Anyone interested in a reading group for MES?

fegeldolfy · **Joined:** Sun Dec 23, 2012 11:29 pm **Posts:** 113

I posted this at the Mises Forums, and Wheylous asked me to post it here, so here it is.

I'm reading Man,Economy,and State. So far I've only read the first two chapters (as well as answered the study guide q's)

Does anyone want to form a reading group for this book? I could reread the first two chapters, or wait for people to catch up, or whatever. At the end of each chapter we could post our answers to Murphy's study guides q's.

Just a thought.

(Wheylous also thought it might be wise to do separate threads for each chapter, so post your thoughts on that, if you have any.)

Wheylous · **Posted:** Mon Dec 24, 2012 12:08 am

I'm definitely willing to do this. If needed, I could probably handle a chapter per day - it depends on what reading schedule we adopt. I'm interested in rereading the first chapters and actually asking the questions, though. Do you think this would be a problem?

ThatOldGuy · **Joined:** Mon Dec 24, 2012 12:09 am **Posts:** 20

I don't know about a chapter per day for the discussion threads.

Some chapters are longer than others, and with time devoted to discussion, the schedule gets very crowded every day. Reading 1029 pages in ten days and talking about important ideas each day? To start, how about a pause in the first chapter after marginal utility, or at the section on capital formation?

We can do a chapter per week, which would provide plenty of time to to both read and have a back-and-forth on the threads about important questions.

fegeldolfy · **Joined:** Sun Dec 23, 2012 11:29 pm **Posts:** 113

I don't think we need to split up the chapters into smaller parts.

If we started in January,the schedule could be something like this:

1/1-1/8, Chapter 1
1/9-1/16,Chapter 2
1/17-1/24,Chapter 3
1/25-2/1,Chapter 4
2/2-2/9,Chapter 5
2/10-2/17,Chapter 6
2/18-2/25,Chapter 7
2/26-3/4,Chapter 8
3/5-3/12,Chapter 9
3/13-3/20,Chapter 10
3/21-3/28,Chapter 11
3/29-4/4,Chapter 12

Of course,we could also start earlier. Also,we don't have to do the same amount of time for each chapter. For example, Chapter 3 is pretty short,so we could probably have that done within 3-4 days.

fegeldolfy · **Joined:** Sun Dec 23, 2012 11:29 pm **Posts:** 113

For an extremely hardcore reading,we could also read through the parts of books/articles he lists in the footnotes.

ThatOldGuy · **Joined:** Mon Dec 24, 2012 12:09 am **Posts:** 20

I see your point about not splitting up the readings into sections. So, a chapter per week as a default, and changes in time periods based on group consensus. Sounds good. It seems like some things may change on the fly based on discussions in threads.

fegeldolfy · **Joined:** Sun Dec 23, 2012 11:29 pm **Posts:** 113

Yeah. Do you agree that it would be best to start in January?

If we start then I may use the time between Christmas and January 1st to read Menger's book. I've heard it's a good introductory read, and may help me understand Man Economy and State better.

ThatOldGuy · **Joined:** Mon Dec 24, 2012 12:09 am **Posts:** 20

I would be very happy to start in January. I'm juggling The Real Lincoln and Imperial Hubris for the time being, so waiting a bit would be good for me to finish those two books.

Definitely read Menger's Principles of Economics (if that's the book you're reading) if you have the chance. It's a relatively easy read and an interesting one at that. His terms like "goods-character" and how simply he states that value is created in the mind of the individual definitely help making current theory understandable. Mises, Rothbard and other Austrian writers refer to him generously in their writings (and for good reasons).

fegeldolfy · **Joined:** Sun Dec 23, 2012 11:29 pm **Posts:** 113

January it is.

Wheylous · **Posted:** Mon Dec 24, 2012 2:11 pm

There is apparently a study guide to Menger:

http://library.mises.org/books/Jeremie% ... 0Guide.pdf

Raymundo · **Joined:** Mon Dec 24, 2012 2:31 pm **Posts:** 107

I would be interested in this. I just got MES as an early xmas gift. I'm about 3/4 through Mises' Theory of Money and Credit, so starting MES on the first sounds perfect.

fegeldolfy · **Joined:** Sun Dec 23, 2012 11:29 pm **Posts:** 113

Awesome.

For the first two weeks I may decide to read the stuff referenced in the footnotes rather than the chapters, considering I've read chapters 1 and 2 fairly recently.

Wheylous · **Posted:** Tue Dec 25, 2012 12:37 am

I went ahead and created the first thread:

post413.html#p413

Check there for details.

AnarchoLibertarian · **Joined:** Mon Dec 24, 2012 4:47 pm **Posts:** 1

I'm in. I had just bought the book last week. I'm taking a Mises class at the same time though so hopefully I have time.

Wheylous · **Posted:** Tue Dec 25, 2012 2:01 pm

Here's what I propose we do:

If there are simple questions that are resolved quickly in the Reading Group thread, the matter ends there. If a question involves a lot more discussion, we can start a thread on the specific question over in the "Beginners" section of the Economics forum.

Does that sound good?

fegeldolfy · **Joined:** Sun Dec 23, 2012 11:29 pm **Posts:** 113

Sounds good to me.

ThatOldGuy · **Joined:** Mon Dec 24, 2012 12:09 am **Posts:** 20

That was a concern of mine, Wheylous. Sounds good.

Raymundo · **Joined:** Mon Dec 24, 2012 2:31 pm **Posts:** 107

That works for me.

Perhaps I'm getting a little ahead of myself, but are we tackling Power and Market as well? I only ask because my edition of MES has P&M included.

Wheylous · **Posted:** Wed Dec 26, 2012 9:08 am

I guess so

I think we can worry about it when we get there.

Raymundo · **Joined:** Mon Dec 24, 2012 2:31 pm **Posts:** 107

Sounds like a plan.

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