Reddit mentions: The best anarchism books

For introductory purposes, it's best to read surveys of the literature and tradition, simply because there are many anarchist schools of thought and people often direct you to read books from the school to which they are sympathetic.

I recommend starting off with [Peter Kropotkin's 1909 essay for Encyclopedia Britannica on Anarchism] (http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/kropotkin/britanniaanarchy.html).

Next, I'd recommend [Men Against the State] (http://www.amazon.com/Men-Against-State-Expositors-Individualist/dp/0879260068), a historical overview of the American Anarchist traditions, which were a kind of anarchist melting pot but admittedly skewed individualist (you could probably find a free pdf of this quickly).

These books should provide good introductions to various schools. After that, just pick up the books in whatever school suits your fancy and enjoy.

My biased recommendations are Wolff's In Defense of Anarchism and Huemer's The Problem of Political Authority. They are both works done by conteporary academic philosophers but written simply and without jargon.

edit: It would be wonderful if whoever downvoted my comment could explain why.

Here is a PARTIAL list of economics books I've read cover to cover, and why I appreciated Bitcoin earlier than most:
Adam Smith

• An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations
  
• The Theory of Moral Sentiments
  
  Ludwig von Mises
  
  
• Human Action: A Treatise on Economics
  
• The Theory of Money and Credit
  
• Socialism: An Economic and Sociological Analysis
  
• The Anti-capitalistic Mentality
  
• Planned Chaos
  
• Liberalism
  
• Bureaucracy
  
• Economic Freedom and Interventionism
  
• Liberty and Property
  
• Omnipotent Government; The Rise of the Total State and Total War
  
• Interventionism: An Economic Analysis
  
• Profit and Loss
  
• Nation, State, and Economy
  
• Planning for Freedom
  
  Murray N. Rothbard
  
  
• Man, Economy, and State
  
• History of Money and Banking in the United States
  
• The Anatomy of the State
  
• For a New Liberty: The Libertarian Manifesto
  
• What Has Government Done to Our Money?
  
• Egalitarianism as a Revolt against Nature
  
• The Ethics of Liberty
  
• America's Great Depression
  
• Making Economic Sense
  
• Conceived in Liberty
  
• The Case Against the Fed
  
• Power and Market
  
• What Has Government Done to Our Money?
  
• The Irrepressible Rothbard : The Rothbard-Rockwell Report Essays of Murray N. Rothbard
  
• Economic Depressions: Their Cause and Cure
  
• Education: Free and Compulsory
  
• Economic Controversies
  
  And many many more: https://forum.bitcoin.com/economics/blockstream-supporters-mock-those-who-study-economics-t49159.html

I agree that it is better than the current system of taxation and is more logical than income tax. However, I still see land as a commodity to be bought and sold, just like any other commodity, even if its supply is limited. Gold and Bitcoin, among other things, are also limited in supply yet they shouldn't be taxed as if you own some, it's yours. But once again yes, I would prefer a land value tax over income, sales, capital gains, etc. taxes. The concept is closer to libertarian ideals especially if it's the only tax that exists.

As per books that I'd recommend, it would be good to start with Choice
Cooperation, Enterprise, and Human Action
By Robert P. Murphy. http://www.independent.org/publications/books/summary.asp?id=116

If you want something a little bit more extreme but is still incredibly good philosophically, and exposes a lot of misconceptions and lies in American society, try Against the State: An Anarcho-Capitalist Manifesto by Rockwell Jr. and Llewellyn H.: https://www.amazon.com/Against-State-Anarcho-Capitalist-Llewellyn-Rockwell/dp/0990463109 This is the equivalent of Karl Marx's communist manifesto, but for ancaps :)

If you look at the sort of "ancap reading list" it's a bit daunting at first, especially the economic tomes.

So to start off there's actually a GREAT book by Lew Rockwell(I say great because it's amazing at exposing you to the simplicity of these ideas without totally overwhelming you):
https://www.amazon.com/Against-State-Anarcho-Capitalist-Llewellyn-Rockwell/dp/0990463109/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1494264932&sr=8-1&keywords=against+the+state

1. Outsourcing jobs has led to tremendous amounts of growth in emerging markets and drastically reduced prices for consumers in the West. But in a libertarian society, not would there be mobility of capital, there would also be mobility of labor (i.e. open borders). One of the most promsing reforms I've seen are charter cities. Paul Romer goes into more detail is his TED talk.
   
   
2. Since there would be no tariffs, no subsidies, no patents, no copyrights (more and more libertarian are against intellectual "property", no occupational licensing, no eminent domain und so weiter, in a truly freed market, corporations wouldn't be able to rent-seek. So businesses that are truly entrepreneurial and productive would flourish. I'd also predict there would be more experimentation with business structures (e.g. more co-operatives, like Mondragon).
   
