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?

[groanup]

Thanks in advance fellow Freepers.

[jwalsh07]

Give her a copy of the Declaration of Independence.

[Happygal]

How old is your daughter?

[OwnershipSociety]

"Man's Search for Meaning"--Victor Frankel

Not a political book at all but the most inspiring story of a man overcoming the greatest odds and finding meaning to it all.

[bubman]

how old is your daughter?

Is she in HS?
College?

[vbmoneyspender]

1984, Animal Farm and Lord of the Rings

[stainlessbanner]

Federalist Papers

[LakeLady]

What's So Great About America
--Dinesh D'Souza

[groanup]

"how old is your daughter?"

17.

[jwalsh07]

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. --Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world."

[Mr. Mojo]

The Road to Serfdom, by F.A. Hayek

Capitalism and Freedom, by Milton Friedman

[groanup]

That's the kind of thing she's looking for. I wasn't aware of that one.

Thanks

[flashbunny]

"The Law" by Frederic Bastiat.

Short, concise, easy to read. Should be able to find it for less than $5.00. Builds from small, indisputable facts into a solid case for a more limited government.

[listenhillary]

David Horowitz: Radical Son
Ayn Rand:Atlas Shrugged

[RonDog]

ping

[stainlessbanner]

FR link: Help List the 101 BEST CONSERVATIVE BOOKS EVER (This is ALL YOU!)

[bubman]

yup that is a little young but anything by C.S Lewis, George orwell specifically Animal Farm is a good start.

[LakeLady]

"1984, Animal Farm and Lord of the Rings"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fantastic choices, but I have found with today's youth you must explain JRR Tolkein's analogy in his fiction with actual history. They are so overwhelmed by the fantasy, they do not correlate it to actual events.

[elizabetty]

The Diary of Ann Frank

[investigateworld]

Animal Farm, "1984" both by George Orwell (AKA: Eric Blair) and any issue of Shotgun News......