The influential book "The Road to Serfdom" was authored by Friedrich Hayek. Published in 1944, the book argues against the dangers of totalitarianism and advocates for free-market capitalism. Hayek posits that governmental control of the economy can lead to the erosion of personal freedoms and civil liberties, a warning based on his observations of socialist movements in Europe. His work has had significant implications for economic thought and policy, influencing debates on the role of government in the economy and contributing to the rise of neoliberalism in subsequent decades.