• "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

Music Post #11

By no means their best work, but a life-affirming instrumental all the same. Warm Sporran, by Jethro Tull.

Unlearn the Propaganda!

  • http://plenarchist.wordpress.com/ plenarchist

    From Stormwatch, another of Tull’s folk period albums along with Songs from the Wood, Heavy Horses, A, and Broadsword and the Beast. I feel like I should apologize for liking them but dammit, I do so I won’t!! Thanks for reminding me to dig that one out and give it another listen.

  • Metaldams1978

    I come here for your history and economic views, which I love, and get pleasantly surprised by Jethro Tull, which I also love! I saw Tull back in ’96 with ELP. I was just in high school then, but glad I had a chance to go, it was a great time.

    Nice song, but my personal favorite off the STORMWATCH album would be “Home.”

  • http://www.TomWoods.com Tom Woods

    That’s Ian on the bass guitar, by the way.

  • Anonymous

    He almost has the bassist groove, but not quite (lose the pick). Still, it is great to hear a multi-instrumentalist at work.

    Disclaimer: I’m generally critical of the bass in music because that was my first instrument, the one that I most focused on growing up, and it is probably the instrument that I am best at and most intuitive with in terms of performing. I always have fun tinkering with and learning other instruments, but the bass is the only one (sometimes guitar) that I can just pick up and play what I hear in my mind no matter what.

  • http://www.TomWoods.com Tom Woods

    It’s impressive, though, because he is not a bassist. He plays a mean acoustic guitar, and of course the flute (not to mention the mandolin, bouzouki, and other instruments), but when Jethro Tull’s bassist died suddenly, Ian just stepped in and did it himself.

  • Metaldams1978

    Ian’s just a talented guy all around. A unique flute player, virtuosic acoustic player (especially on my favorite Tull album, MINSTREL IN THE GALLERY), great songwriter, good singer, so I’m not surprised he plays bass.

    That said, most guitar players can can bass, it’s just a question of whether they can make it groove like bass player. Tull bass playing since Aqualung has always had a more guitar like feel to it, no matter the player. I’m also a bassist, and I have a gut feeling Ian, being quite the boss, always had a big say in the bass parts and feel.

  • http://www.TomWoods.com Tom Woods

    The bass is so central to this piece that I find it especially gutsy for Ian to do it.

  • Metaldams1978

    I could agree with that, especially under the circumstances of the old bass player being in failing health.

  • Anonymous

    I’m not getting down on him, he did a great job. It’s just that there is a certain groove that bassists have that non-bassists just don’t have. It’s very hard to explain, but I can hear it every time I hear a guitarist play the bass. It just has a different feel to it is all.

    The pick comment was just standard (most bassists frown upon the use of a pick). I admit that I will use a pick sometimes if I am going for that tone, but that is pretty rare because it feels very awkward for me. There are certainly great bassists that use a pick, Chris Squire is a good example of a dude that played a mean bass with a pick and also had that bassist groove (and he had that raunchy Rickenbacker tone which is one of my favorites).

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