American Maggie

 Readings for the Politically Prescient and Culturally Clued-in

 Welcome to American Maggie’s list of book recommendations! From philosophy to the arts, this list encompasses centuries of thought, study, and debate. Brush up on your political theory with “The Conservative Tutorial.” Learn more about issues facing women in “Women and Society.”  Or, find a book about current events under “Relevant Now.” Whether you’re a well-read politico or merely curious, there are plenty of options to choose from. This list is also a work in progress; we’ll continue to update it with new releases and your suggestions. Happy reading!

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THE CONSERVATIVE TUTORIAL

From Aristotle to Russell Kirk, here are the top ten books every conservative should know. 

 The Closing of the American Mind, Allan Bloom – “In this acclaimed number one national best-seller, one of our country’s most distinguished political philosophers argues that the social/political crisis of 20th century America is really an intellectual crisis.  Allan Bloom’s sweeping analysis is essential to understanding America today.  It has fired the imagination of a public ripe for change.” (Book cover)

Democracy in America, Alexis de Tocqueville – “In 1831 Alexis de Tocqueville, a young French aristocrat and ambitious civil servant, made a nine-month journey throughout America. The result was Democracy in America, a monumental study of the life and institutions of the evolving nation. Tocqueville looked to the flourishing democratic system in America as a possible model for post-revolutionary France, believing that the egalitarian ideals it enshrined reflected the spirit of the age and even divine will. His insightful work has become one of the most influential political texts ever written on America and an indispensable authority on democracy.” (Amazon.com)

The March of Freedom:  Modern Classics in Conservative Thought, Edwin J. Feulner – “Like all great movements, modern conservatism arose out of the experience and thought of certain great individuals. In The March of Freedom, Edwin J. Feulner, Jr. introduces twelve of the statesmen, economists, moralists, and sages whose deeds and writings gave conservatism its contemporary form. Each chapter comprises an essay by Dr. Feulner on one of theses figures followed by an illustrative selection from his or her work. These portraits fall into two groups:  “Conservative Minds,” the formulators of conservative principles, and “Witnesses,” intellectual and political leaders whose conversions to the cause bore witness to those principles.” (Book cover)

The Politics, Aristotle – “Twenty-three centuries after its compilation, The Politics still has much to contribute to this central question of political science. Aristotle’s thorough and carefully argued analysis is based on a study of over 150 constitutions, covering a  huge range of political issues in order to establish which types of constitution are best – both ideally and in particular circumstances – and how they may be maintained.” (Book cover)

The Founder’s Almanac:  A Practical Guide to the Notable Events, Greatest Leaders, and Most Eloquent Words of the American Founders, Matthew Spalding – “The Founders’ Almanac is an easy-to-use guide to the origins of American democracy — focusing on information that is especially valuable for our day. The calendar describes important events of the era. Biographical essays introduce the leading Founders — including George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams — and discuss the major themes of their statesmanship. An extensive compilation of quotations reflects the wit and wisdom of the Founding generation, and an annotated bibliography suggests additional readings. Historical documents — the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution and Washington’s Farewell Address — and interpretative essays reacquaint the reader with immortal words and their contemporary meaning.” (Amazon.com)

 Modern Times, Paul Johnson – “Originally published in 1983 and named one of the Best Books of the Year by The New York Times, this bestselling history is now revised and updated and includes a new final chapter. A far-reaching and masterful work, it explores the events, ideas, and personalities of the seven decades since the First World War.” (Barnesandnoble.com)

 God and Man at Yale, William F. Buckley, Jr. – “In 1951, a twenty-five-year old Yale graduate published his first book, which exposed the extraordinarily irresponsible educational attitude that prevailed at his alma mater. This book rocked the academic world and catapulted its young author, William F. Buckley Jr., into the public spotlight.” (Barnesandnoble.com)

 The Conservative Mind, Russell Kirk – “The Conservative Mind by Russell Kirk is arguably one of the greatest contributions to twentieth-century American Conservatism. Brilliant in every respect, from its conception to its choice of significant figures representing the history of intellectual conservatism, The Conservative Mind by Russell Kirk launched the modern American Conservative Movement. A must-read.” (Barnesandnoble.com)

