Daylight Robbery
Daylight Robbery traces the origins of taxation, from its roots in the ancient world, through to today. It explores the role of tax in the formation of our global religions, the part tax played in wars and revolutions throughout the ages, why, at one stage, we paid tax for daylight or for growing a beard. Ranging from the despotic to the absurd, the tax laws of the past reveal so much about how we got to where we are today and what we can do to build a system fit for the future.
Praise for Daylight Robbery
"With dazzling clarity, Frisby illuminates just how much of history is explained by arguments over tax, from Magna Carta to the American civil war to today's political debates. This entertaining, surprising, contrarian book is a tour de force."
— Matt Ridley, Author of The Evolution of Everything
"An engaging and informative trip through tax history that leads on to some radical suggestions for the future. A must-read for anyone thinking about how our tax system should be structured."
— Roger Bootle, Author of The AI Economy
"A real page-turner! Dominic Frisby's historical interpretation and utopian ideas will outrage Left and Right. Both should read this book!"
— Steve Baker, Member of the House of Commons Treasury Committee
"In this spectacular gallop through history, Frisby shows how taxation has warped, stunted and thwarted human progress. An absolute must-read for anyone who thinks higher taxes are the answer to our ills. Should be compulsory reading for anyone who aspires to high political office!"
— Mark Littlewood, Director General of Institute of Economic Affairs
"A fantastic education on the surprising ways tax policies have shaped mankind's past and will impact our future."
— Roger Ver, Chairman of Bitcoin.com
"A brilliant book full of insights into how governments have fleeced us down the ages. This is a must-read for anyone interested in how technology might at last tilt things back in favor of the citizen rather than the state."
— Douglas Carswell, Co-Founder of Vote Leave