Free Republic Book Club, 2/24/05

Tanniker Smith

[Tanniker Smith]

Welcome to the Free Republic Book Club.

It was suggested a couple of days ago, in the FReeper's Book Rockets Up Amazon After Ingraham Show! thread (somewhere toward the end) that it would be great if there FR Book Club. Somehow, I think I got nominated to start one. I don't really know how to do that other than just to go ahead and do it. So I am -- please, feel free to point out mistakes, or point out how to make a "ping" list for folks that want to be a part of this.

Anyway, if there are no complaints, I think it would be better to have a Book Club rather than a Conservative Book Club (or a Republican Book Club or a Libertarian Book Club, etc). Yes, let's focus on the bounty of conservative books that we didn't have even a dozen years ago, but if anyone wants to occasionally talk about a mystery or SF book, it won't be off topic (unless The Powers That Be decide that it is, at least at FR). I don't know about anyone else, but the majority of my reading is composed of other stuff, as can be seen on this thread: Books Read in 2004 (Read Any Good Books Lately?)

Other than that, I have only one ground rule: judge (or slam) the books themselves, not the authors. The latter is way too easy, and beside the point. Likewise, I know the opinions folks have of Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly, but please separate the books from the people, particularly if you haven't read them.

So what should we discuss first?

[Tanniker Smith]

Without any other ideas of what to discuss, how about we get a sense of what the folks have been reading and what you think about them. My suggestion is this:

List, in order, your favorite three conservative books that you recently read. Use your judgment on what "recent" is. If you read "See I Told You So" seven or eights years ago, no, that doesn't count. If you only got around to reading it in the last year or so, okay, include it. But really, I'm interested in finding the books many of us have enjoyed, so that the rest of us can go seek these out. (We can do "books to pass by" another time.)

Please, list only (or at most) three, and please, list only books that you've read and enjoyed, not the ones that you're hoping to read and hope you'll enjoy, or ones that you were told by someone whose opinion you really trust that it is good and you're going to get around to reading it as soon as the library has it available. (You'd be surprised at the conversations I've had concerning books.)

With luck, we'll get a nice response, and I can tally them up when the posting stops.

I start, which will be easy because I've only read three in the past year or so:

1. At Any Cost: How Al Gore Tried to Steal the Election, Bill Sammon
2. Who's Looking Out for You, Bill O'Reilly
3. Let Freedom Ring, Sean Hannity

Again, forget about what you think about them personally, they're both good reads.

By the way, I would have liked to have added Reagan's book of letters, but, sadly, I've been quite busy and I only managed to get a small fraction of the way through the book before I had to return it to the library. (Couldn't renew it -- someone had it on hold.)

TS

[silent_jonny]

"Misunderestimated" by Bill Sammon.

[squarebarb]

If you have a ping list, would you put me on it?

If you wish to discuss political books, you are going to have discussions of politics and not of books.

Convervatives need to begin discussing Literature, in the worst way.

Liberals dominate the arts; almost always with very shoddy theories (p.c., an affinity for anything that is 'dark' and 'edgy' and so on);

There are often very good threads on movies; in which the movies are discussed for their story line, photography, actors, characters, etc. with politics secondary. I am not the one starting this thread and perhaps I shouldn't butt in with an alternative idea and Tanniker's taking on the work is much appreciated,

and it is just a suggestion, but might we discuss fiction? (ducking...)

[AQGeiger]

I'm currently working on "The Case for Democracy" by Natan Sharansky.

While it's not really directly tied to conservatism, I highly suggest Eric Hoffer's "The True Believer." It's a collection of thoughts on what drives fanatical mass movements, the types of individuals who become members of mass movements, and the personalities that start mass movements. I find it invaluable in understanding the mindset of the fundamentalist Muslims that seem so intent on destroying Western civilization. And a number of passages are also very apt descriptions of the liberal moonbats that we find so infuriating. It's important to know one's enemy.

Another excellent title is "A Conflict of Visions" by Thomas Sowell. It's an intriguing look into why the mindset so many liberals have that, despite their own moral relativism, anyone who disagrees with them is genuinely evil.

[carlr]

• Unfit For Command by John E. O`Neill and Jerome R.Corsi,PH.D
  
• How To Talk To A Liberal(If You Must) by Ann Coulter
  
• War Stories II,Heroism In The Pacific by Oliver North.

[snugs]

If you have a ping list, would you put me on it? .

If you do please put me on it too - thanks.

[Tanniker Smith]

Hey, this is sort of the "first meeting" coming to order. Suggestions are welcome. I just didn't want to start with an empty thread, so I put up a topic.

Feel free to go off on a tangent if it gets the folks talking.

TS

[Burn24]

Right on, girl! For instance... I've just read Cormac McCarthy's "Cities of the Plain," and found it breathtaking. Anyone want to talk about it?

[arbee4bush]

On my nightstand and getting ready to start:

A Patriots History Of The United States: From Columbus's Great Discovery To The War On Terror

Larry Schweikart, Michael Patrick Allen

 

Next up: The Case For Democracy: The Power of Freedom to Overcome Tyranny and Terror

Natan Sharansky, Ron Dermer, Anatoly Shcharansky

 

 Now reading :The Pentagon's New Map

Thomas P. M. Barnett

 

And one I am just ordered and am waiting for (release date March 1):

 

Taking Heat : The President, the Press, and My Years in the White House

Ari Fleischer

 

Add me to your ping list if you have one, thanks :)

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

and it is just a suggestion, but might we discuss fiction?

I would love that.

Seconded!

[Tanniker Smith]

Soon as I figure out how, I'll probably put everyone who posts to this thread on it. (I'll remove anyone who doesn't want to be pinged, too.)

I figure that anyone taking the trouble to even bump this thread wants to be included.

TS

[TightyRighty]

I thought it was a good idea.......I'll keep a watch on what happens!

[libertyman]

Hey, the comedian George Carlin had his own book club......does anyone remember his "Join the Book Club" skit? I was listening to it on CD a few days ago--it's HILARIOUS!!!!!

[TightyRighty]

Please add me to your ping list too!

[PatriotGirl827]

BUMP!!!

[506trooper]

Thirdeded

[sandalwood]

What a lovely idea!

As the proud parent of a toddler, my leisure reading consists of whatever part of the paper I get through before the babe decides to take over my time. She doesn't understand why I'd read a big floppy paper when there are dozens of great board books to read to her!

I recently finished How to Speak to a Liberal (if you must) By the divine Ms. Ann Coulter

I must admit, her sarcasm grates the nerves of my better half, but I just love her biting wit. She handily tears down the motivation and mindset of the left, and she writes as carefree and comfortable with who she is as she speaks.

If you enjoy reading her columns but haven't read as many as you would like, this is the book for you. Her comments on 9/11 and the aftermath are particularly pithy.

A really good read, especially for those of us who can't get through a book too quickly, because each column can be read individually, without having to remember where you left off.

[Tanniker Smith]

by the way, folks, if you click on my thread of 2004 books, you'll see that I mostly read fiction. So if that's what you want to talk about, great.

That said, I started this on a suggestion from another thread, and didn't run it by the Higher Ups at FR, so I figured that my first post should be somehow on topic for FR.

Not like that ever stops anyone around here. 8-)

TS

[Tanniker Smith]

ping

[silent_jonny]

I agree that fiction would be great, too.

Please add me to the ping list :)