Most Dangerous Superstition

Larken Rose has written a comprehensive manifesto of anarchy or voluntaryist society. "The Most Dangerous Superstition" may be one of the most valuable books I've read in literally decades. He thoroughly demolishes the value of government (and, by implication, democracy) by showing how government is merely and solely a mechanism to impose demands on individuals. He shows over and over how government, and the accompanying belief in authority, is destructive and how it has held back what could be tremendous strides forward for all of human civilization. Rose's words are largely aimed at the U.S. government and authorities but can be applied to any government anywhere at any time in history.As a libertarian for 40+ years, I finally realized that I cannot support ANY voting or other encouragement of government or authoritarianism. Being a libertarian was not enough!I've long believed the simple rules of the non-aggression principal, self-ownership, and personal responsibility but Rose has unflinchingly described the imperative of living this conviction. If you seek true freedom, you must investigate further and "The Most Dangerous Superstition" is an extremely important book. Other books from Lew Rockwell, Murray Rothbard, Hans-Hermann Hoppe, and Stefan Molyneaux are superb but Rose's writing is nothing short of a tour de force of logic ... and hope.I urge you to read this book thoughtfully. You may experience the same philosophical epiphany that I did ... and if you do, it will set you free in a way you may not be able imagine today.The only negatives I can offer are style ones: Rose extensively uses quotation marks ("x") around words he argues are part of the myths. I understand his intent but it was somewhat visually bothersome to encounter so many words in quotes, especially when repeated multiple times. The other style issue was some problem with attempts to use italics; in some cases only one letter of a word meant to be in italics was italicized. This was probably an artifact of transition from print to eBook but again was visually distracting.Other reviewers have noted some repetitiveness in Rose's message and I must agree with those comments. However, I used it as a reminder that Rose was stressing certain points so the repeated concepts didn't bother me.On whole and without any doubt or hesitation, I urge those reading this review to buy and study this book! It is that important a message. (Note that I have no affiliation with the author and get nothing from writing these words other the satisfaction of helping others to see the light.)

Over the course of my life, I've come to intuitively recognize how broken governments around the world are. But I've never quite been able to put my finger on the cause, much less a solution. After reading this book, both the cause and solution are glaringly obvious to me.Larken Rose brilliantly and patiently walks you through perceiving the authority programming, to see the truth that you instinctively know; that the myth of authority/government has been used to manipulate and control humans for eons. We have been so repeatedly told mistruths about the need for authority, that I surprisingly found the repetition in this book to have been helpful in untangling the layer after layer of accumulated mistruths.There are so many things that I had previously assumed that governments/authoritarianism were necessary in order to accomplish, a necessary evil. That I was rather startled while being guided to contemplate a world without governments, to see it would not only be possible but even more effective! And indeed, much of the growth/success we attribute to modern society/governments are NOT actually the result of governments, but rather in spite of governments.I still smile at his playful reference to another myth adults have outgrown, "To say that society cannot exist without “government” is as reasonable as saying that Christmas cannot occur without Santa Claus. Society already exists without “government,” and has from the beginning."I found this book extremely helpful and well written. He approaches the topic from so many different angles and gives so many examples that I left the book with much more clarity and a sense of hope for the future of our world. There IS a solution for moving beyond the violence and oppression inherent in the authoritarian systems that are currently in place! Thank you for illuminating that solution Larken! Brilliantly done.

Essential reading for citizens of the world.

Voluntarist viewpoint of society/government. Shines on a light on the injustices and contradictions of traditional views.

This is a great book that "everyone" should read. They should also view Rose's YouTube videos. It's amazing that something that is such perfect common sense is alien and confrontational to most of our citizenry.It would be interesting to go back and outline the book. As I read it I kept having the feeling "I've read this page before". It was that way all the way through. I don't know if it was repetition or getting the same ideas across using different contexts and examples. I was tempted, all the way through to say ... "ok, I've got it ... now what?".Reaching the end I was still left with the "Now what?" question. When you get rid of laws and authority, then you have to consider if the void that leaves needs to be refilled ... and if so, with what. The book was of zero help to me in this regard.When I recommend this book to others, I tell them to read the two paragraphs in bold print on the last page. It sets the stage. I have loaned the book out so I can't quote those paragraphs here ... and probably shouldn't quote them anyway.But read this book.I'm now looking for the book that, knowing "I am the boss of me", what do I do?. How do I get a road built? How do I get an airport built? How do I keep from having 100's of airports in every city? I suspect it's like an addiction. When you take away the vice, there is a period of withdrawal ... and then you go find something to fill the void while guarding against falling back into the old paradigm.

If you can read this incredible book in its entirety without collapsing into utter despair, your life will be changed forever. We may never be able to live in a state of Grace again, but that does not mean we cannot resist the great evil that has befallen us. RESIST THE THECHNOCRACY.

Hint, it's never in the best interest of the public.

Great perspective on how to view authority and why we are in a state to be robbed and pushed about by the bizzies/guvvies in uniforms/suits and ties!

Ce livre attire l'attention sur des notions qui semblent tellement aller de soi que personnellement, je n'avais pas eu l'idée de les examiner, et... combien ma vision du monde est maintenant transformée!Larken Rose montre à quel point, si on prend la peine de regarder, on voit que la notion d'une autorité qui sait mieux que nous gérer la société, et prendre de meilleures décisions, n'est basée que sur du vent, et sur le dressage à l'obéissance qu'on subit à l'école, renforcé constamment par les médias.On prend conscience à quel point on est conditionnés à accepter qu'un petit pourcentage de malfaiteurs (paumés à mon avis) continuent à exploiter tout le monde. Ils provoquent les guerres, presque toute la violence et la pollution et la pauvreté, alors qu'on mettrait vite fin à ça si ils n'arriveaient pas à se donner un aura de légitimité.Cette fausse légitimité, le mythe de l'autorité, dont ce livre démonte une à une les multiples facettes, est ce qui permet de manipuler la grande majorité à obéir, et ainsi perpétuer l'injustice et l'exploitation.Se libérer de cette croyance fausse et dangereuse me semble indispensable, pour aller enfin vers le monde meilleur qu'on souhaite tous.

The best book I ever read.

If you have ever felt something is not right with society, that there must be a better way, the answer you are seeking is inside this book.