The "Deep" Bookshelf

On Being a Contrarian Reader

A few weeks back, I asked a friend of mine—a card-carrying libertarian of a fairly hardcore variety, and a reader of ever-interesting things—to tell me a few of the best books that he read in 2020.

Without delay, he told me he was reading a book by Mariana Mazzucato (an economist who I know has very different views regarding the role of the State than this friend of mine…)

But this friend (let’s call him Max) told me that the book by Mazzucato ranked near the top. And he said it with a straight face. He felt no need to qualify the statement or explain himself to me. 

I know that by one of the “best books” Max does not mean “the book that I was most aligned ideologically with”—or even the book that was the most well-written and well-argued—but the book that was best for him to read. To expand his mind, to broaden his reason, to engage with different strains of thought.

I should add that Max is known among our circle of friends for giving completely unexpected answers to questions. He do…