I’m actually about 2/3 through Road to Serfdom right now, and have 8 of the books you listed. It’ll be fun to re-read them and share thoughts with others here.

It would be really helpful if there could be a separate area, kind of like Redhot, where the book diaries could be collected and easily accessed even after they would normally drop off the front page. That way, folks new to RedState and even new to conservatism could get ideas for reading material.

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A couple of my favorite books:

1. Godless: The Church of Liberalism, by Ann Coulter
2. World War IV: The Long Struggle Against Islamofascism, by Norman Podhoretz
3. Let Freedom Ring: Winning the War of Liberty over Liberalism by Sean Hannity
4. See I Told You So, by Rush Limbaugh

I own a signed copy of Godless that I’ve read three times.

What a great idea. Some time ago I made a plea to EPU and others, in the form of a diary, for some books ideas that I could synthesize into a class on basic conservative principles. Well over half the books on your list were in the comments of that diary, and I have bought them and have begun trudging through them.

This will bring some much needed discipline to my work. Awesome.

I’ll be reading along too.

I’m in for the same reason I join Bible study groups at church - the group adds a measure of discipline that I don’t muster on my own.

Here is a link to Jonah Goldberg’s thoughts on the subject: http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=OTQ1NDI5NzQ5NmQ5NmVlZjJhMjVlNmYxYzJlNDc5Zjg=

I would add to the list the Federalist Papers, The Law by Frederic Bastiat (short and available free), and Free to Choose by Milton and Rose Friedman.

Although I want to point out, here and now and for the record, that the retorts “markets” and “liberty” are entirely sufficient arguments to rebut fully the manure that the left serves up as intellectual discourse.

It is a good one. Applause all around.

Thomas Sowell’s “A Conflict of Visions” is extremely profound. It examines what makes a conservative conservative and a liberal liberal, at the rootmost level. In fact, I would argue that it does a spectacular job bridging the gap between a theological perspective of politics and a more sociological one.

Ever wonder why most (ok, pretty much all) serious religious persons (at least of the Judeo-Christian varieties) who are also serious about politics happen to describe themselves as conservatives in the political sense? This book will help you connect those dots too. There is a conflict in two primary visions. One upholds the limitless capabilities of man, the other acknowledges his limitations. (It’s worth noting that the Statists usually believe that it is they themselves that are limitless in capabilities -but, of course, not all the regular folks.)

And if you entertain Mere Christianity being on the list, maybe also consider “Knowledge of the Holy” by A.W. Tozer. Pound for pound that is one of the more dense little books out there. Rarely do people sit down for a prolonged spell and study only the attributes of God. And in my experience this book hits many first time readers like a ton of bricks. I would like to see the reactions of non-believers as well as they read this book. It would be very interesting to see how they respond to such a concentrated, orthodox description of God, as many times the God of their own mind (which they find so easy to dismiss) is rather lacking in comparison.

According to the conservative world view I have adopted, there is no better place to start than here. From God is where it all flows…. and even though a conservative political mind may reject the personal aspect of knowing and being reunited with God, it will still be well served to know more about the ultimate source for principles and virtues which make the world work (as well as it can anyway.) Even if you don’t believe in God the same way you believe the sky looks blue, you can still live and think as if you do.

I am in.

Conservatives must be able to articulate the world view that underlies their ideas. This project is an excellent idea.

I agree that Thomas Sowell’s “A Conflict of Visions” is a must. It is also an excellent place to begin. Read this review by Charles Murray at AEI to see why I say that: http://www.aei.org/article/23586

(”Conflict of Visions” is also available at Audible.com for you other multi-taskers out there.)

“On Liberty” by John Stuart Mill. It’s a compact book, though dense with ideas.

In all I am not that impressed. Yes, what the author says is true, but it is overdone.

I have worked both white collar and blue collar jobs for over 35 years now and I have to say MOST workers I have known do a good job, take some pride in their work, and will go the extra mile. Of course some are lazy and some or stupid, but they don’t last long (unless it is a government or union job).

Now that is not the same thing as initiative, I know that. But let us look at the other side of the story. I have known many stupid, erratic, emotional, or negligent bosses. I have also seen situations where the supervisor was a good guy, but the company had bad and counter productive policies.

It is true that employees should not need any special encouragement to do their jobs. But it is the smart (and rare) supervisor who gives special commendations to those who do their job well. Often, however, it is the loudmouth employee, or the butt kisser who gets the perks.

That, in a nutshell is the greatest problem with socialism. Those who do the most, or best work will not be rewarded, but those who are politically gifted will.

I’m usually reading two or three books anyway.

However, I can’t believe that clown thought that (socialist type) liberalism has some kind of ringing intellectual argument . I’ve yet to hear one…

Now classical liberalism is different. It is basically what conservatism is now, but I guess we’ll get into that later.

Also, unless it’s been mentioned above, I highly recommend Thomas Sowell’s “The Vision of the Annointed” - a veritable catalogue of leftist failures and philosophical inconsistencies beginning in the first half of the 20th Century (and even before.)

