rules bound to themselves. Pirate leaders could be violent to their prisoners, but they respected their crew – they were “lawless” but “not without laws” (Leeson, 2009). Charters were created before the 1670s to ensure equality amongst members. Conscription was “executed” through the drafting of sailors from overturned vessels. The book also explores other elements that made piracy successful. The Jolly Roger flag was not flown by coincidence, but instead was used as an element of branding. It was a substantial element to the success of their “business” – pirates capitalised on this operation. The flag amongst other elements were used to build pirate reputation. Their notoriety for barbarity created a fearsome “brand name” which would ensure their success was maximised. Torture also deterred authoritative figures from interfering. The book ends with the use of management methods and the contemporary lessons which can be learnt from 17th and 18th century pirates. These “pioneers of democracy” had more to offer than just insanity and bloodshed. Throughout the book, Leeson claims that pirate actions had economic reasoning, both for mutual benefit as well as the success of their society. Pirates’ actions were also just “common sense” and had an incentive to create rules to make “society get along.” Themes Democracy In rebellion to the autocratic notions of the 17th and 18th century merchant ships and governments, pirates elected their leaders through democracy. All crew members would vote on important matters that affected their society’s way of functioning. This form of democratic living was not stumbled upon, instead it was adopted through the sailor’s experiences aboard merchant ships. The merchant ships’ ownership structure drove the autocratic organisation, and many captains leading their crews abused this power severely. Pirates had a very different ownership structure. Instead of absolute ruling, pirates created a system of democratic checks and balances which would hold a captain accountable for the crew. It would also reduce their control over certain aspects of life. Constraining the captains’ ability benefited the crew’s expense as it ensured cooperation between members, and more importantly, concreted piratical system and success. Constitution The implementation of democracy also called for the use of a constitution. Pirates created “articles of agreement” or codes which would aid the governing of the ship. The constitutions did many things, but in particular they prevented “negative externalities” that could occur by ensuring the cooperation of members, and created a “rule of