Hayek: A Life, 1899-1950

The definitive account of the distinguished economist’s formative years. Few twentieth-century figures have been lionized and vilified in such equal measure as Friedrich Hayek—economist, social theorist, leader of the Austrian school of economics, and champion of classical liberalism. Hayek’s erudite arguments in support of individualism and the market economy have attracted a devout following, including many at the levers of power in business and government. Critics, meanwhile, cast Hayek as the intellectual forefather of “neoliberalism” and of all the evils they associate with that pernicious doctrine.  In Hayek: A Life, historians of economics Bruce Caldwell and Hansjörg Klausinger draw on never-before-seen archival and family material to produce an authoritative account of the influential economist’s first five decades. This includes portrayals of his early career in Vienna; his relationships in London and Cambridge; his family disputes; and definitive accounts of the creation of The Road to Serfdom and of the founding meeting of the Mont Pèlerin Society.  A landmark work of history and biography, Hayek: A Life is a major contribution both to our cultural accounting of a towering figure and to intellectual history itself. 

Table of Contents:
Introduction Part I. A Viennese Youth 1. A Fin-de-Siècle Wedding 2. Family Life 3. At School 4. Austrian Politics and Anti-Semitism 5. At War Part II. A Broadening of Horizons 6. Back at Home in Postwar Austria 7. The University of Vienna 8. The Peripatetic Student: Fritz at University 9. Mises and the Geistkreis 10. Changes of Scene 11. The Trip to America Part III. The Making of an Economist 12. Return to Vienna 13. Hella Joins the Family 14. At the Institute for Business Cycle Research 15. The Young Academic Part IV. Hayek in 1930s England 16. Hayek Comes to LSE 17. The Encounter with Keynes 18. Defending Economic Theory and Interpreting Hitler 19. Socialism and Knowledge 20. Academic Life at LSE 21. The Battle for Young LSE Minds 22. Hayek and Austria 23. Domestic Affairs 24. The Hayek Family Debates Politics Part V. Fighting the Spirit of the Age 25. Liberalism: Its Adversaries and Allies 26. Hayek and London Go to War: The Abuse and Decline of Reason 27. Cambridge 28. A Sixpence Penguin Volume: The Road to The Road to Serfdom 29. Scientism and Popper 30. The Publication(s) of The Road to Serfdom Part VI. Changing Worlds 31. War’s End 32. Postwar Austria 33. Mont Pèlerin 1947 34. Hayek Looks for a Job 35. 1949—Hayek’s Annus Horribilis 36. Hayek versus Hayek Acknowledgments References Index

About the Author :
Bruce Caldwell is research professor of economics and the director of the Center for the History of Political Economy at Duke University. He is the general editor of the Collected Works of F. A. Hayek series, also published by the University of Chicago Press. Hansjoerg Klausinger is associate professor emeritus in the Department of Economics at WU Vienna University of Economics and Business.

