The Big Myth by Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway

THE BIG MYTH by Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway is a treatise about “How American Business Taught Us to Loathe Government and Love the Free Market.” These two authors (Professor of the History of Science at Harvard University and a historian of science and technology at the California Institute of Technology, respectively) have collaborated previously on Merchants of Doubt and Oreskes has written extensively on Why Trust Science. In their latest endeavor, they explore economic issues and various periods of American history, arguing that there is a pattern favoring free market ethos. For example, an entire chapter is devoted to how the Big Myth goes West, with commentary about the impact of The Little House series. Their conclusion quotes conservative jurist Richard Posner saying, “The responsibility for building the guard rails that capitalism has proven itself to require has to rest with government, because there isn’t any other institution to do it.” All very interesting, if a bit dry in places.  Kirkus described THE BIG MYTH as a “timely, well-argued contribution to the literature of economic inequality and regulation.” Pick up this title if it matches your interests. There is much to investigate further - over a fourth of the book is devoted to notes. Plus, a keynote with video of Oreskes speaking about her research and this text is available online.