Refreshing

Good book by an author who's willing to depart from conventional wisdom. While democracy is spoken of virtually everywhere else as the only possible governance model for an enlightened nation, Mr. Caplan makes a good argument that democracy as we know it has some very serious flaws.

If you like books by economists, as I do, then you'll like this one. He starts by asking a question that most people would never dare ask, then he logically pursues an answer by examining the incentives created for voters and politicians under a democratic system, how people respond to them and where that leads.

Narrator does a fine job, in my opinion.

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Drones on and on and on.....

I had high hope's. Like listening to someone reading recipes. I suppose unless this is your field maybe then it would be interesting.

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Moral consideration 0%, Logical thoughtwork 100%

Suppose you wanted to wander around the mental landscape of an expert, capitalist, liberal economist. Here it is, you found it. The bedrock is maybe a little more sociopathic in nature than is comfortable, but the crystal clear rivers are pure logic, running around and through and over preconceptions of the forest. Metaphors aside, I was by turns scowling, snorting, raising eyebrows and sighing thoughtfully as I read. There's fascinating ideas here, alongside no small amount of privileged bullshit. If I was of a mind to nitpick, I could also go off about the constant use male pronouns when simply 'people' or something neutral would do. Or references to US citizens as 'Americans' while Mexican citizens are compared as simply 'Mexican'. (How is it so easily forgotten that there are two full continents of Americans? Peruvians are just as American as New Yorkers.) I recommend this book for it's various insights into critical thinking and logic, invaluable tools to be sure, but caution that it's a bit a dry, whimsical, and offensive ride at times. Still, the value of stepping outside one's ideological bubble can't be overstated. Give it a go.

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Interesting

Overall the content of the book was interesting and the author does a good job of making his argument. The book is somewhat hindered by being in audio format.

* Even with the headers between sections, it can be hard to tell where they are. It would help it the reader had paused briefly for them.
* The author likes to do lots of block quotes surrounded by prose. Given he is typically quoting contemporary writers, it can be hard to tell when the quote starts. This is a problem audible has in general.

With those complaints in mind, the book is still quite interesting and thought provoking. I still recommend listening to it.

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Great analysis and theory

I'm absolutely biased in that I like Bryan Caplan's writing and ideas (separate from believing them). That being said, I think there is a lot of merit in this book with it's research and sound reasoning. Yes, he probably makes some big assumptions and leaves out some weaknesses of his theory. Still, he seems to account for a lot those too in his book. As far as the audio goes, it's fairly well done, but the lack of changing emphasis and tone in the reader's voice was sometimes distracting and made it hard to ingratiate oneself in the book. However, it was still fairly easy to listen too. Overall, highly recommended.

A compilation of biased and unsupported assumptions.

Waste of time. Pompous and full of unsupported assumptions. Totally detached from reality or merely a propaganda piece. A blunt exercise in smuggling ideology under disguise of economics.

Often Marginalizes Individual Beliefs

Among other distasteful things in this book, the author clearly subsumes that democracy is embodied in the U.S. constitution. In reality, the word democracy is nowhere found in the constitution! Having said this, Mr. Caplan would no doubt call me a "fundamentalist"; this was a chacterazation that he often used in this book.

I am convinced that Mr. Caplan is an atheist with a distinctive Darwinian humanist world view, and he makes every effort to dispense with the voting public who may have religious beliefs. Beliefs which actually affect their lives - not just their voting decisions. His references to such people are typified with the term "irrational" or "irrational rationality" (if they happen to per chance, vote the "right way").

Instead of revealing the underlying cause for democracy's inherent weaknesses, Mr. Caplan chooses instead to highlight examples of specific voter illogic. In fairness, some of the examples he uses are both interesting and humorous. He nevertheless unfailingly believes that its not the institution of democracy, but the voters who are defective. I am reminded of what Benjamin Franklin said to a woman who asked him what they (those at the Philadelphia convention) had "wrought". He said, a "republic if you can keep it". I will simply say; there is a huge difference between a Democracy and a Republic!

Additionally, David Drummond (if I didn't know otherwise) sounded as if he was the author. If only all audiobooks could be read that way!

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excellent topic. insightful and relevent

this book brilliantly explains through economic terms why voting and voters only believe themselves to be moral and correct

Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended

Goes deep into complex subject matter while making sure you understand every word, just lovely.

Very relevant

In the wake of political controversy with the election of an incompetent president, Caplan gives us sound explanation for this event. It is truly incredible how Caplan reasoned his way to a conclusion of voter irrationality that now has a 1 for 1 case study in politics biggest stage.