   
3. There are a variety of different options to privatize defense: people could hire private defense agencies, use guerrilla warfare to resist aggressive states, or just go DIY and get a ton of guns and ammo. In addition, wars are very costly so there would be a strong incentive for parties to seek other options than invasion to mediate disputes. The Myth of National Defense goes into much more detail, in both the theory and history of alternatives to the state providing defense.

I recommend Men Against the State: The Expositors of Individualist Anarchism, 1827-1908. If you want to know how and why libertarianism was created by socialists.

I think your labels are pretty arbitrary, as labels tend to be and none of them would be self applied except your own. But I have to ask, if actual socialists want to take over the gov't and give the power back to the people - do you mean individual people, or some sort of government called
"the people"? You guys say the failed history of socialism shouldn't concern us, so I want to be clear: who do you mean by "the people". And what power specifically are you talking about?

And lastly, how do you stop capitalism without a state? How do you control the actions of individuals trading together for profit on a macro or micro scale without resorting to state coercion?

Yeah, I was thinking about adding that in but that takes me all the way back to the First International. This collection of Bakunin has a great introduction about the dispute between Marx and Bakunin during the first international, as well as some insight into Bakunin's bizarrely dogmatic approach to anarchism. It's sort of a mini-biography of him.

Another problem with explaining anarchism is the anarchists have just had less time to develop theoretically. Almost every major communist contributor has some revolution to back them up, whereas the anarchists basically have Catalonia and then some central/latin American stuff. And then a ton of theoretical writings.

But if anyone wants to learn more about anarchism and syndicalism, Bakunin and Kropotkin are good places to start on the theoretical end of things. Also Emma Goldman is a personal favorite of mine.

The problem with Catalonia and Chiapas/the Zapatistas is that there are a LOT of people. And I actually don't know if Zapata himself wrote a whole lot...

I have a few you might be interested in:

Society of the Spectacle by Guy Debord

Understanding Power by Noam Chomsky
The footnotes to Understanding Power by Noam Chomsky

Foundation by Isaac Asimov This book will bring up many interesting discussions on power systems, for a discussion group I would recommend just reading the first book in the series and discussing the themes.

The Mexican Revolution by Alan Knight

Dreams of Freedom : A Ricardo Flores Magon Reader

Stone Age Economics by Marshall Sahlins

The Conquest of Bread by Peter Kropotkin

Fragments of Anarchist Anthropology by David Graeber

[Zapatista Reader] (http://www.amazon.com/The-Zapatista-Reader-Nation-Books/dp/1560253355)

Our Word is Our Weapon

The Kingdom of God is Within You by Leo Tolstoy

Government is Violence by Leo Tolstoy

That's as much as I can remember, but my recommendations are bias towards my interests.

Sure.

Jacques Ellul, of Propaganda and The Technological Society, was a Christian anarchist. His most famous book on that field is Anarchy and Christianity which I believe is the best in the works. (http://www.amazon.com/Anarchy-Christianity-Jacques-Ellul/dp/1606089714)

For a classic, there's Leo Tolstoy's "Government is Violence" (http://www.amazon.com/Government-Is-Violence-Leo-Tolstoy/dp/0948984155)

And for a current group, there's "Jesus Radicals" (http://www.jesusradicals.com/) They have conferences, essays, but lately have moved very supportive of primitivism.


(Sorry for the Amazon links, but I'm lazy to find another copy, shop around. AKPREss and the like have bulk buying programs for them I believe)

Anarchic communities that excite me--historical and contemporary-- include squatter towns, radical trailer parks, the more egalitarian maroon communities, some pirates, evasive tribal/band societies, and Graeber's description of the Malagasy. I'm also stoked on experiments in gift economies and alternative exchange, hacking and subversive use of technology, various anti-work strategies, ect.

So far, attempts at large scale anarchist revolutions have been disastrous. I can only hope that the marginal self-organized communities we have to work with can chip away at structure of control until they no longer exist. If not, creating as much cooperative autonomy as possible as soon as possible is a valuable end in itself.

A properly sized voluntary government could possibly be supported through voluntary "taxes." Think of usage fees, contract enforcement fees, lotteries, etc.

If you're interested in a more complete answer, Ayn Rand answered this question thoroughly in chapter 15 of The Virtue of Selfishness. You should be able to find it online, the whole chapter is only ~5 pages. Rand is really only describing what she believes to be a possible way to "voluntarily" fund the state, I think she mostly thinks the problem would solve itself if we were to find ourselves in a truly "free and capitalist society." I'm neither an Objectivist or a Randian, but you may find her explanation interesting.

It's sad what has become of this subReddit. It's filled to the brim with non-libertarians. There are ways for a state to raise revenue without "taxes." There are ways to provide all the services states provide in the absence of a state entirely, too.

