• "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

God Bless America (and Prussia)

My favorite line from this week’s Messy Monday video from Blimey Cow, “Five Reasons College Might Be a Waste of Your Time.” (Thanks to Hosanna Myers.)

Unlearn the Propaganda!

  • Dan

    Great vid. I didn’t attend college. I almost dropped out of H.S. My first, “artsy” career led me to perform on Broadway. My second career was in finance (which I embarked on a path of study which eventually led me to the Austrian School). My path in finance led me to start up 2 companies, 1 which I sold, the other which I, as part owner, helped take public. I now write software for very high profile clientele, live at the beach in LA and drive a Porsche and am a member of a couple of high IQ societies (FWIW). I have no debt. I will turn 40 next year. I am happy with my life, very happy indeed. I would not have had the experiences I’ve had were I to have attended college. Despite all this, I still face a very real social stigma for being “uneducated”. Tres bizarre. Thanks again. It’s good to see the youth engaging in some real evaluative thought.

  • Toadroller

    Timely. I wrote a blog post today pondering the value of college and society’s insistence on its value.
    http://toadroller.blogspot.com/2012/08/thoughts-on-college-from-homeschooling.html

  • Matthew

    1) To downgrade the substance of philosophy is analogous to aiming the shot of your gun toward your own intellect. In this sense, the guys in the video are acting out the truth of their very selves: intellectual morons. 2) They are spot on with their identification of Prussia and contemporary public universities (lesser in degree for private universities). Yet the one statement pertaining to philosophy reveals a bankrupt soul. Subtract this statement and all negative comments above disappear.

    Yet, if these guys have in mind a deeper penetration into the true relation between philosophic hegemony and the Prussian model of contemporary collegiate schooling, then they are quite brilliant. Philosophical acumen is necessary to discover this insight, so either way, they are simply dulling the axe of their soul. Everything else they mention is, like I stated above, quite on the mark.

  • http://twitter.com/ax123man ax123man

    I don’t think he intended to downgrade it, but, unless you want to work in education, it’s not the ideal major (and minor) afa jobs go. The point he was making is college is a means to an end. If you don’t know what the “end” is, you aren’t getting much value. On the other hand, I will say I would not have chosen those words. I personally think philosophy is an important discipline and these days, vastly under-utilized. Science is pushing everything else out of the way, unfortunately.

  • Steven Tate

    Good video, I can think of plenty of other reasons not to go to college. But more importantly, if you do go to college, do so wisely and soberly. Don’t go to an overpriced univerity, take advantage of local colleges and transfer later. Look at the field you want to go into and verify that a degree + debt will get you more value than entering the workforce now and gaining 4 years of experience + earnings. I did go to college, I got my degree and got out with no debt thanks to my parents and summer jobs.

  • George

    I was told some time ago that I was lucky for having not gone through college as it kept me untainted. Additionally, I’m a highschool drop out (got my GED and a Job – felt much better about my self doing this as opposed to sitting in public school sleeping bored out of my whits). The state sponsored school system is a joke. I wish I was home schooled. I plan on home schooling our children. Liberty Classroom will be a good portion of the History and Economics.

    I’ve enjoyed the good fortune (and hard work) of owning my own businesses for some time now. I take immense pleasure in the freedom it affords me as well as the satisfaction of self reliance. God Bless America.

  • MB

    Overall a great vid, tho I do have a problem with #2, about Gen Ed credits.

    Thing is, college is NOT about “gaining particular skills” but in gaining a education. Not quite the same. If you want to gain a particular skill, go to a trade school or the like. (or learn on your own). the concept of college is to get a well-rounded education.

    And I think a better way to achieve this is NOT at a more expensive private or four year school, but go to a community college and pick those up. (I did, and many of those gen ed credits were taught by working professionals in the area & retired college teachers & instructors, so the leaving of teaching is as good or maybe a little better then at the 4 year schools).

  • http://www.TomWoods.com Tom Woods

    But you can work on your liberal-arts background on your own.

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