism; the ideal of equality; and Marx’s theory of monopolies.

With this monumental work, Mises laid the foundations for free society. Socialism has influenced scores of influential thinkers, including Friedrich Hayek, Ayn Rand, and Milton Friedman. It is read over and over again today, all over the world, inspiring throngs of new defenders of freedom.

©1981 Margit von Mises (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
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Critic reviews

“This book must rank as the most devastating analysis of socialism yet penned…An economic classic in our time.” (Henry Hazlitt)

What listeners say about Socialism

Average customer ratings
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wonderful

A long walk worth taking. Von Mises dismantled socialism beyond repair. I highly recommend this book to all.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Difficult, but good!

This is a very difficult book to read. Not only are a lot of the references 50ish years old, but the structure of the book leaves a lot to be desired. Still, the content, once penetrated, is very good!

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Required reading:

This book goes into extensive detail outlining the history of socialism and the economic reality compared to economic theory.

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Glad I finally finished this book

Phenomenal analysis of socialism. It is long but well worth the read. I highly recommend it

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Golden content from Mises but hard to listen to

Mises hits it out of the park with this book. a must read for any libertarian minded person. BUT the recording is atrocious. it's muffled and hard to hear at times. There are really bad cuts where the voice changes, and even a few times where there should have been an edit but wasn't. Complete amateur recording and editing. Will someone please re-record this so we can listen to a great work?

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Written 100 years ago and more relevant today

If people had listened 100 years ago we could have saved the world so much misery.

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Obligatory reading by anyone tempted by Socialism.

The analysis of Socialism by von Mises was developed and initially published between WWI and WWII, that is before the devastating failure of Socialism became apparent to the World with the fall of Soviet Union in 1991. However, von Mises analysis effectively predicts the ultimate failure of Socialism as evidenced by the gruesome experiment in Russia and the Soviet Union.

Today candidates for president in USA and the leader of the Labour Party in the UK advocate for a return to Socialism. This book should be obligatory reading by all tempted by these devastating ideas, and should be studied - objectively - at all universities in the West.

The devastating failure of Socialism should be widely understood so no one again can lead any society into similar disasters caused by Socialism past.

This is a terrific book containing thorough and profound analysis.

The book is highly recommended!

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    5 out of 5 stars

An amazing work of literature

If you are in any way interested in Austrian economics, socialist ideas, or how societies develop, then I can highly recommend this book.


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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Such an important subject!

What did you love best about Socialism?

The information that is contained in this book is really important, especially in today's political climate.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

I'm interested in the information but it is hard to listen to.

Would you be willing to try another one of Bernard Mayes’s performances?

Not if they are like this performance.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No

Any additional comments?

This performance was monotone and droning. It was hard to listen to to get the information from the book. I would rather have read it.

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a necessary read

the writing of Moses is as valid today as ever. his evisceration of socialism is extremely we laid out and argued.

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