A Brief History of Classical Liberalism in the U.S. | INSIDE THE BOOK: Modern Libertarianism

A superb introduction for the newcomer, Modern Libertarianism is a tribute to those who advocated for the cause of political liberty in America in the 20th century.

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.

Barbara Galletti
Senior Producer, Lib​er​tar​i​an​ism​.org

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. 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.