Modern Libertarianism

A history of the people and institutions that revived and championed the classical liberal tradition in America after the end of World War II.

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Brian Doherty

Brian Doherty is a senior editor at Reason magazine. He is the author of six books, including Radicals for Capitalism: A Freewheeling History of the Modern American Libertarian Movement (2007). Doherty’s reporting and commentary have appeared in dozens of radio and TV programs and in over 100 publications, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Mother Jones, Wired, and Spin. He won the Center for Independent Thought’s Thomas S. Szasz Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Cause of Civil Liberties in 2011. Doherty’s recent book Modern Libertarianism (2025) is published with Lib​er​tar​i​an​ism​.org and the Cato Institute.

In this lively new history, Brian Doherty provides a concise, thorough account of the intellectual roots of the American libertarian movement, with helpful summaries of key figures, institutions, and events. Modern Libertarianism effortlessly combines historical insights and intellectual profiles of important figures, including Ludwig von Mises, F. A. Hayek, Ayn Rand, Murray Rothbard, Milton Friedman, and Barry Goldwater, as well as of key institutions such as the Foundation of Economic Education and the Mont Pelerin Society. A superb introduction for the newcomer, yet rich and varied enough for others interested in the tradition, Modern Libertarianism is a tribute to those who advocated for the cause of political liberty in America in the 20th century.