> I ask again, what's your alternative model?

And again, I say for the nth time, "alternate models" are not required to call the existing model what it is.

> Can you quote me some relevant Spooner if you're very familiar with him?

Spooner's work is vast, but $0.99 will get you going with this most broad work

He basically debunks the idea that citizens "consent" to the social contract and points out that without consent, contracts are void.

> Can you give me any clearer reasoning why the logic fails than "mental gymnastics?"

Because it's roundabout logic to justify something that is clearly theft. "Well without some theft, we wouldn't even have the concept of theft man"

Complete nonstarter.

Sorry for not being more clear. I was referring to the popular far-right platform of diversity of race in Europe, the US, or Canda, being tantamount to the genocide of white people in those places.

Check with put the reviews for a book that Jonas Nilsson, the person that made this film, wrote.

He's a blatant white nationalist

https://thelibertarianideal.wordpress.com/2016/02/11/the-ancient-future-anarcho-feudalism/

Anarcho-Fascism: Nature Reborn https://www.amazon.com/dp/9188667200/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_R-zxCbWTJB38B

And you thought i was joking

It's on amazon in print

http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Government-Haunted-World-Voluntaryism-Non-Aggression/dp/0982923090

Kropotkin actually wrote a book on ethics, titled Ethics: Origin and Development. I can't vouch for the quality of the paperback edition, as mine is an older hardcover. Needless to say, this is one of his lesser-known works among the left. Very worth reading, though, especially given the topic of your essay. In a way, it's kind of a continuation on what he advances in Mutual Aid, but with an eye more towards the historical development of the ideas of moral systems, and an evaluation via anarchist ethics.

> Au milieu de tous ces gens en noirs, il y a aussi pleins de caméras, de journalistes à l’affût de l’Action, en quête de THE image qui fera le buzz et rapportera des dividendes aux actionnaires. Cette image, c’est forcément celle d’un « casseur », c’est tellement extraordinaire et impensable en France passive et pacifiée. Cette image, c’est celle d’un émeutier isolé et pas celle de l’émeute ; montrer l’émeute, c’est montrer la meute, c’est laisser sous-entendre le soulèvement populaire, l’organisation collective et l’énergie commune qui s’unissent contre le pouvoir. Montrer le révolté isolé, c’est le stigmatiser, le discréditer, et le marginaliser. C’est anéantir la révolte à la racine. Montrer la révolte comme mouvement de foule, ce serait la sublimer, montrer sa force et sa beauté, plaire, séduire, convaincre, et grandir.

Un 1^er mai à Paris

> et c’est avant-hier, en cassant ce mur en parpaing dont je vous parlais à l’instant, que je me suis dit la chose suivante

> madame la ministre, monsieur le ministre, mesdames les gouverneurs, et messieurs les gouvernantes, madame la présidente, monsieur le président, madame la directrice, monsieur le général, générales à mamelles et générales à couilles, directeurs, préfètes, préfets

> si

> vous laissiez le temps aux casseurs et aux casseuses de pêter intégralement les distributeurs de billets et les vitrines de banque, et, les caméras de vidéo-surveillance, et

> si vous leur laissiez le temps de tout bien nettoyer et de construire à la place de telle ou telle banque ce qu’elles et ils souhaitent réellement construire

> car, oui, madame la ministre, oui, monsieur le ministre et mesdames les gouverneurs, messieurs les gouvernantes, madame la présidente, monsieur le président, madame la directrice, monsieur le général, à mamelles, madame la générale, à couilles, directeurs, préfètes, préfets

> on

> ne casse pas pour le plaisir de la seule casse, jamais

> ça ne s’est jamais vu

> on casse toujours avec l’envie d’une construction réelle

> d’une construction réellement autre

Casser, désirer, travailler, bâtir

Et pour lire un vrai travail sur les casseurs/émeutiers/black bloc, ce bouquin est pas mal

Hi im here to convert you all to anarchy. (https://www.amazon.com/Worlds-First-Anarchist-Manifesto/dp/187360582X)

https://www.amazon.com/Anarcho-Fascism-Nature-Reborn-Jonas-Nilsson/dp/9188667200

it has and it was good

Against the State

Here's a decent anthology.

Statism and Anarchy (1873)

Excerpt, including this quote.

Actually, I've done some looking into this... It's the banking order more than any private military junket which contributes to this.

In fact up until Napoleon most armies were private.

In a post Napoleonic world the privatization of the military is a much needed reform IF it is paired with an abolition of legal tender laws and the monopolization of the money supply. It is central banking which allows for endless war.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Myth-National-Defense-Production/dp/0945466374

“Jonas Nilsson is the author to Anarcho-Fascism Nature Reborn”

Looked the book up on Amazon. The official description is incredibly — purposely — vague, but the reviews make it clear: this dude’s racist as hell.

