Not So Free to Choose - by Elton Rayack (Hardcover)

About the Book

This book is a critical and carefully documented study of the influence of the teachings of economist Milton Friedman on the current administration. Claiming that Friedman's popular writings have exerted a powerful influence on the policies, ideology, and rhetoric of the Reagan administration, the author examines some 300 columns Friedman has written for Newsweek along with his best-selling books, Capitalism and Freedom and Free to Choose. While conceding that President Reagan has sometimes opposed Friedman's recommendations, the author argues that by examining which Reagan proposals deviated from Friedman's laissez-faire line we can gain insight into the Presidet's real objectives as distinguished from the goals contained in his free-market rhetoric.

Book Synopsis

This book is a critical and carefully documented study of the influence of the teachings of economist Milton Friedman on the current administration. Claiming that Friedman's popular writings have exerted a powerful influence on the policies, ideology, and rhetoric of the Reagan administration, the author examines some 300 columns Friedman has written for Newsweek along with his best-selling books, Capitalism and Freedom and Free to Choose. While conceding that President Reagan has sometimes opposed Friedman's recommendations, the author argues that by examining which Reagan proposals deviated from Friedman's laissez-faire line we can gain insight into the Presidet's real objectives as distinguished from the goals contained in his free-market rhetoric.

Review Quotes

?Since Milton Friedman's economic and social philosophy has been pretty much adopted by Ronald Reagan, an analysis of the former's validity--as is done in this book--throws much light on the latter. In an exceedingly readable form, Rayack (who received his PhD at the University of Chicago, where Friedman taught) dissects the various Friedman policies and usually shows them to be either shallow in reasoning or based on twisted facts, as well as cavalier in their treatment of history.... Critics of Reaganomics will find much to confirm their views; supporters would do well to ponder the implications. Academic and public library collections.?-Choice

"Since Milton Friedman's economic and social philosophy has been pretty much adopted by Ronald Reagan, an analysis of the former's validity--as is done in this book--throws much light on the latter. In an exceedingly readable form, Rayack (who received his PhD at the University of Chicago, where Friedman taught) dissects the various Friedman policies and usually shows them to be either shallow in reasoning or based on twisted facts, as well as cavalier in their treatment of history.... Critics of Reaganomics will find much to confirm their views; supporters would do well to ponder the implications. Academic and public library collections."-Choice