"For me, the simple phrase 'Live and Let Live' has always been a beautiful summation of those [libertarian] beliefs, and that is why I settled on Laissez Faire as the name of the store." - John Muller, Founder, Laissez Faire Books

"We saw ourselves as part of what Albert Jay Nock called The Remnant: a small minority who understood the nature of the State and who would be left when the current insanity became unworkable. Albert Camus once said in Neither Victims Nor Executioners that he was betting that the pen was mightier than the sword. We placed that bet too."
- Sharon Presley, Co-founder, Laissez Faire Books

Laissez Faire Books has been in continuous operation for 36 years. Founded by John Muller and co-founder Sharon Presley, the official opening was on March 4, 1972 in New York City. In 1982 Andrea Millen Rich acquired LFB from Muller. Under her leadership, it was a part of the non-profit Center for Independent Thought from 1982 to 2004, with offices both in NYC and San Francisco. In 2005, it was passed to the non-profit Center for Libertarian Thought, with Kathleen Nelson at the helm. In 2007, it was acquired by the non-profit International Society for Individual Liberty.

Laissez Faire Books has long claimed to carry the "best selection of books on liberty." The stock, which covers a wide range of topics from free market economics to science fiction, from history to psychology, includes books, CDs, and DVDs. Its catalog and online web site provide descriptions of books that range from the obscure to the famous and everything in between. There is no other store in the world like it.

More information about Laissez Faire Books' colorful history can be found on its Wikipedia page, as well as the Liberty article (From February 2008).

Through many changes, LFB has carried on the tradition of The Remnant and is still betting that the pen is mightier than the sword.

- Sharon Presley