The Fortunate
Ten great writers highlight how we created free and affluent societies
Peter Fenwick
Foreword by David Kemp
With contributions from: Frédéric Bastiat, Leonard E. Read,
F.A. Hayek, Ludwig von Mises, Deirdre McCloskey, Matt Ridley, Martin
Luther King, Jonathan Haidt, Meg Wheatley, Peter Murphy
Paperback, 190 pages, $29.95
ISBN: 9781922815118
July 2022 Release
In The Fortunate, Peter Fenwick discusses the history, economics,
and philosophies that underpin our modern world – the Lockean
Revolution - highlighted by essays from some of his favourite writers.
Here, you will find Frédéric Bastiat wittily demolishing
protectionism; Leonard E. Read describing the miracle of the price
mechanism; F.A. Hayek analysing sound economic decision-making; Ludwig
von Mises explaining how life changes when ‘the customer becomes king’;
Martin Luther King Jr dreaming of a United States in which its founding
principles will apply equally regardless of race; Jonathan Haidt, Meg
Wheatley and Peter Murphy warning us about disturbing trends in our
society; Matt Ridley reviewing 100 years of communism; and Deirdre
McCloskey explaining how the Great Enrichment came about due to a change
in rhetoric about liberty and human dignity.
The philosophers of the Enlightenment told us that liberty works and
that prosperity flows from it. Two hundred years of history has shown us
that this is true - that it works in practice. Moreover, it applies,
not just in the Anglosphere or in the developed world. The concepts are
valid universally.
Societies which have embraced liberal democratic principles –
individual rights, private property, the rule of law, and representative
government – have thrived. Now everyone can live happy, prosperous and
meaningful lives if they and their leaders choose to build their
societies on these principles.
We should be proud of our heritage, confident in our achievements,
and prepared to fight against forces that might unwittingly seek to
destroy them. We are the fortunate. Let’s keep it that way.
