A Libertarian Walks Into a Bear: The Utopian Plot to Liberate an American Town (And Some Bears) 

Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling

Recommended by Naomi Oreskes

A Libertarian Walks Into a Bear: The Utopian Plot to Liberate an American Town (And Some Bears) 

In A Libertarian Walks Into a Bear, Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling tells the bizarre, hilarious, and eye-opening story of a group of libertarians who set out to transform a small New Hampshire town into a utopia of limited government—and ended up with a town overrun by bears. Blending sharp wit with deep investigative reporting, Hongoltz-Hetling explores how the promise of complete freedom collided with the harsh realities of nature, community, and governance. What begins as an experiment in libertarian ideals quickly spirals into chaos as the town’s lack of regulations, particularly around waste management, attracts a growing population of aggressive bears. With a colorful cast of characters and absurd situations, A Libertarian Walks Into a Bear offers a cautionary tale about the unintended consequences of ideological extremism, while also providing insight into broader debates about governance, freedom, and the limits of human control over the natural world.

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