 The Road to Serfdom, F. A. Hayek – “A classic work in political philosophy, intellectual and cultural history, and economics, The Road to Serfdom has inspired and infuriated politicians, scholars, and general readers for half a century. Originally published in England in the spring of 1944 when Eleanor Roosevelt supported the efforts of Stalin, and Albert Einstein subscribed lock, stock, and barrel to the socialist program The Road to Serfdom was seen as heretical for its passionate warning against the dangers of state control over the means of production. For F. A. Hayek, the collectivist idea of empowering government with increasing economic control would inevitably lead not to a utopia but to the horrors of nazi Germany and fascist Italy.” (Amazon.com)

 The Republic, Plato – “The central work of one of the West’s greatest philosophers, The Republic of Plato is a masterpiece of insight and feeling, the finest of the Socratic dialogues, and one of the great books of Western culture. This [book] captures the dramatic realism, poetic beauty, intellectual vitality, and emotional power of Plato at the height of his powers. Deftly weaving three main strands of argument into an artistic whole–the ethical and political, the aesthetic and mystical, and the metaphysical–Plato explores in The Republic the elements of the ideal community, where morality can be achieved in a balance of wisdom, courage, and restraint.”  (Amazon.com)

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OTHER CONSERVATIVE CLASSICS

• The Conscience of a Conservative, Barry M. Goldwater
• The Patriot’s Handbook, George Grant
• The Federalist Papers, Hamilton, Madison, and Jay
• Ideas Have Consequences, Richard Weaver
• The Quest for Community, Robert Nisbet
• Free to Choose, Milton and Rose Friedman
• Up From Liberalism, Buckley, Goldwater, Dos Passos
• The Conservative Intellectual Movement in American Since 1945, George Nash
• A Conflict of Visions:  Ideological Origins of Political Struggles, Thomas Sowell
• Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes
• The Law, Frederic Bastiat

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 RELEVANT NOW

• The Return of History and the End of Dreams, Robert Kagan
• Anti-Americanism, Jean-Francois Revel
• Basic Economics:  A Commonsense Guide to the Economy, Thomas Sowell
• The Vision of the Anointed:  Self Congratulation as a Basis for Social Policy, Thomas Sowell
• Now They Call Me Infidel:  Why I Renounced Jihad for America, Israel, and the War on Terror, Nonie Darwish
• The Intellectuals and Socialism, Friedrich Hayek
• The Case for Democracy:  The Power of Freedom to Overcome Tyranny and Terror, Natan Sharansky 

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 WOMEN AND SOCIETY

• The Good Girl Revolution:  Young Rebels with Self-Esteem and High Standards, Wendy Shalit
• A Return to Modesty:  Discovering the Lost Virtue, Wendy Shalit
• Who Stole Feminism?  How Women Have Betrayed Women, Christina Hoff-Sommers
• A Vindication of the Rights of Women, Mary Wollstonecraft
• Feminist Fantasies, Phyllis Schlafly
• What Women Really Want:  How American Women are Quietly Erasing Political, Racial, Class, and Religious Lines to Change the Way We Live, Kellyanne Conway
• Great American Conservative Women, Anthology
• What Our Mother’s Didn’t Tell Us, Danielle Crittenden
• Spin Sisters:  How the Women of the Media Sell Unhappiness and Liberalism to the Women of America, Myrna Blyth
• Feminism vs. Women, Ashley Herzog

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 POLICY AND PHILOSOPHY

• Statecraft, Margaret Thatcher
• Escape from Reason:  A Penetrating Analysis of Trends in Modern Thought, Francis A. Schaeffer

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 FICTION

• Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand
• The Fountainhead, Ayn Rand
• 1984, George Orwell

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 BIOGRAPHY

• Clare Boothe Luce:  A Biography, Stephen Shadegg 
• Margaret Thatcher’s 2-part autobiography:  The Path to Power, The Downing Street Years
• Witness, Whittaker Chambers 
• Radical Son:  A Generational Odyssey, David Horowitz
• What I Saw at the Revolution:  A Political Life in the Reagan Era, Peggy Noonan

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 THE ARTS AND CULTURE

• From Bauhaus to Your House, Tom Wolfe
• How Should We Then Live?:  The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture, Francis A. Schaeffer
• The Education of Henry Adams, Henry Adams
• Addicted to Mediocrity:  Contemporary Christians and the Arts, Franky Schaeffer

Have you read a book that you think should be on this list?  Written a book review you’d like to share with American Maggie?  Contact us via “comments” below or at books@americanmaggie.com.

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Skyla Freeman is a former writer for President George W. Bush.  She blogs about style and culture at Sanity Fair online (sfair.blogspot.com).

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