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:
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
"Misunderestimated" by Bill Sammon.
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...)
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.
Add me to your ping list if you have one, thanks :)
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!!!!!
BUMP!!!
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.
Unfit For Command by John E. O`Neill
Every one read that one so moving right along
For Shame (The Loss of Common Decency in American Culture) By James B Twitchell
Enjoyable but it will make you squirm a bit.
Good to Great by Jim Collins
Ok not exactly a conservative book but this one book gave me more insight into why our nation's government is structured the way it is. And why having a great system is better then having a great leader. Great (or level 5 leaders) are needed to build the system but they build it with the view that they are not going to be around forever so they build it so it will withstand a poor leader.
I swear every GOP leader should read this book.
But seriously, now...here's a few excellent books you should check out:
--"THE LAW" by Frederic Bastiat (written in 1850; you can also find it on the Constitution Society's web page);
--"THE CONSTITUTIONAL THOUGHT OF THOMAS JEFFERSON", by David N. Meyer;
--"BASIC AMERICAN GOVERNMENT", by Clarence Carson;
--"LOST RIGHTS: THE DESTRUCTION OF AMERICAN LIBERTY", by James Bovard;
--"THE REAL LINCOLN", by Thomas DiLorenzo; &
--"A REPUBLIC, NOT AN EMPIRE", by Pat Buchanan
Could you add me to your ping list when you make it? Thanks! :)
Will check back in later. Cheers for the FR Book Club!
(For all of you interested in Burn24's suggestion, jump over to Amazon to check out Cities of the Plain).
Freeper LS's "A Patriot's History of America" and his upcoming "September Day".
Freeper Travis McGee's "Enemies Foreign and Domestic" and his upcoming "Domestic Enemies".
Freeper James Macomber's "Art & Part" and "Bargained for Exchange".
The entire "Prelude to Glory" series (all nine volumes) about the revoultionary war and constitutional convention by Carter.
All of Michael and Jeff Shaara's books about the Revolutionary and Civil wars.
James Alexander Thom's "Long Knife" and "Pamnther in the Sky" novels about George Rogers Clark and Tecumseh respectively.
Norman Shwarzkopf's "It doesn't take a Hero".
John Eisenhower's, "So far from God", about the Mexican American War.
Tyrone Martin's, "A Most Fortunate SHip", about the USS Constitution.
Samuel Elliot Morison's, "The Two Ocean War", about the US Navy in World War II.
...and finally, all of Allan Eckert's "Winning America" series, starting with, "The Frontiersman".
Bttt
If you like fiction with a message, State of Fear by Michael Crighton was good - I particularly liked the charts, graphs, and checkable sites for debunking the global warming nuts.
This is a great idea and I'd like to be added to your ping list.
1. Please add me to the ping list.
2. I would like to second (or third ... or fourth) squarebarb's suggestion. Political books, particularly current books, are going to be discussed here anyway. Literature may not.
Holy War on the Home Front by Harvey Kushner is the scary book I'm reading now.
p.s.That blue underlined word was self formatted.
Picked this up at MWR. Don't get much time to read, though.