To characterize O'Rourke as the economic Carl Sagan, would be a mistake. He does not so much popularize its study as he journalistically exposes it to scrutiny, allowing the reader to extract information that will be useful in daily life. That most of his conclusions reflect the conservative theories of the Austrian school of economics seems only to be incidental to his observations. O'Rourke shows he is aware that economic application has a significant influence on society. Witness Sweden's Minister for Consumer, Religious, Youth and Sports Affairs.
Socialism is inherently totalitarian in philosophy.
He is correct. Poor people make much easier targets for a demagogue. It is a keen observation. History has shown that free societies have been eroded and eventually washed away by the demagoguery of politicians calling for the redistribution of wealth. It happened to the Roman Republic in the First Century AD, culminating in the rise of the Empire.