Liberty Against Power: Essays by Roy A. Childs, Jr.

Nineteen essays on political philosophy, policy analysis, and book and music reviews, reveal the multifaceted mind of the man who knew everyone in the libertarian movement, learned from everyone, and was mentor to scores of young (and not-so-young) scholars and professional libertarians.

"The best of Roy Childs' written thought. These 19 essays range in time from an attack on the draft written when Roy was in his late teens, to an unfinished 'refutation' of anarcho- capitalism composed in his last years. There are theoretical essays--on subjects including libertarianism and its traditions, civil liberties as property rights, and the totally voluntary society- -and there are other essays dealing with more specific topics, such as the war on drugs. Ayn Rand's death in 1982 furnished the occasion for a thoughtful analysis of her enduring legacy and her place in the libertarian movement. "All the essays in this exciting book brim with what Joan Kennedy Taylor rightly calls Roy's 'unquenchable enthusiasm.'"-- Ralph Raico

"Little in life is more tragic than the shooting stars, the brilliant lights who illuminate the truth and brighten people's lives, only to flame-out before the history books take notice. Roy A. Childs, Jr. was one such phenomenon. A leading libertarian writer, editor and activist, Roy was also a good friend, tough intellectual sparring partner, and generous mentor...

"Liberty Against Power... makes for a wonderful read... It ranges across the philosophical and policy waterfront... The lead article is the book's title essay, setting the philosophical tone for not only this volume, but Roy's life. Over the last century, he observes, 'we have seen a massive growth in state power at the expense of what Albert Jay Nock called "social power."' To what result? 'Honesty calls upon us to proclaim that power everywhere is impotent in the face' of today's problems. And that he does eloquently and often."-- Doug Bandow, author of Politics of Envy