Cato Institute Reading Lists

The ideas of liberty have always been associated with the written word. Indeed, the very name of the Cato Institute was inspired by a series of 18th‐​century pamphlets written by John Trenchard and Thomas Gordon that were widely read in the American colonies. In the hope of inducing further study and acquainting people with the literature that underpins Cato’s work, we’ve compiled a short bibliography of essays and books, organized by research topic. This list is designed, not as a comprehensive overview of the writings that comprise libertarianism, but as an entry point for the interested individual.

Reading List by Topic