Current News
Forbes
Dr. Brook is a regular contributor to Forbes.com. His monthly column addresses current events in business and politics. (The collected commentary appears on this Forbes.com page.)
Here is a selection of Dr. Brook's recent columns:
From Flat World to Free World, an analysis of how the worldwide renewed focus on nationalism, coupled with a lackluster defense of capitalism, has left free markets vulnerable.
Life and Taxes, a message to our presidential candidates: Free us from our tax code, don't just add more pages the existing cumbersome legislation.
War on Free Political Speech, a discussion of how abolishing campaign finance laws would serve to "level the political playing field."
To Stimulate the Economy, Liberate It, an argument against Bush's "economic stimulus package" in which Dr. Brook describes how this sort of government intervention actually contributes to economic downturns and cannot be expected to remedy the sub-prime lending crisis.
The Right Vision of Health Care, a commentary on health care reform and an analysis of the pitfalls of the Republican Party's proposed plan.
BusinessWeek
An interview for BusinessWeek's Debate Room in which Yaron Brook argues that U.S. hospitals are justified in selling patients' unpaid bills to banks, credit-card companies, and collection agencies. See BusinessWeek's Web site for the full text of the discussion.
Fox Business News Network (FBN)
Dr. Brook is a frequent guest on the Fox
Business News
Network . The impact of government action on business and the
economy is a common theme, but Dr. Brook's commentary covers a broad
range of topics culled from FBN's breaking news stories. (Comcast
carries the Fox Business News
Network in many parts of the country. Please check your local
cable listings
for FBN. You may also register at the Ayn Rand Institute's Web site to
receive updates by e-mail about Yaron Brook's upcoming FBN appearances.)
CNBC
Yaron Brook also appears on the CNBC network. He speaks on current events focusing primarily on issues relating to business, politics, and world affairs. [Watch On-line] video of selected CNBC shows featuring Dr. Brook .
Video of Events and Presentations
[Watch On-line] video of Yaron Brook's events and presentations on YouTube.
CNBC
Yaron Brook also appears on the CNBC network. He speaks on current events focusing primarily on issues relating to business, politics, and world affairs. [Watch On-line] video of selected CNBC shows featuring Dr. Brook .
Video of Events and Presentations
[Watch On-line] video of Yaron Brook's events and presentations on YouTube.
Upcoming Speaking Events
September 12, 2008 - Beijing, China
A lecture to academics and local business people on capitalism and Objectivism. Please check back for further details.
October 1, 2008 - Hamburg, Germany
A seminar for EU business people on the application of Objectivism to commerce. Dr. Brook will describe why business people need philosophy and how their firms can benefit from Objectivist principles. Please check back for further details.
Selected Past Speaking Events
June 28, 2008 - July 6, 2008 - Objectivist Summer Conference 2008 (OCON), Newport Beach, CA
"Changing the Culture" was the theme for this summer's conference. Along with Onkar Ghate, Ph.D., Dr. Brook presented a three-part lecture series titled: "Cultural Movements: Creating Change." Please visit the Objectivist Conferences Web site for information about OCON.
June 2, 2008 - June 4, 2008 - Clemson University, Clemson, SC
Talks and panel discussions at the Third Annual BB&T Foundation Programs Conference, 2008. Titles included: "Ayn Rand's Unique Defense of Capitalism, " a "Round Table Discussion of Economics and Morality," and a "Question and Answer Session on Atlas Shrugged and Objectivism." Please visit the Web site of the Clemson Institute for the Study of Capitalism to view the Institute's full calendar of events for faculty, students, and the general public.
May 21, 2008 - Oxford University, Oxford, U.K.
A talk to the Oxford Hayek Society on two topics: Ayn Rand and Ethical Egoism, and an "answer" to critics of capitalist morality.
May 20, 2008 - Oxford University, Oxford, U.K.
A lecture to the Oxford Union on the morality of capitalism. Dr. Brook discussed the nature of laissez-faire capitalism: a social system in which the government is devoted exclusively to the protection of individual rights (including property rights) in which there exists no government intervention in the economy. He also argued that capitalism is the only moral and practical social system--the only system consistent with man's nature and the requirements of human life--and thus the only social construct that enables each individual to reach his full potential.
May 8, 2008 - Ford Hall Forum, Boston, MA
"Woodstock's Legacy: The Rise of Environmentalism and the Religious Right," a talk that considered how the opposing forces of reason and emotionalism have manifested themselves in American culture in the four decades since Woodstock. This lecture commemorated Rand's 1969 speech at Ford Hall Forum, as in the year of its 100th anniversary, the Forum recalls the presentations of notable past speakers. Please visit the Forum's Web site for additional details.
