The Road to Serfdom, the Definitive Edition

Text and Documents

By: F. A. Hayek, Bruce Caldwell - editor

Narrated by: William Hughes

An unimpeachable classic work in political philosophy, intellectual and cultural history, and economics, The Road to Serfdom has inspired and infuriated politicians, scholars, and the public for half a century. Originally published in 1944 - when Eleanor Roosevelt supported the efforts of Stalin, and Albert Einstein subscribed lock, stock, and barrel to the socialist program - The Road to Serfdom was seen as heretical for its passionate warning against the dangers of state control over the means of production. For F. A. Hayek, the collectivist idea of empowering government with increasing economic control would lead not to a utopia but to the horrors of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy.

First published by the University of Chicago Press on September 18, 1944, The Road to Serfdom garnered immediate, widespread attention. The first printing of 2,000 copies was exhausted instantly, and within six months more than 30,000 books were sold. In April 1945, Reader's Digest published a condensed version of the book, and soon thereafter the Book-of-the-Month Club distributed this edition to more than 600,000 readers. A perennial best seller, the book has sold 400,000 copies in the United States alone and has been translated into more than 20 languages, along the way becoming one of the most important and influential books of the century.

With this new edition, The Road to Serfdom takes its place in the series the Collected Works of F. A. Hayek. The volume includes a foreword by series editor and leading Hayek scholar Bruce Caldwell explaining the book's origins and publishing history and assessing common misinterpretations of Hayek's thought. Caldwell has also standardized and corrected Hayek's references and added helpful new explanatory notes. Supplemented with an appendix of related materials ranging from prepublication reports on the initial manuscript to forewords to earlier editions by John Chamberlain, Milton Friedman, and Hayek himself, this new edition of The Road to Serfdom is the definitive version of Hayek's enduring masterwork.

©2007 Estate of F. A. Hayek (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Subtle, thoughtful, well reasoned classic

The narrator really struggles with the German. Otherwise it's quite well done. Excellent, thought provoking book.

A must read

Eviscerates Socialism. Eerily similar examples of today’s Progressives. Chapter 13 I believe that demonstrates the use of the Scientific community by the State to perpetuate propaganda.

Either side of the argument should read this book

I don't understand how narrators can be selected reading a book without being able to pronounce the quotations of the author in his native language. This book was insightful and entertaining to read, especially since I don't agree with all aspects of the view of the author. At a minimum it taught me to clearly state my understanding of words misused in public discuss today.

An absolute must read

I love this book as a recommendation by nova Friedman Redfield‘s essays. He brought a smile to my face as I finished listening to the very last part of the book introduction to the 1994 edition by Milton Friedman. I hope somewhere that he and Mr. Hayek are debating the nature of a present day O’Conner economic situation somewhere in the clouds. Thank you for this book.

A brilliant book

A must read for anyone curious about the reason our world is upsidedown and getting worse. It's both enlightening and terrifying.

no true socialist scotsmen

enlightening read. i had told that the 'socialism' of 'national socialism' was just fashy marketing but i stand corrected..

As powerful today as ever.

Extensive and well narrated, this definitive edition puts in to clear context what it means not to learn from the lessons history. More so than the problems associated with central planning, the lessons of how socialism gave birth to facial are as critical (or even more so) to understand today as it was 1944.

insightful and clear

Stunning analysis of history that few have heard but everyone can understand. I would recommend to anyone that has a passion for fighting racism in whatever form it shows itself.

William Hughes' reading of this classic is excitin

Can cental planners objectively decide the value created by the butcher, Baker, and candlestick maker to allocate what they get? And then change just as those values change? And do it with enough notice so that these professions can make decisions accordingly? And feel that the decisions were just and impartial even when the planners decide their incomes should fall? Hayek asks these questions almost in a way that he's shocked that they even need to be asked.

great read of the classic book.

I listened over many days. The fact that so many translations have been around even in communist Hungary confirms the value of the necessity to read this book.
Am open mind for the reader will be enlightening of the ideas in this story upon its conclusion.