Christmas gifts for a Liberal

[Badger1]

I have drawn the name of a liberal relative in the annual Christmas gift exchange and I am trying to decide what gift to give him. I was thinking of some books like: Radical Son by David Horowitz, Slander by Ann Coulter, The Way the World Works by Jude Wanniski, Economics in One Lesson by Henry Hazlitt or even Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith. Anybody have any good suggestions?

[smith288]

Good Stocking stuffer

[PeoplesRepublicOfWashington]

How about a cigar stored in a human humidor?

[Badger1]

LOL Good idea, but I probably should provide some more information on the person I have to give the gift to. He is my wife’s niece’s fiancé. He is about 25 and just graduated from a very liberal college in California (Harvey Mudd). They also just moved to Seattle (I guess California wasn't liberal enough for them). I really don’t even know the guy, having only met him at a wedding for a couple of hours. But like all liberals, I’m sure he needs a reality check, which is why I want to get him some good conservative books.

[another cricket]

Basic Economics by Thomas Sowell. It is much lower key then the books you are suggesting but it gets its point across.

If I had to choose one thing that everyone should be educated on it is what wealth is, where it comes from and why some countries have so much of it and others so little. Another book that does the same although in a much lighter vein is "Eat the Rich" by PJ O'Rourke

a.cricket

[Badger1]

I have read some of Sowell's books, but not Basic Economics. I wanted to give at least on economics book as a gift, but you are probably right about needing a lower key book to start off with. The guy is after all a liberal and probably needs a basic introduction to economics.

And Eat the Rich by PJ O'Rourke is a great suggestion. O'Rourke makes a lot of his points with a humorous style that makes his books an enjoyable read.

[lds23]

One book might not be enough to penetrate through all those years of University training, unless of course you throw it juuuuust right.

[cuz_it_aint_their_money]

Might I suggest a one year subscription to the Limbaugh Letter.
12 monthly issues packed with the wit and wisdom of the Great One himself.
You can get the ordering information from his website - www.rushlimbaugh.com

[MotleyGirl70]

Might I suggest a one year subscription to the Limbaugh Letter.

Excellent suggestion! I love it. I can usually finish reading it in one night if I have the time. "Stupid Quotes" are the best. I gave my dad a subscription last Christmas, he loves it.

[cuz_it_aint_their_money]

I love it also.
Have you had a chance to read this months interview with Katherin Harris?
It's one of his best interviews IMHO.

[MotleyGirl70]

Absolute Power by David Limbaugh

Hell To Pay by Barbara Olson

Final Days by Barbara Olson

Hating Whitey by David Horowitz

Human Events (weekly paper)

I highly recommend all of the above

[MotleyGirl70]

No I didn't get it yet. Maybe I'll get it today :)

Did you read your ten year special. Excellent!

[Badger1]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I espically like lds23's suggeston, but it might not be approporiate to implement it on Christmas day.

I think I will give him "Eat the Rich" by PJ O'Rourke, because if I give him something like the Limbaugh Letter, he will probably never read it (and be offended in the process, causing unwated family friction). And some of the things that would be good for him to read like "Absolute Power" by David Limbaugh or "Hell To Pay" by Barbara Olson are probably to overtly conservative as well. A nice conservative, humorous book like "Eat the Rich" is probably the safest way to go.

[Robert A Cook PE]

The "economics" book sounds like a good idea ...

After all, they are only engaged now, so it might be prudent to keep the pressure (er, psych job) to a lower key for a little while.

This way, you can always say "I found this a real good guide for long-range planning."

Or "Here's some easy reading before your retirement..."

Or "Here's some financial lessons so you can afford a longer honeymoon...."

Or something equally "lighthearted" and non-political.

[Badger1]

Nice to see another Engineer here. And you echoed my thoughts exactly. Start out with a nice ""lighthearted" and non-political" book, keeping "the pressure (er, psych job) to a lower key." You can't bring liberals into the light to fast, it will burn them after so many years in the darkness. Better to show them the light slowly.

[arthurus]

Economics In One Lesson is the best because it is short and very effective. If he will actually read it he will ever after find it hard to listen to interventionist arguments without thinking to the other effects.

[arthurus]

I had a hard time reading Sowell's Basic Economics because the edition I had was horribly edited and seemed to be not proofread at all. I could not reccommend that book to anyone. Properly edited, it would be one of the best of popular economics books.

[another cricket]

Maybe I got another edition because I loved it. But I do think that "Eat the Rich" is about the best starter book. I loved chapter eight on Tanzania (How to make nothing from everything) If there was a place ripe for an African success story Tanzania is it. But it isn't happening. This chapter explains why.

For a starter book on how government works I would again have to go with PJ and "Parliament of Whores." The heavier stuff should wait. You grow into conservatism and it can be a very slow process.

a.cricket

[boris]

A bunch of sour grapes.