The Law (Bastiat)

Why it’s on the list: Bastiat’s pamphlet on law as organised collective defence of rights, and on what happens when it is turned to redistribution instead — written the year he died.

Where I saw it: A reply to @SpencrGreenberg’s question on X, June 5, 2025 — “What non-fiction book taught you the most about how the world really works?” — recovered from that thread and saved to Kyle’s Apple Note “Books To Read”. Thread: https://x.com/spencrgreenberg/status/1930639380424577198

First published in French as La Loi. Suffixed with the author because the bare title is generic.

Connections

• A question for you — What non-fiction… (tweet) — the saved thread this recommendation came from.
• Philosophy
• Regulation