Need Book Recommendations for my Daughter

FreeRepublic.com ^ | November 8, 2004 | self

[groanup]

Recently my daughter told me that when she and a friend were talking, the topic turned to strong vs. weak government.

My daughter was surprised when her friend said that he was on the side of the strong government. He said, "I mean, the government's done a lot for me. I've got a good public education, and I'm free to do just about whatever I want." With further questioning, her friend actually confessed that he thought the government had given him his freedom.

It's sad how many young people think like that because they don't know any better. My daughter has asked me to recommend a book that explains what is obviously not taught in schools --- the ideas of the founding fathers found in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, unalienable rights, self-government, the basic principles of freedom in America --- to have her friend read. Any suggestions?

[jocon307]

"Free to Chose" by Milton and Rose (I think it's Rose) Friedman.

Picked it up off handedly one day, as I was on my way to becoming a full fledged member of the VRWC, I think even if I'd been a stone cold socialist it would have won me over. Very simply written, but covers complex ground.

Not to get to high-falutin' about it, but the writing reminded me of C.S. Lewis, in the ability to make complex ideas understandable.

[Sola Veritas]

Not to be excessively cheeky, but I have always found the Bible to be worth reading on almost any topic. The Moseaic Law in the Old Testament would be an interesting start.

[stevem]

If you can find it on Amazon or somewhere: Legacy by James A. Michener

[RonDog]

From amazon.com:

The Road to Serfdom
by F. A. Hayek

Book Description

A classic work in political philosophy, intellectual and cultural history, and economics, The Road to Serfdom has inspired and infuriated politicians, scholars, and general readers for half a century. Originally published in England in the spring of 1944--when Eleanor Roosevelt supported the efforts of Stalin, and Albert Einstein subscribed lock, stock, and barrel to the socialist program--The Road to Serfdom was seen as heretical for its passionate warning against the dangers of state control over the means of production. For F. A. Hayek, the collectivist idea of empowering government with increasing economic control would inevitably lead not to a utopia but to the horrors of nazi Germany and fascist Italy.

-- snip --

After thirty-two printings in the United States, The Road to Serfdom has established itself alongside the works of Alexis de Tocqueville, John Stuart Mill, and George Orwell for its timeless meditation on the relation between individual liberty and government authority...

[Happygal]

My first instinct was 1984 too!

Dinesh D'Souza's book 'Ronald Reagan - How an Ordinary Man became an Extraordinary Leader' is an excellent read too.

[LakeLady]

You're very welcome. If you need more, I have an entire library of patriotic and historical books. I'll be glad to give her an entire reading list!

;^0)
LakeLady

[vbmoneyspender]

The horrors of the 20th Century resulted from two things -- centralized authority and the moral corruption that results when human beings exercise ultimate power over others. 1984 and Lord of the Rings address these issues more powerfully than other books written during the last 100 years -- which is why they are the two most important books written during the 20th Century.

[bubman]

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.

Introduce her to the original work from where Michael Moore based the title of his movie. You know that if your daughter knows Moore's moviee and not the book which inspired the title, we are living in troubled times.

[jstander]

I read Atlas Shrugged when I was 16.

[stainlessbanner]

The Bible is #1 on any Conservative Reading List.

[Defendingliberty]

Walter Williams had a good book...I can't remember the title and can't find my copy...

[groanup]

Thanks we have plenty! Thank you, thank you!

[rhetor]

I don't know how old your daughter's friend is, but if she's at least in her mid-teens, I would definitely recommend that she read "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand. There are many points on which conservatives and Rand disagree (e.g., abortion), but that doesn't seem to be the issue here. The book is a great read -- I've known persons who took it on vacation with them and spent their entire vacation time reading it, unable to put it down. It isn't so much that it's "great literature" (it isn't), but it is extremely compelling for the following reason: Rand was extremely good at dramatizing the ways by which abstract philosophical ideas are eventually translated into policy. One doesn't have to subscribe to her own philosophy (which she dubbed "Objectivism") to enjoy the book and to learn a great deal from it.

There are a number of good non-fiction books by Rand, too, such as "Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal," "The Virtue of Selfishness," and "The New Left: The Anti-Industrial Revolution"; but if "Atlas Shrugged" doesn't interest someone in conservative, pro-individualist ideas, nothing will.

[LakeLady]

Oh yes, I so agree with you. My library contains well worn copies of every book Tolkein has written, plus the others you noted.

My point was that it might take a little bit of background and plot explanation (by an "elder") for the younger generation to appreciate these works.

Actually, that was one of the best reasons I found for the movies being produced. On film, the analogies were so apparent you couldn't possibly miss them. We have to remember that the World Wars are ancient history to most under 20.

[Texas Eagle]

http://www.weyrich.com/book_reviews/better_country.html

[unspun]

This highly recommended book may be available used:

Never Before in History: America's Inspired Birth
by Gary Amos, Richard Gardiner

Look inside this book

Availability: THIS TITLE IS CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE. If you would like to purchase this title, we recommend that you occasionally check this page to see if it has become available.


Reading level: Young Adult
Edition: Textbook Binding

[unspun]

Here's another idea:
http://ixquick.com/do/metasearch.pl?cat=web&cat=web&cmd=process_search&language=english&query=%22Algernon+Sidney%22+AND+%22John+Locke%22+AND+%22John+Adams%22+AND+%22Samuel+Adams%22

[mrsmith]

At that age, Eric Hoffer.

"True Believer" is a good one of course. To the point too.

[KC Burke]

Try Roots of American Order, by R. Kirk. Basic but very through.