Not only that, but Jonas Nilsson, the narrator and producer of that "documentary" is a well-known alt-right lunatic and author of Anarcho-Fascism: Nature Reborn.

1. First choice: What /u/mr_gentleman_sir said.
   
2. Since that was already taken: Every person living in America should read No Treason: The Constitution of No Authority (Complete Series) by Lysander Spooner (http://amzn.com/B0047746AW)

Why are you criticizing me about my tone? At multiple points you've tried to attack my character going as far to say I'm on welfare. I'm not sure why you keep going back to the high paying job thing, I assume from lack of any actual argument.

Anyone in this conversation I've said is a white nationalist is because they are self proclaimed white nationalists. I haven't accused anyone of anything.

AfriForum

Jonas Nilsson

1. What are your views on taxes?
   
   A violation of the rights of the person being taken from.
   
   
2. If you had a distilled list of the top ten Anarcho-Capitalism principles or beliefs what would they be?
   
   Put simply, Anarcho-Capitalism is based on the common understanding of private property and the rejection of the idea that anyone, particularly the government, can legitimately override these property rights for any reason. Ancaps may abbreviate this as "The non-aggression principle", understanding 'aggression' to be "violations of person or property."
   
   
3. What are your thoughts on my position that the deregulating of the financial markets led to the great recession?
   
   For a complete treatment of the crash from an ancap perspective see the book Meltdown.
   
   
4. Do you believe that mass resource stockpiling is not a problem?
   
   It's not a problem, or to the degree that it is, economics puts a check on it.
   
   
5. Would an Anarcho-Capitalist society have laws? How would they be enforced?
   
   Yes. By institutions that society does not treat as having the legitimate authority to violate rights. E.g. The agents of the State murder innocent people and get away with it. Private security agents, in the rare circumstances where they do murder someone, are much more likely to be held accountable. The State collects taxes and people accept it, while the Mafia collects 'protection money' and everyone knows it's a racket.
   
   
6. What are the foremost writings on this system and why?
   
   

• Frederic Bastiat's The Law Amazon / HTML
  
  
• The Machinery of Freedom Third edition, Amazon / Second edition, PDF
  
  
• No Treason Amazon / HTML
  
  
• The Anatomy of the State Amazon / PDF
  

Jeffrey M. Bale, The Darkest Side of Politics I: Postwar Fascism, Covert Operations and Terrorism

Jeffrey M. Bale, The Darkest Side of Politics II: State Terrorism, "Weapons of Mass Destruction." Religious Extremism, and Organized Crime

Richard J. Chasdi, Corporate Security Crossroads: Responding to Terrorism, Cyberthreats, and Other Hazards in the Global Business Environment

Cynthia C. Combs, Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century

Fergal F. Davis and Fiona de Londras, Critical Debates on Counter-Terrorism Judicial Review

Dave Dilegge and Robert J. Bunker, Jihadi Terrorism, Insurgency, and the Islamic State: A Small Wars Journal Anthology

Edward Dunbar, Amalio Blanco, and Desiree A. Crevecoeur-MacPhail, The Psychology of Hate Crimes as Domestic Terrorism - U.S. and Global Issues. Three Volumes - Volume 1: Theoretical, Legal, and Cultural Factors; Volume 2: Assessment Issues with Victims and Offenders, Volume 3: Interventions, Treatment, and Management

Christopher C Harmon and Randall G Bowdish, The Terrorist Argument: Modern Advocacy and Propaganda

Beatrice Heuser and Eitan Shamir, Insurgencies and Counterinsurgencies: National Styles and Strategic Cultures

Sara Yael Hirschhorn, City on a Hilltop: American Jews and Israeli Settler Movement

Michael B. Kraft and Edward Marks, Counterterrorism: From Nixon to Trump - Key Challenges, Issues, and Responses

Ronit Marzan, Yasser Arafat: Rhetoric of Alone Leader

Hilary Matfess and Michael Miklaucic, Beyond Convergence: World Without Order

Gerry Nagtzaam, From Environmental Action to Ecoterrorism? Towards a Process Theory of Environmental and Animal Rights Oriented Political Violence

Richard A. Nielsen, Deadly Clerics: Blocked Ambition and the Paths to Jihad

Donald Rooum, What is Anarchism: An Introduction

Deepak Tripathi, Breeding Ground: Afghanistan and the Origins of Islamist Terrorism

Charles Webel and Mark Tomass, Assessing the War on Terror: Western and Middle Eastern Perspectives

About the Reviewer: Dr. Joshua Sinai is the Book Reviews Editor of Perspectives on Terrorism. You can email him at: Joshua.Sinai@comcast.net