“The Law,” “The State,” and Other Political Writings, 1843–1850 (The Collected Works of Frédéric Bastiat)

this should be required reading in high school

This is one book of three that has the works of French economist Bastiat. Well worth reading. Start with "the Law" if you're not familiar with him.

The title of the review sums things quite well. One immense source of the value of Bastiat is the fact that he wrote in the middle of the 19th century and so the clarity of his arguments are unclouded by current political rhetoric. His attacks on the growth of the State and the potentially unlimited utopian fantasies of those who would be "The Legislator" coupled with his juxtaposition of the events in France with the freedom experienced by the Americans of his era provide a telling lesson for today (slavery aside, which he attacks). Bastiat reminds us of the fact that the State IS force. It has no other tools (just remember, "Jim Crow Laws" were LAWS and not "Jim Crow Recommended Best Practices").

You have to be a thinker to enjoy this one....Liberals of today - need not apply themselves...it'll be a waste of your time

This is one of the best books on Liberty, justice, and private property that has been written.

Great book

Bastiat's words are as relavent now as when they were written. There are times I lose track of the fact I am not reading about our misguided present politics.

The book is in great shape. As described.