The importance of this liiile book is far greater. I believe, than one would expect from its modest size and unpretentious language. It is, very simply, a book about the free society; about what would now-a-days be termed the ''policy implications'' for such a society in the conduct of both its internal and external affairs: and very especially about some of the obstacles and problems, whether real or imagined, lying in the way of establishing and maintaining that form of social organization.Now, while there is nothing extraordinary in all this, the surprising fact is thai virtually none of those who have advocated some alternative form of social economic organization offered a similar discussion of their respective proposals. Even now. the growing band of writers who regale us with detailed criticisms of capitalism and with forecasts of its impending demise are strangely reticent in treating any ''contradictions'' or other difficulties that might occur in the operation of the system they prefer or predict.