Starship Mises

I started reading Heinlein's "Starship Troopers" last night.  First of all, if you haven't seen the movie, read the book instead.  If you have seen the movie, try to forget it and read the book anyway as it is quite different and much, much better.  Granted, I'm only 1/3 of the way through the book, but I like it well enough to give it a ringing endorsement.

Scattered throughout are pearls of wisdom in elegantly plain language such as this one on value:

He had been droning along about “value,” comparing the Marxist theory with the orthodox “use” theory. Mr. Dubois had said, “Of course, the Marxian definition of value is ridiculous. All the work one cares to add will not turn a mud pie into an apple tart; it remains a mud pie, value zero. By corollary, unskillful work can easily subtract value; an untalented cook can turn wholesome dough and fresh green apples, valuable already, into an inedible mess, value zero.

He continues on with a brilliantly simple explanation of subjective value theory, but you'll have to read the book for that.  

Related Post: Heinlein Foreshadowed Cash for Clunkers