Review :
“A fascinating, readable biography of Friedrich Hayek. . . The book punctures some long-standing myths about Hayek . . . [and] deserves a wide audience.” “An engrossing story . . . [and] as detailed an account of the first half of Hayek’s life as anyone could ask for.” “A propulsive read. The authors are expert guides to Hayek’s intellectual evolution. . . . [but] they are also perceptive guides to Hayek’s private life. . . . Caldwell and Klausinger have triumphantly succeeded.” “No one is likely to repeat this feat. . . . This is the definitive Hayek for our times.” “The story, presented here with more detail than anyone has previously unfolded, is a simple and tragic one. . . . [Hayek’s] was a spectacular achievement, but one, in the end, that could not have been made by a gregarious man of deep friendships and profound personal commitments.” “A gloriously detailed and thoroughly reliable account of the first half of Hayek’s life.” "Anybody curious about [Hayek] is well served by the exhaustive account written by two historians of economic thought." "The first volume of what will surely be the definitive biography of Friedrich von Hayek. . . a deeply impressive work." "In mind-stunning detail . . . Caldwell and Klausinger tell everything about Hayek's youth you wanted to know but were afraid to ask." "The Hayek who emerges from this text is somewhat of a charming loner who maintained distance between himself and all but a small number of individuals . . . The fullness of Caldwell and Klausinger’s picture of Hayek’s life and ideas owes much to their comprehensive study of primary sources."  "Much has been written about Hayek’s work, but Hayek: A Life, 1899-1950 by Bruce Caldwell and Hansjoerg Klausinger stands as the definitive intellectual biography of Hayek." "The biography excels in the way it embeds Hayek in his familial and social setting, and it demonstrates the extent to which his work was shaped, mainly in critical response, to the major intellectual developments of his age. Caldwell and Klausinger tell the story by providing a rich context of Hayek’s intellectual endeavors, first in Vienna and subsequently in London." "One of the best biographies of any economist, covers anything you might wish to know, and with conceptual understanding. This is a fantastic book." "Caldwell and Klausinger have created an authoritative and superbly researched biography about one of the greatest intellectuals of the twentieth century . . . Based on tireless archival work, the authors have painstakingly assembled innumerable existing details regarding Hayek’s life and scientific work from an astonishing array of sources in order to create a coherent picture of one of the most complex and intriguing social scientists. This makes the book a thoughtful work and one of the finest biographies of economists." “A magnificent achievement. Caldwell and Klausinger bring Hayek alive; they also bring his world alive. This is riveting reading, taken as biography, and it’s much more than that. It casts a bright new light on Hayek’s era, and on our own.” “Hayek: A Life, 1899–1950 is a triumph of both scholarship and biography. Caldwell and Klausinger have given us an instant classic, sure to stimulate and enrich debates about this most controversial, and still misunderstood, economist and social philosopher.” "Admirers and opponents of Hayek alike will find much to savor in this deeply researched, sweeping biography. Even readers who well know Hayek and his times will be enlightened and enriched." “Hayek: A Life, 1899–1950 is brilliant, comprehensive, and engaging. For any historian, social scientist, or philosopher interested in how ideas shaped the twentieth century and how the events of the twentieth century framed intellectual discourse, this is a must-read." “By far the most careful and comprehensive treatment of his early life and works, Hayek: A Life, 1899–1950 is an invaluable resource, full of remarkable discoveries.” "This is without any doubt an out-standing biography that should become the go-to account of Hayek’s life as an economist." A 2022 Notable Book "Excellently researched . . . this biography offers exciting insights.” "As the authors state, they intended this to be the definitive biography and they have achieved this ambition." "A profound and trustworthy biography.” “A monumental biography.” "This book is in every sense a monumental undertaking, for which we should be profoundly grateful." "This first volume of a monumental recounting of his life and thought will contribute to establishing [Hayek] firmly as one of the principal economists of the twentieth century." “A fascinating hybrid between personal and intellectual biography . . . the biography is a major publishing event for everyone interested in Hayek’s intellectual development . . . We can now contemplate more deeply and with greater confidence the question as to what made Hayek a prominent economist, indeed one of the most accomplished and lauded economists of the twentieth century.” "This biography contains wonderful material for understanding both the strengths and the limits of Hayek’s thought as it developed up to 1950. It is a major contribution to Hayek studies." "This biography is remarkably comprehensive, and is of first-rate quality. It is, for such a scholarly work, surprisingly readable, and should be a key port of call for all students interested in Hayek’s work. Just because of the complexity of Hayek’s work, and the way in which ideas in different fields are interconnected, this study seems to me equally important for those who are sympathetic towards Hayek, as well as those who wish to make effective criticisms." "Hayek: A Life is crucial read for understanding liberal economic thought in the twentieth-century and how it influenced much of the economic thinking of Cold War era conservatism and capitalism, the politics of freedom and anti-communism, and continues to be an alluring alternative to the soft centralism and managerialism of new establishment erected in the aftermath of the Cold War and War on Terror." "Vastly superior to the scores of books and pamphlets on Hayek, Ludwig von Mises, and the other heroes of Mont Pelerin that have been churned out by think tank men and bow tied libertarians for some decades. At times the authors do take on a mildly critical approach to their subject, and the amount of detail they have dug up is impressive. If you are interested in both facts and speculations about Hayek’s personal life—for instance his already mentioned divorce—this is the book for you. The volume covers much more interesting topics as well, and often does a good job at explaining the contexts within which Hayek lived, worked, and thought. . . Caldwell and Klausinger do excel at showing how political ideas come from a specific time and place and are directed toward specific contemporary debates." "Thoroughly researched. . . Hayek: A Life, 1899-1950 is a monumental and sympathetic biography of Friedrich Hayek. It is very well written, very clear and well structured. . . . and shows great scholarship." "One of the many impressive aspects of this first volume is the stated intention of the authors at the outset not to write a hagiography. In this they largely succeed. Another significant aspect of the book is the immense research the authors have undertaken, including considerable archival research and extensive interviews. Whatever one’s view of Hayek, this is a major work in the history of economic thought and the authors deserve great praise for their achievement. It is strongly recommended." "A landmark work of biographical and intellectual reconstruction."