I Chose Liberty - Ludwig von Mises Institute

Michael Edelstein 105
of us. It was a tame evening, especially considering the iconoclastic and opinionated reputation
of each. The highlight involved the four of us singing a humorous song Al wrote, a
parody of individuals like Rand. The song, “Perfect Rationality,” is sung to the tune of
Luigi Denza’s “Funiculi, Funicula” and has as its refrain:
Perfect, perfect rationality,
Is, of course, the only thing for me!
How can I ever think of being
If I must live fallibly?
Rationality must be a perfect thing for me!
In 1984 or ’85, Walter introduced me to Jeffrey Rogers Hummel, when Jeff and I were
both living in Brooklyn. Jeff resided near Prospect Park. He and I began running together
in the park. I found Jeff a fount of libertarian knowledge (among other kinds), so I availed
myself of his wisdom during our runs. To be optimally efficient, I often carried a list of
questions and a pencil for taking notes on our run.
Jeff, in turn, introduced me to David Ramsay Steele, a true Renaissance man. After a
discussion with David about a book idea I had, he and I embarked on collaborating on
Three Minute Therapy, Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life, a psychology self-help
book based on my psychotherapy practice and the pioneering work of Albert Ellis. It was
published in 1997.
We’re presently collaborating on a second, The Revolution in Psychotherapy. This traces
the history of the psychotherapy movement from Freud to the present.
As a libertarian, I’ve contributed articles to Liberty magazine. I’ve given many talks to
libertarian groups, including the NYC and CA Libertarian Parties, the Mises Institute, the
International Society for Individual Liberty (ISIL) meetings in Norway and Canada, and
Laissez-Faire Books. I debated Sharon Presley, a libertarian psychologist under the auspices
of Free Exchange in San Francisco, and conducted an on-line chat on constructive communication
strategies with the Free State Project. I’ve spoken on overcoming libertarian
feuding and burnout.
My most famous convert to libertarianism is Nando Pelusi. He went on to play Murray
Rothbard in the enactment of Rothbard’s Mozart Was a Red at Murray’s 60th birthday fest
in New York.
I’m a clinical psychologist and practitioner of REBT. I’ve given talks to libertarian
groups on the difference between REBT and libertarianism, and on the REBT notion that
self-esteem is bad for you. My libertarian interests included the Free State Project to free
New Hampshire of tyranny, Ron Paul’s 2008 presidential candidacy, and active involvement
with the Libertarian Party of San Francisco. I’m also a member of a local libertarian
Book club.
And it all began with Walter Block.
I’ve had memorable meals with many libertarian luminaries, whom I initially met
through a variety of avenues.