Posted on 03/29/2013 4:08:25 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
At any book store in the country, you can find hundreds of titles from right-leaning authors — and they are selling like hotcakes.
Over the past few years, the Tea Party groundswell and the presidency of Barack Obama has fueled a new and growing crop of conservative authors, as well as renewed interest in the canon of nonfiction works that have shaped conservative thought in American culture and politics.
The following is a list of 13 books that are staples to any Republican bookshelf. While the list by no means comprehensive, its a good starter guide for any young conservative looking to get his or her feet wet in the movement.
1) "The Conscience of a Conservative" by Barry Goldwater
The 1960 publication of Goldwater's book is often credited with reigniting the conservative movement and boosting the Arizona Senator's 1964 bid for the White House.
In the opening chapter, Goldwater makes a clear distinction between the right and left, writing, "the conscience of the Conservative is pricked by anyone who would debase the dignity of the individual human being. Today, therefore, he is at odds with dictators who rule by terror, and equally with those gentler collectivists who ask our permission to play God with the human race." More than 50 years since its publication, The Conscience of a Conservative, has endured and continues to inspire conservative thought.
2) "Democracy in America" by Alexis de Tocqueville
In 1831, Alexis de Tocqueville and Gustave de Beaumont embarked upon a nine-month quest across the American landscape. Leaving behind their post-revolutionary homeland, they saw a flourishing democracy they believed could serve as a model for other nations (including their own).
They traveled to 17 out of the 24 states in the union, interviewing settlers, lawyers, bankers, and even two presidents,
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
One surprising book on the list:
SAUL ALINKSY’s RULES FOR RADICALS
REASON:
The ultimate guide to community organizing by President Barack Obama’s one-time Chicago mentor Saul Alinsky. Because know thine enemy.
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I hasted to add, conservative lawyer, author and talk show host, Mark Levin actually READ THIS BOOK for precisely the reason presented in this article.
I recommend “Unintended Consequences” by John Ross and “Enemies Foreign and Domestic” by FreeRepublic’s own Matthew Bracken. They are pivotal pieces of fiction for understanding how this nation truly is and will continue to be on the edge.
Just a warning, Unintended Consequences is a little raw, if I remember correctly. After reading it, I put it where my kids (teenagers) would not be tempted to pick it up. I liked the story line, just some of the peripheral story lines were a little rough.
I read it for my first political science class. The instructor gave us a list of 10 books to choose from in order to write our paper. I chose Goldwater's book and wrote what my friends told me was a pretty good paper. I was expecting at least a B.
Well, I got my paper back and it had a C- on it. I promptly went up and asked him why he gave my paper a C- and he said: "I don't like Barry Goldwater."
I said, "You are the one who put that book on your list. My paper deserves at least a B." (That same week I had written a paper on Henry IV that garnered me a 97.)
So, he changed my grade to a B-.
He ended up giving me an undeserved C for a final grade.
Yeah, he was a democrat.
“Atlas Shrugged”
“The Fountainhead”
“Witness”
“Blacklisted by History”
“The Forgotten 500”
“A World Undone”
The Naked Socialist by Paul B. Skousen
And it’s a monumental read along the same lines as “Atlas Shrugged.” It is very raw, but that’s part of the reason I recommend it.
This list pretty much NAILS it..THERE are plenty of others....i’d throw in Rush’s last book and some of Hugh Hewitt and MiKE Medved and Dennis Praeger’s stuff for good doses of common sense....
RE: “The Conscience of a Conservative”
He put the book on the list in order to “out” conservatives and target them for low grades.
Ever found out what happened to the Prof. ever since?
At the beginning of Paul Johnson’s Modern Times he laments the two biggest failed ideas of the 20th Century, moral relativism (Weaver’s nominalism) and the lack of personal responsibility (society, not me, is responsible for my circumstance).
It is very difficult to see how our culture or even the world recovers from these bad ideas. How do you convince the post-modern mind that there are universal truths?
In my opinion, only world catastrophe, like depression or war of unprecedented scale can reorient these thought processes. They must be completely destroyed, eradicated and humiliated. There are too many people invested in these thoughts for their destruction/discredit to occur in the normal process of idea exchange.
Hence why Christianity, especially in Europe, is nearly extinct.
schu
Good points.
He ran for city council and lost. After that I don't know what happened to him.
It was my first taste of political bias and the lowest grade I got at that college.
Robert Bork’s Slouching Towards Gomorrah
and
The Great One’s Liberty and Tyranny
I think you ought to include the Bible, or at least the New Testament.
I would include either Chesterton’s “The Ever-Lasting Man” or “What’s Wrong with the World”.
Bump & ping
One book I’ve seen on conservative recommended book lists is Orwell’s “Homage to Catalonia.” While it’s a good read, I don’t know why people think it’s such a great book for conservatives. Supposedly because it’s when Orwell rejected communism, but his love for socialism never abated.
I wished I had read Atlas a long time ago. Up until my early 20s I was a fairly avid reader but I really didn’t know anything about Rand or Atlas. I keep a copy on my desk at home.
I would add Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith.
What happened to Eric Hoffer’s “The True Believer”?
That was the biggie when I was a lad!
Of course, “Fire For Dummies” was big then too...
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