May 6, 2008 - Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
The third panel in the series on "The Threat of Totalitarian Islam." The co-panelist
was Dr. Daniel Pipes .
May 5, 2008 - New York University, New York, NY
The second discussion in "The Threat of Totalitarian Islam" series. This event featured co-panelists Dr. Daniel Pipes and Flemming Rose and was hosted by NYU's Objectivist Club.
April 29, 2008 - UCB, Berkeley, CA
The first in a series of panel discussions (followed by question and answer sessions) on the topic: "The Threat of Totalitarian Islam." The co-panelists were Dr. Daniel Pipes and Victor Davis Hanson.
April 14, 2008 - University of California, Irvine, CA
A lecture and Q&A session explaining the philosophical and moral foundations of capitalism. This event was sponsored by the university's Objectivist Club.
April 7, 2008 - APEE Conference, Las Vegas, NV
Dr. Brook participated in two panel discussions at the 2008 annual conference for the Association of Private Enterprise Education (APEE). He presented his paper The Moral Case for Income Inequality as part of the "Income Inequality: Moral, Social, and Economic Issues" panel. The "Sharp Practices" panel included his presentation of his paper The Morality of Moneylending: A Short History. Please visit the APEE Conference's Web site for additional information.
April 3, 2008 - Chapman University, Orange, CA
"The Morality of Capitalism," a talk given as part of the "Distinguished Speaker Series" hosted by the George L. Argyros School of Business and Economics.
March 6, 2008 - Yale University, New Haven Connecticut
Dr. Brook gave the keynote speech to initiate a debate of the Yale Political Union. The resolution for the debate was: Resolved: Your Poverty is Your Problem. Please visit the Yale Political Union's Web site for additional information and see the review in the Yale Daily News.
March 5, 2008 - UCB, Berkeley, CA
"The American Immigration Debate: Comparing Moral and Practical Views." This debate was held at Dwinelle Hall on the UCB campus. Dr. Brook debated Michael Erickson, Chairman of Republicans for the National Interest.
December 9, 2007 - Chapman University, Orange, CA
"Israel and the West's War with Islamic Totalitarianism--Why We are Losing," a talk to the Jewish Community Forum Committee.
November 9, 2007 - Oslo, Norway
"Ayn Rand's Influence and the Spread of Objectivism," a lecture hosted by members of Oslo's Objectivist community.
November 8, 2007 - Progress Party of Parliament, Oslo, Norway
"Why 911 Happened and What the Appropriate U.S. Response Should Have Been," a talk to members of the Progress Party of Norway and Oslo University's Objectivist club.
November 7, 2007 - Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
A Debate of the College Historical Society: "That Free Trade is Necessary for a Free World." [Listen On-line] and visit the College Historical Society's Web site.
November 6, 2007 - Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
A talk to the Metaphysical Society of Trinity College on the philosophy of Ayn Rand (with an emphasis on ethics). For additional information, visit the Metaphysical Society's Web site.
October 11, 2007 - Universidad Francisco Marroquín, Guatemala City, Guatemala
Two lectures presented in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the publication of Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged: "Atlas Shrugged: Its Influence After Fifty Years," [Watch On-line] and "Ayn Rand: Radical for Capitalism." [Watch On-line] Additionally, Yaron Brook was interviewed by Luis Figueroa, Director of UFM Public Relations and professor of Social Philosophy. Capitalism was the subject of the interview. [ Watch On-line] (This interview is also available in media-player format at UFM's Media Center's Web site.)
October 22, 2006 - Ford Hall Forum, Boston, MA
Speech titled "Why the Forward Strategy of Freedom Had to Fail." [Watch, Listen, or Download MP3 On-line]
Selected Publications
November 2007 - "Just War" Theory vs. American Self-Defense
The Nov. 2007 edition of Nativ , a journal of politics and the Arts published by the Ariel Center for Policy Research, features Yaron Brook's and Alex Epstein's essay on the morality of war.
Fall 2007 - The Morality of Money Lending: A Short History
Read The Morality of Money Lending: A Short History, published in the Fall 2007 issue of The Objective Standard.
May 21, 2007 - Should Shareholders Have a Say on Pay? No.
Read Dr. Brook's article on CEO compensation, published in the May 21 edition of Investment News.
Spring 2007 - The "Forward Strategy" for Failure
Read Dr. Brook's and Elan Journo's article on the Bush Administration's war strategy, published in the Spring 2007 issue of The Objective Standard.
January 7, 2007 - CEO Pay is Company's Prerogative
Read Dr. Brook's article on CEO pay, published in the January 7 edition of USA Today.
