I'm excited to announce the launch of my new book, Why Socialism Struggles: Exposing the Economic Errors That Undermine Utopian Ideals, on January 20, 2026. This book, now available for preorder in a beautiful hardcover edition, with the Kindle version expected to follow by mid-November. Since many of you are familiar with my previous work, I believe you'll find this a compelling addition. It is a must-read for those interested in economics, political philosophy, and critiques of Socialism. The hardcover version is a limited run, with a paperback version to follow. I'd appreciate your support through preordering. Since supplies will be limited, preordering guarantees you'll be able to obtain a copy. If you've been intellectually stimulated by reading the articles on DougCardell.com, then you will find the book even more engaging. It covers topics that you may have read about here, but in greater depth. In his series, you'll get a sneak preview of the valuable insights the book offers. In chapter 4, "What Is the Economic Value of Labor?", we learn that the market decides the value of labor. It is true because labor is no different than the value of anything else. It has no intrinsic value. The consumer is the sole determiner of value, or rather, the collection of all possible consumers, the market. Setting a minimum wage of $15 per hour or any other amount is the government usurping the customer’s and the producer’s right to negotiate fair value. Throughout history, innovation, driven by the consumer’s desire for better goods and services at lower prices, has upended people’s lives. Take a look around your home; electricity put whalers and candlemakers out of work, your refrigerator closed ice houses and put icemen out of work, your television and radio killed vaudeville and other types of entertainment, the internet has put many from the legacy media out of work, and your car cost blacksmiths, farriers, and wagon makers their jobs. But these new technologies created many more jobs than they destroyed, but it meant that people had to retrain. No one wants to see people have to readjust their lives, but the inevitable change happens much more quickly when the government, unions, or other outside forces intervene. We can make the shift less destructive by letting it happen more slowly and naturally. Automation and other disruptive forces of creative destruction will continue, but they move more slowly when outside actors do not push them. The most effective long-term strategy to avert catastrophic disruptions is education. We must stop encouraging people to believe that they work for a living; they don't. They create value to make a living. When individuals understand that their financial well-being is a product of the value they contribute, they are empowered to make more informed decisions and have happier, more productive, and more financially rewarding lives. Seeking opportunities where someone can maximize their value creation is a vastly different approach than simply searching for a job. Furthermore, everyone must accept and prepare for the fact that things change, and the most adaptable are the most successful. Viewing the free market as a platform to exchange the value each of us generates, based on our unique talents and priorities, not only enhances individual lives but also cultivates a stronger, more equitable free market for all. Free-market capitalism is about creating value for each other, and everyone profits from the exchange. Creating value for each other enriches us as human beings and as a society. In the next article, we will preview Chapter 5. If you're ready to preorder, you can do so now at 'Amazon.'