I Pencil
50th Anniversary Edition
I, Pencil
My Family Tree as Told to Leonard E. Read
FOUNDATION FOR ECONOMIC EDUCATION
30 South Broadway Irvington-on-Hudson New York 10533 1-800-960-4FEE • 914-591-7230 www.fee.org
“I, Pencil” is a superb case study of free markets in action. Half of the world’s economic problems would vanish if everyone would read “I, Pencil.” Burton W. Folsom, Jr. Professor of History Hillsdale College
b
There is no better, more easily understood, and more fun explanation of the complexity of markets than Leonard Read’s “I, Pencil.” It ought to give considerable pause when we listen to the arrogance of politicians who tell us they can manage an economy better than millions, perhaps billions, of independent decision makers in pursuit of their own personal goals. Its message to would-be planners is to bug out! Walter E. Williams John M. Olin Distinguished Professor of Economics George Mason University
b
The most valuable truths about economics and liberty can be found in a lowly lead pencil. When my children are old enough, I will read them a classic little essay by the late philosopher Leonard E. Read that turns a mundane writing instrument into an elementary lesson about free-market capitalism. Michelle Malkin Syndicated columnist
b
I, Pencil
My Family Tree as Told to Leonard E. Read
Introduction by Lawrence W. Reed Afterword by Milton Friedman
This edition of “I, Pencil” is dedicated to our late esteemed colleague, Beth A. Hoffman, who worked on its production as her last project before her untimely passing on December 1, 2008. Information concerning the Beth A. Hoffman Memorial Scholarship Fund may be found at www.fee.org.
Foundation for Economic Education Irvington-on-Hudson, New York 10533
b
Leonard E. Read (1898–1983) established the Foundation for Economic Education in 1946. For the next 37 years he served as FEE’s president and labored tirelessly to promote and advance liberty. He was a natural leader
I, Pencil
My Family Tree as Told to Leonard E. Read
FOUNDATION FOR ECONOMIC EDUCATION
30 South Broadway Irvington-on-Hudson New York 10533 1-800-960-4FEE • 914-591-7230 www.fee.org
“I, Pencil” is a superb case study of free markets in action. Half of the world’s economic problems would vanish if everyone would read “I, Pencil.” Burton W. Folsom, Jr. Professor of History Hillsdale College
b
There is no better, more easily understood, and more fun explanation of the complexity of markets than Leonard Read’s “I, Pencil.” It ought to give considerable pause when we listen to the arrogance of politicians who tell us they can manage an economy better than millions, perhaps billions, of independent decision makers in pursuit of their own personal goals. Its message to would-be planners is to bug out! Walter E. Williams John M. Olin Distinguished Professor of Economics George Mason University
b
The most valuable truths about economics and liberty can be found in a lowly lead pencil. When my children are old enough, I will read them a classic little essay by the late philosopher Leonard E. Read that turns a mundane writing instrument into an elementary lesson about free-market capitalism. Michelle Malkin Syndicated columnist
b
I, Pencil
My Family Tree as Told to Leonard E. Read
Introduction by Lawrence W. Reed Afterword by Milton Friedman
This edition of “I, Pencil” is dedicated to our late esteemed colleague, Beth A. Hoffman, who worked on its production as her last project before her untimely passing on December 1, 2008. Information concerning the Beth A. Hoffman Memorial Scholarship Fund may be found at www.fee.org.
Foundation for Economic Education Irvington-on-Hudson, New York 10533
b
Leonard E. Read (1898–1983) established the Foundation for Economic Education in 1946. For the next 37 years he served as FEE’s president and labored tirelessly to promote and advance liberty. He was a natural leader