Category: Book Review

Surrounded by Libertarians

Book Review

Libertarian review that highlights books on individual freedom, limited government, free markets, and personal responsibility. It critiques works from diverse genres, promoting independent thought and offering insights into libertarian ideas and their real-world impact.

How Libertarian Activists Can Use Surrounded by Idiots

Thomas Erikson’s book, Surrounded by Idiots, is about understanding personality types and learning how to communicate effectively with others. By dividing people into four color-based personality groups—Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue—Erikson shows how to adapt your communication style to better connect with others. For libertarian activists, this framework can be a powerful tool to engage with the community and spread the Libertarian Platform in a way that resonates with different audiences.

Understanding Your Audience

Libertarian values, like individual freedom, personal responsibility, and voluntary cooperation, appeal to people in different ways. Erikson’s personality types help activists recognize how people’s personalities shape their perspectives:

  • Reds value action and results. They are bold and decisive but may not want to spend much time debating ideas. When talking to Reds, libertarians can emphasize how their policies cut through government red tape and allow people to make quick, impactful decisions without interference. For example, Reds might respond well to arguments about how deregulation allows businesses to thrive.
  • Yellows are optimistic and social. They love big ideas and excitement but can lose interest in dry details. To connect with Yellows, activists can focus on inspiring visions of a freer, more creative society. Stories of individuals who’ve succeeded through innovation and personal freedom will resonate with them.
  • Greens are loyal and peace-loving. They dislike conflict and prefer steady, reliable solutions. Greens might be drawn to libertarian policies that promote community-driven solutions over government mandates. Showing how individuals can collaborate voluntarily to solve problems could win their support.
  • Blues are analytical and focused on rules. They value facts and precision, so they need clear, logical explanations. When engaging with Blues, libertarians should emphasize the evidence behind their policies, like data on how free-market systems reduce poverty and improve living standards.

Building Connections

Libertarian activism often faces the challenge of overcoming misunderstandings about what the movement stands for. Erikson’s framework can help activists build trust by meeting people where they are. Instead of expecting everyone to think the same way, activists can tailor their approach to fit each personality type.

For example, a Red personality might be put off by lengthy philosophical discussions, but a quick, decisive pitch about cutting taxes could catch their attention. Meanwhile, a Yellow personality might prefer an energetic rally or social event that highlights the fun, creative side of libertarianism. Greens may appreciate one-on-one conversations that feel personal and supportive, while Blues will likely want detailed white papers or statistics to review.

By understanding these differences, activists can avoid one-size-fits-all messaging that doesn’t resonate with their audience. This personalized approach reflects the libertarian principle of respecting individual uniqueness and freedom of thought.

Spreading the Platform

Surrounded by Idiots also encourages self-awareness. Activists can use the book’s lessons to identify their own strengths and weaknesses. Are you a Yellow who loves energizing crowds but struggles to stay organized? Or maybe you’re a Blue who excels at research but needs to practice connecting emotionally with others. Recognizing your own personality type helps you play to your strengths while improving weaker areas.

In a libertarian society, solutions are decentralized, and people work together voluntarily. Erikson’s ideas align with this philosophy by promoting collaboration and mutual understanding. By learning to adapt their communication styles, libertarian activists can create stronger, more diverse coalitions and spread their platform effectively.

A Tool for Liberty

Ultimately, Surrounded by Idiots is a guide to building bridges. It teaches activists how to respect others’ individuality and connect on a human level. These skills are essential for spreading libertarian values, which are all about empowering people to live freely and responsibly.

By using Erikson’s insights, libertarian activists can better understand their communities, build trust, and inspire people to join the movement for liberty. When you communicate with empathy and adaptability, you don’t just spread ideas—you show people what freedom looks like in action.

Why Johnny Still Can’t Read: A Libertarian Take

Book Review

Libertarian review that highlights books on individual freedom, limited government, free markets, and personal responsibility. It critiques works from diverse genres, promoting independent thought and offering insights into libertarian ideas and their real-world impact.

Rudolf Flesch’s book Why Johnny Still Can’t Read (1981) exposes the failures of America’s education system in teaching kids to read. It builds on his earlier work, Why Johnny Can’t Read (1955), and argues that schools continue to use ineffective teaching methods, leaving millions of children unable to read properly. Flesch places the blame on government control, bureaucratic stubbornness, and special interests, calling for parents to take back control of their children’s education.

The Problem with Reading Education

Flesch focuses on the “look-say” or whole-word method, which teaches kids to memorize entire words by sight rather than understanding how letters and sounds work together. This method treats reading like recognizing pictures instead of a logical skill. Flesch argues this approach ignores how the English language works and sets kids up for failure.

Instead, he champions phonics, which teaches kids to connect letters with sounds and sound out words step by step. Phonics gives kids the tools to read new words independently. Without it, children end up frustrated and unable to read anything beyond the words they’ve memorized. Flesch calls this failure not just a mistake, but a betrayal of children’s potential.

Why Schools Stick to Bad Methods

The real villain in this story is government overreach. Public schools operate like monopolies, with little accountability to parents or competition to drive improvement. Bureaucrats and textbook companies profit from sticking to the whole-word method, even when it fails students. Teachers, tied to union rules and outdated practices, often have no say in how reading is taught.

Flesch points out that government control of education stifles innovation. Instead of experimenting with better methods like phonics, schools double down on bad policies because admitting failure would hurt their reputation. Worse, parents are forced to accept whatever the system decides because they have no real alternatives if they can’t afford private schools or tutoring.

The Consequences of Poor Reading Instruction

The failure to teach reading properly has devastating effects. Kids who struggle to read fall behind in every subject, limiting their future opportunities. Many develop a hatred of reading and lose confidence in their ability to learn. This failure is entirely preventable, but the system’s refusal to change makes kids—and society—pay the price.

Flesch argues that literacy is a fundamental skill for freedom. People who can’t read well are easier to control and manipulate, which benefits those in power. A population that struggles with reading is less likely to question authority or seek out new ideas.

A Call for Parental Action

Flesch doesn’t just blame the system; he empowers parents to take action. He encourages them to teach their kids phonics at home if schools won’t. He provides simple steps for parents to follow, proving that teaching reading isn’t complicated when you use the right method.

Libertarians can see this as a perfect example of how individuals, not government, solve problems. Parents who take charge of their children’s education can bypass the broken system and give their kids the tools they need to succeed. Flesch’s message is clear: don’t wait for schools to fix themselves—act now.

The Libertarian Solution

Flesch’s critique aligns with libertarian ideas about education reform. He shows how central planning and government monopolies lead to failure, while individual action and choice lead to success. A system that gives parents more control—through school choice, vouchers, or homeschooling—would let families escape failing schools and encourage competition to improve education for everyone.

Why Johnny Still Can’t Read remains a powerful reminder that freedom works better than bureaucracy. By taking education out of the government’s hands and putting it back into the hands of families, we can ensure that every child learns to read—and learns to love it.