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Title: Individualism

Subtitle: A Reader

Author: Marilyn Moore - editor, George H. Smith - editor

Narrator: James Foster

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 44 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-15-15

Publisher: Cato Institute

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 6 votes

Genres: Nonfiction, Philosophy

Publisher's Summary:

Individualism is one of most criticized and least understood ideas in social and political thought. Is individualism the ability to act independently amidst a web of social forces? A vital element of personal liberty and a shield against conformity? Does it lead to or away from unifying individuals with communities?

Individualism: A Reader provides a wealth of illuminating essays from the 17th to the early 20th centuries. In 26 selections from 25 writers, individualism is explained and defended, often from unusual perspectives. This anthology includes not only selections from well-known writers, but also many lesser-known pieces - recorded here for the first time - by philosophers, social theorists, and economists who have been overlooked in standard accounts of individualism.

The depth and complexity of ideas about individualism are reflected in the six sections in this collection. The first examines individuality generally, with the following five detailing social, moral, political, religious, and economic individualism. Throughout, individualism is analyzed and defended through the lenses of classical liberalism, free market libertarianism, individual anarchism, voluntary socialism, religious individualism, abolitionism, free thought, and radical feminism.

Both richly historical and sharply contemporary, Individualism: A Reader provides a multitude of perspectives and insights on personal liberty and the history of freedom.

Members Reviews:

Historical Individualism

This is a valuable historical Reader, in that it vividly shows the relatively short history of the concept of individualism -- the last few hundred years. To see entries by Wilhelm Humboldt and Roger Ingersoll (to name two of great interest to me) shows the use of this compilation. The editors do even "sneak" in a short item by St. Augustine to show one prominent example of an ancient reference to the conception, even if the concept itself wasn't discussed.

I just wish the Reader had the greater ambition of including modern writers -- but the stated limitation of the editors was to only use public domain writings -- though they bring up Ayn Rand in passing in their introduction. A more complete Reader, with, for example, an essay by Rand, our era's strongest advocate of the morality of individualism, would be a welcome companion to allow direct comparison against these early attempts to identify and explain this fundamental idea of a person's relation to the world and to those around him in society.

A Decent Collection

Rather than going into great detail, let me give the general gist. This collection of public domain essays and outtakes covers arguments for individualism and its brothers libertarianism, voluntaryism, and other minimalist forms of government that support the rights of the individual to live peacefully while pursuing happiness in the world. The texts are ancient and modern (18th to 20th centuries), with authors from many walks of life. It well supports the fact that self-determination is not a recent idea, nor is it a thought based in greed or spite for our fellow men. Contrarily, it is the most moral code available in this world of imperfect people.

The only weakness I would suggest exists is a lack of discussion of the pieces, aside from a bit of historical introduction. And that may be good or bad.