Twelve steps toward liberation via the Free State
by Brian Wright

2008, Lulu, 138 pages
Reviewed by Logan Brandt

The idea for writing New Pilgrim Chronicles (NPC) stemmed from the author’s commitment as an “Early Mover” to New Hampshire under auspices of the Free State Project. He pledged to the Project in June 2004 during the Libertarian Party National Convention in Atlanta, then moved to southern New Hampshire following the Free State Porcupine Festival in summer of 2005. Brian, a freelance writer and self-described Gonzo journalist[1], has regularly documented modern libertarian events as a participant. He feels the Free State Project— which encourages migration of an active-resident freedom community to a liberty-friendly state—represents the best hope for achieving freedom in our time… through an ingenious, vital process of popular leverage. Continue reading →

The Fates of Human Societies
by Jared Diamond
Review by Brian Wright

1999, W.W. Norton, 457 pages

Yali’s Question: “Why is it you white people [Europeans] developed so much cargo and brought it to New Guinea, but we black people [native New Guineans] had little cargo of our own.”

Warning to the former field of Republican candidates for president, several of whom believe in Divine Creation: Jared Diamond‘s bestselling book on historical anthropology spends no time questioning the theory of evolution. Indeed, as most scientists in his field(s)—Dr. Diamond is difficult to classify, but from my first reading his book, I’d call him a natural scientist with a prime interest in anthropological sociology—he simply assumes it and marches on his merry way. Mike Huckleberry, eat your heart out! Continue reading →