The Great Hope

Liberty and character are the stuff of great nations. They are our “great hope,” as this anthology’s title suggests. Without them, we wither and die as individuals and then as a people. That’s why easy-to-understand, quick-to-read, handy-to-pass-along books that champion those values are vital.


The Great Hope: Essays on Character and Liberty offers 32 brief essays that originated as columns in the local newspaper in Newnan, Georgia, where Lawrence W. Reed lives. The subjects are wide-ranging–from Calvin Coolidge to corporate welfare–and are held together by two central themes: liberty and character, and how one depends upon the other.


Readers will not only be able to see the world with greater breadth and depth, but they’ll also find guideposts in a universe that at times seems morally disorienting. They’ll find sketches of people, living and dead, who are exemplars of liberty and character (and some who are not). And they’ll recall that these values are not quaint enlightenment fancies, but timeless truths to be rediscovered from time to time.


Lawrence W. ("Larry") Reed became president of the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) in 2008. Prior to becoming FEE's president, he served for twenty years as president of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Midland, Michigan. He also taught economics full-time from 1977 to 1984 at Northwood University in Michigan and chaired its Department of Economics from 1982 to 1984. A champion for liberty, Reed has authored over 1,000 newspaper columns and articles, dozens of articles in magazines and journals in the United States and abroad.


The Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) is the premier source for understanding the humane values of a free society, and the economic, legal, and ethical principles that make it possible. At FEE, you’ll be connected with people worldwide who share those values and are inspired by the dynamic ideas of free association, free markets, and a diverse civil society.


Explore freedom’s limitless possibilities through seminars, classroom resources, social media, and daily content at FEE.org. Learn how your creativity and initiative can result in a prosperous and flourishing life for yourself and the global community. Whether you are just beginning to explore entrepreneurship, economics, or creating value for others or are mentoring others on their journeys, FEE has everything you need.


FEE is supported by voluntary, tax-deductible contributions from individuals, foundations, and businesses who believe that it is vital to cultivate a deep appreciation in every generation for individual liberty, personal character, and a free economy. Supporters  receive a subscription to FEE's flagship magazine, the Freeman, also available at FEE.org.