A liberating view on prejudice and inequality

Egalitarianism is stronger than ever with quotas for female executives, gender neutral toilets, and courses against prejudice. A teasing joke can suffice to be labelled a racist, sexist or fascist.

Educators and politicians also agree: prejudices are wrong, diversity is our strength, and we are all equal. But is that really true?

Frank Karsten challenges readers to consider a different view. He argues that the fierce fight against discrimination actually causes more exclusion and polarisation.

The Discrimination Myth is a bold and groundbreaking book that offers a welcome counter-argument to anyone who doubts today's egalitarian ideals.

102 pages
Publication date: february 2019

"Karsten's contrarian book reads like a breath of fresh air. And it's funny too."

Geerten Waling

Historian and Elsevier columnist

"Read it in one go. Sharp, humorous, recognizable! Highly recommended."

Simon Rozendaal

Science editor Elsevier Weekly

"I just read Karsten! Excellent! Gripping logic."

Wim van Rooy

Flemish author and philosopher

"Frank Karsten is a world-class anti-equality and pro-freedom thinker."

Bert Brussen

The Post Online

In the Dutch media

Table of contents

  • Introduction
  • Disclaimers
  • The urge for equality
  • Myth 1: Discrimination is hatred, injustice and violence
  • Myth 2: To discriminate is immoral
  • Myth 3: You don't discriminate
  • Myth 4: Prejudice is wrong
  • Myth 5: Discrimination is the main cause of social inequality
  • Myth 6: All people are equal
  • Myth 7: Only white men can be racist and sexist
  • Myth 8: Anti-discrimination laws work
  • Myth 9: Affirmative action works
  • Myth 10: Equal pay reduces the gender pay gap
  • Myth 11: Government policies reduce discrimination
  • Myth 12: Anti-discrimination laws foster cohesion
  • Myth 13: Businesses willingly discriminate
  • Myth 14: Segregation is wrong
  • Help, I'm a victim of discrimination!
  • Conclusion

For sale at

About the author

Frank Karsten is founder of the MoreFreedom Foundation and co-founder of the Mises Institute Netherlands.

He is also co-author of Beyond Democracy, Why democracy does not lead to solidarity, prosperity and liberty but to unrest, runaway spending and a tyrannical government. Translated into over 20 languages.

In 2022 Frank published his third book The Paperclip Mindset, How to tame the Complexity Monster in IT

Authors who have inspired me


Walter Block
Economist at Loyola University. Published The Case For Discrimination in 2010.

Block argues that individual and economic freedom are the best way to counter exclusion and marginalization.
Walter Williams
(1936 - 2020) Willams was an economist at George Mason University. In 2011 he published Race & Economics: How Much Can Be Blamed on Discrimination?

Williams wrote extensively on this topic and thinks people should be free to discriminate.
Thomas Sowell
Sowell is an economist too and states in his book Basic Economics that the minimum wage discriminates against minorities and fosters their unemployment.

His latest book is Discrimination and disparities

For sale at

Amazon.com (Paperback) Amazon.com (Kindle) Amazon.com (Audiobook)