• "Well written, well researched, and the thesis put forth is well argued.... Woods has opened up an area of historical analysis that should invite further study."
    -Journal of American History

  • "During these times that challenge our freedoms there is no one more qualified to make U.S. history relevant to the fight against big government than Thomas Woods."
    -Barry Goldwater Jr.
    Former Member of Congress

  • "I strongly recommend Woods's work."
    -The Honorable Ron Paul,
    U.S. House of Representatives

  • "Written with great clarity and fluency, making the complex philosophical and theological concepts approachable."
    -Journal of American Studies

  • "A must-read."
    -Barron's

  • "An excellent reading source for anyone interested in financial markets, and much more so for anyone interested in learning about capitalism without all the misinterpretations being thrown about in the financial media."
    -Asia Times

  • "Provocative, well-written, and deserves to be read."
    -Catholic Historical Review

  • "An engaging and important contribution to scholarship on the history of American Catholicism."
    -Journal of the Historical Society

  • "Woods and [co-author Kevin] Gutzman appeal to both left and right in this constitutionalist jeremiad…. The authors' exegeses of the Constitution and court decisions, heavy on original intent arguments, are lucid and telling."
    -Publishers Weekly

  • "A marvelous read. Every chapter taught me something new and unexpected."
    -Tom Bethell, senior editor,
    The American Spectator

  • "The hottest book today is Meltdown, by my friend Tom Woods."
    -Judge Andrew Napolitano, senior judicial analyst,
    FOX News Channel

  • "Should be required reading."
    -Economic Affairs (London)

  • "Woods, one of the best classical liberal [libertarian] scholars of his generation, has once more placed us in his debt with this lucid and tightly argued book."
    -David Gordon, The Mises Review

  • "Tom Woods is one of my dearest allies in the struggle against wrong-headed and dangerous economic policy."
    -Peter Schiff

College Conspiracy

I am watching this video right now. It looks very good. It decimates the myths of college, success, government aid — the whole propaganda kit and kaboodle.

Unlearn the Propaganda!

  • http://www.facebook.com/TheLibertyPhilosophy Jonathan Crowder

     Was watching this last night and enjoyed it. Though they could have gone a little deeper into describing inflation (I like your one million hay bales to one million dollars example), I thought that they were very thorough in what they covered in the one hour they aimed for. I’m really hoping that this goes viral because I’ve seen far too many people who have been suckered into the system – people I went to college with. They aren’t working in the fields they studied and they aren’t making near enough to ever get out of their college debt. I am glad that I went to college – but I have to say that it’s only because it allowed me to see the degraded state of our educational system first hand. They really do hand just about anyone a diploma – so long as you can meet your payment deadlines. If you can’t – too bad so sad, and the boot.

  • Grant

    All college got me was deep, and I mean DEEP, in debt.

  • Jason

    Good video minus the narrator’s references to NIA “research” with
    phrases like, “the NIA is hearing dozens of stories” about this or that
    or, “one NIA member’s wife” has had to go through this or hoop or that
    hoop. “Evidence” like that has no place in an otherwise well put together documentary and is essentially statistical diarrhea. My other criticism with the video is that it basically tells students that 4-5 years of their lives were a complete and utter waste. That could be perceived as incredibly insulting and a documentary meant to inform, has instead alienated some of its audience.

  • http://twitter.com/Trivs T_R_A_V_I_S

    I’ve learned WAY more from the internet than I ever did in my 6 years of college (the movie Van Wilder was made after me). How much have I paid for this actual useful knowledge? About $200 in 4 years, mostly to Mises.org, Tom Woods and Ron Paul. You guys need to raise your prices!!

  • Jake_nonphixion

    As far as NIA documentaries go, I thought this was by far their worst. I have no doubt that it will only appeal to their already loyal following. The arguments were very incomplete and left so much undiscussed. Way, way, way too many absolutes. You can’t just say that anyone who is going to college is wasting their money. I’m a structural engineer who graduated with $0 debt because of scholarships. There are plenty of people like me who worked their asses off and graduated with a useful degree which they do use and which gives them an opportunity to do something they like and make a great living. 

    The movie had so much potential too… The idea is a very important one, and i completely agree with the initial premise. but I can’t believe how short of time they spent on the idea of privatizing student loans. Again, I agree with the conclusion, but their arguments were, again, only sufficient appeal to people who already felt this way. Three liberty minded people watching the movie with me required over a half an hour of explanation by myself of how this would work in order to even consider this option. People hate banks. Rightfully so. Overall, i give the movie a 2. Good idea. Well intentioned. Crappy documentary.

  • VagrantPostman

     My major problem with the video was the overuse of Gerald Celente.  He’s a good guy with a healthy level of skepticism, and I admire him, but he’s not an expert per se.  He still thinks that World War II ended the great depression, and he distrusts privatization of natural resources, and he generally does a poor job of explaining hyperinflation on the news networks.  And it shows in this video, where he focuses, not on arguing in a coherent and factual manner that a degree is not a doorway to success, but simply stating it and then subsequently criticizing society’s very /ideal/ of success in vague terms which get him nowhere.

    That said, I agree full-on with the premise.  Just, as Jake pointed out, very sloppy in the execution.

  • Nostradamus411

     Watch out, it sounds like Peter Schiff has debunked the makers of this video as a huge pump and dump stock scam! Watch it here, to protect yourself!  Avoid the NIA!!
     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8M7Q9T4NfI

  • http://twitter.com/ilovegrover Thane_Eichenauer

    If the information is correct that 5 years of their lives have been wasted should the entire world conform to the lie and perpetuate a bubble of untruth? I say no. The sooner current and past college students learn the news the better prepared they will be to address the reality of their past mistakes.