(And sorry, I usually have time to read all the other comments before posting, but not always. Wish I could get paid to do this stuff, but I got to work…)

but at least one of Thomas Sowell’s excellent books is a must. I would recommend his book, “Ethnic America”, which recounts and analyzes the story of many of our nation’s immigrant groups in a digestible format, and contains many of the themes found in his other books.

Also, though I’m not his biggest fan and it should really be EPU bringing this up :P, we would be remiss not to have something from Russell Kirk on here.

(BTW, and I ask out of curiosity, but why do you consider Augustine to be “conservative”? Though I haven’t read much from him, my understanding is that he was very statist and reactionary; both being attributes which don’t jive well with American conservatism.)

enjoyable. (I’ve read 4 and am 1/2-way through The Road to Serfdom.)

I usually have to read more than one book at a time if one of them is philosophical.

Liberal Fascism, Witness, and Democracy in America are exceptions. They kept me riveted throughout.

http://www.amazon.com/Reagan-His-Own-Hand-Revolutionary/dp/0743219384

I bought a hardback copy when it first came out and it is a phenomenal read. Good tonic against the “lacks intellectual heft” people as well. For all their attempts to whitewash their past bile, Reagan was routinely hit with the Hayward criticism the entire time he was in political office*. I think this book demolishes the claim that you need the ivory tower types to establish the fundamentals of your philosophy. I particularly like that the book is published with the edits and omissions from his notes.

You know, I may need to buy another copy since I haven’t been able to find my hardcover.

*It started long before he was President. My mother had an LP entitled “Pat Paulson for President” in which the Smother’s Brothers comedian reprises some of his skits. I particularly remember the one where he is railing against the tv censorship commission:

For instance, I’m allowed to say Ronald Reagan is a lousy actor, but I’m not allowed to say he is a lousy Governor. Which is ridiculous! Everybody knows he’s a great actor.

I’d recommend 5000 Year Leap (yeah I know it’s one of Glenn Beck’s favorites) as an easier introduction to our Constitutional system and the founders than can be found in the Federalist & Anti-Federalist Papers. It is really the Compleat Beginner’s Guide to American Constitutionalism and Limited Government.

By the way, will we be reading just the Federalist Papers, or also the corresponding Anti-Federalist papers as we go through the case for the Constitution?

“Each of us has a natural right, from God, to defend his person, his liberty, and his property.” –Frederic Bastiat

I think this is great idea

One book I would like to add 5000 year leap

Barry Goldwater’s “The Conscious of a Conservative” is available in pdf format here http://www.heritage.org/Research/features/PresidentsEssay/PresEssay2004.pdf

I’m in and will try to keep up.

Hayward’s elitism really rubbed me the wrong way. We need to prove him wrong.

I also vote to add Mark Steyn’s “America Alone” to the pile.

I’m not a member of the political class, so I have to work for a living, meaning I don’t have a giant amount of time to work tirelessly for expansion of the state and government perks to me. That being said, this is a great idea. Count me in as an activist and self-appointed representative of New Hampshire’s Free State Project.

the added motivation needed to expand my mind through literature. Great idea guys!

- I currently own only 2 or 3 books on the list, but this will make a great Christmas list for family.

- Thought: the “Book List” reading lessons could be consolidated into a list of core lessons or conservative principles with links to quotes or key book sections. (e.g. a De Tocqueville quote on why bigger gov’t leads to tyranny.)

I would love to see:

A separate area of the site

A segment in the next RedState Gathering

A meet-up in Atlanta for the Georgians besides me and Erick who are book reading nerds.

I have most of these and just love them. Thanks for starting this!

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Great idea! I’m in!

Its usually on the same shelf at barnes and nobles, I would recomend A complete copy (including the preamble) of THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION—our first constitution—the origional vision for our country—-finantially inadequate–replaced in 1789 by this one! And to understand “neighborhood organizers” Che Guverra’s Blueprint for a revolution! I translated an origional copy brought from Cuba! But my ex threw it away! It might be available somewhere in english!! It exposes communist methods and goals! Thanks for making available on line those others—I WILL read them too.

I’m a bookaholic and I have tried to get something along these lines going locally, but I don’t know many conservatives in the area. (Austin, TX) I have a few of these in my library and will get the rest as we go along.
Thank you Aaron and Erick! I always learn something knew each time I read a book and discuss it.

By John Stormer, the 1964 version. That one would get you banned from most “polite,” read liberal, company back in the day and was practically a Bible for the Birchers. Nonetheless, the left can’t refute it, they just yell loudly when you point it out. Also, new authoritative scholarship since the fall of the Soviet Union has belied most of the liberal claims that many famous personages weren’t communists or fellow travellers, see, e.g., “Spies” by Haynes, Keller, and Vassilov.

I definitely want to participate. It is good to believe in what is right, and even better to present it to others with logic.

I am in especially since I already have 4 of the books and have read 3 of them. I will finally get all the way through the Federalist Papers.

I am in! I am very excited. Some of these books look a little intimidating, but I am excited about reading them.

Still currently reading Road to Serfdom which will be going back to the library soon. Following Liberal Fascism with The Road would really be an excellent segue both for its concision and its clarity. Although I have sworn off buying any more books until I make room for more, I will be buying The Road to Serfdom.