Super Short Summary

The Road to Serfdom by Friedrich Hayek, written during World War II, argues that Western democracies’ turn towards socialism could lead to authoritarian regimes similar to Soviet Russia and Nazi Germany. Hayek asserts that government-led economic planning results in unfair rules and loss of individual liberty. The book contends that central planning distorts political incentives, attracts power-hungry individuals, and damages both worker autonomy and public discourse. This influential and controversial work has been re-issued multiple times, with the 2007 Definitive Edition featuring additional essays and background information.