Which Edition of Human Action to get?

Miscellaneous General
1

I seem to be waffling between the Scholars Edition (the one sold at Mises.org) and the 4 volume set published by the Liberty Fund. The Liberty Fund version is (i believe) the 4th edition, and the Scholars Edition is from the first edition. According to Mises.org’s blurb on the Scholars edition: “this edition is the one to own (the 2nd edition was thoroughly botched, while the 3rd deletes valuable material and introduces some ambiguities; the 4th edition, currently in print, is the 3rd edition with a new foreword).” However, I like the convenience of the 4 volumes. I have had to remove MES from my carryon because it shows up as a large block on the x-ray :). Am I really missing anything vital by reading the 4th rather then the ‘original’ ?

THanks!

2

To my knowledge the 3rd edition removes valuable insights by Mises on taxation (IIRC). I would definitely get the Scholar’s edition if I were you. It even has some interesting forewords in it by modern Austrians. Otherwise, I guess you could buy the 4 vol edition if you really want it, and print out what is missing from the online version of HA.

3

I’d say get the “Scholar’s Edition”, and also get the new Study Guide.

If you want to get the 4th edition, there was a single-volume edition of it from a few years back that was available thru Laissez Faire Books. No idea if you can still find it.