Before the recent Republican congressional gains, conservatives had suffered through a rough stretch. When the elephants were previously were in control, they weren’t staying true their ideals, spending more than they promised while increasing the size of government. In the 2006 midterm elections, the country acted on its displeasure by voting many of them out of congress, and in 2008, the Democrats gained additional seats, including the most important one: the presidency. Things are now trending in the other direction, but will they truly swing in the right direction? It’s times like these when a good book is needed to reinvigorate political thought, causing you to critically examine opposing beliefs as well as your own. Here are 15 essential conservative reads.
1. God And Man at Yale, by William F. Buckley: Not long after graduating from Yale University, 25-year-old Buckley wrote God And Man At Yale, exposing academia for its outright disregard of traditional American values. Professors are named as he describes their attempts to deconstruct the religious beliefs of the students and promote liberal ideology. This book helped catapult Buckley to the forefront of the conservative movement.
2. The Reagan I Knew, by William F. Buckley: Buckley discusses his more than 30-year relationship with Reagan, providing a glimpse into the lives of two political giants who anchored conservatism in America during the second-half of the 20th century. Included in the book are personal letters authored by Reagan and Buckley’s accompanying commentary.
3. The Conscience of a Conservative, by Barry Goldwater: Goldwater discusses core conservative issues — including taxing, spending, states’ rights and civil rights — that were prominent when the The Conscience of a Conservative was published in 1960 and remain important today. The book is credited for sparking the modern conservative movement, which exploded with the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980.
4. The Conservative Revolution : The Movement That Remade America, by Lee Edwards: The triumph of conservatism during the latter half of the 20th century is highlighted, and the four major figures who spearheaded the movement — Robert Taft, Barry Goldwater, Ronald Reagan and Newt Gingrich — are examined. Edwards makes no bones about his advocacy of conservatism, so don’t expect an overly-critical analysis on the ideology and its standard-bearers.
5. The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Eliot, by Russell Kirk: Insight is given into the worldview of conservatives and the basic tenants to which they subscribe by examining the thoughts of past conservative politicians — like John Adams and John C. Calhoun — and political thinkers like Alexis de Tocqueville and George Santayana.
6. Democracy in America, by Alexis de Tocqueville: While spending nine months in America, Frenchman Tocqueville documented, as the title indicates, democracy in America and compared and contrasted it to European aristocracy, advocating its application to the French political system. His observations also lead him to speculate on democracy’s possible threats.
7. Founding Fathers: Brief Lives of the Framers of the United States Constitution, by M. E. Bradford: The Constitution is the seminal document on which the organization of the US government is based, and its significance to conservatives certainly hasn’t diminished in the more than 220 years since it was ratified. Bradford provides biographical information about the 55 framers, delving into their personal philosophies pertaining to life and government, and how they were affected by factors like their environment, education and religion.
8. The Federalist Papers, by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay: A staple of high school civics classes, The Federalist Papers should be a must-read for adults too. The writings of Hamilton, Madison and Jay serve as a reminder of how the government was intended to operate – with limitations on political power. Recent publications of their work typically include a section with the US Constitution, which provides background for their arguments.
9. Second Treatise of Government, by John Locke: Politicians look to the Founding Fathers for guidance today in the same way the Founding Fathers looked to John Locke for guidance yesteryear. As a believer that all men are created equal, Locke’s (classically) liberal ideas were chastised during the 17th century by supporters of the status quo. He trusted human reason and decency, and our ability to govern ourselves. Certainly an admirable position to take.
10. On Liberty, by John Stuart Mill: Mill warns the democratic world of the “tyranny of the majority,” in which the majority’s power can be used in an adverse manner to subjugate the minority. It’s a reminder that prevailing opinions may not always be the right opinions, so individuals shouldn’t have to succumb to power unless they’re incapable of self-sovereignty. In order for one to be truly free, he or she must be afforded the three essential components of liberty as described by Mill. A timeless read.
11. The Rise of Serfdom, by F. A. Hayek: Written during a time when communism and fascism were taking hold, Hayek delivers the resounding message that extensive governmental control inevitably damages society. The Austrian-born philosopher and economist asserts that individual liberty and collectivism cannot coexist, contrasting the two governing philosophies. He is a major proponent of the free market economy, and therefore primarily emphasizes that economic planning is a recipe for failure.
12. Human Action: A Treatise on Economics, by Ludwig von Mises: Mises’ compelling advocacy of laissez faire capitalism is supported by his knowledge of fundamental human decision-making as it relates to economics. Mises challenges the components of collectivism that were so widely accepted during the time Human Action was published in 1949, opposing concepts such as tribalism, irrationalism and positivism.
13. Free to Choose: A Personal Statement, by Milton Friedman: Friedman makes a compelling case that explains why the free market is essential to preserving individual freedom. He argues against government intervention and Keynesian theory that encourages unnecessary spending. Published in 1980, the book addresses the economic problems encountered during the time – most of which still exist today – while providing feasible solutions.
14. Modern Times: The World from the Twenties to the Nineties, by Paul Johnson: The 20th century was marred by two major world wars, the emergence of ruthless dictators, collectivism and historians who narrowly depicted the events. Johnson opts to study the people who influenced the times – including Hitler, Satlin, Lenin, Hoover, Roosevelt, Truman and Eisenhower – from a conservative perspective. Modern Times is unabashedly provocative.
15. Black Rednecks and White Liberals, by Thomas Sowell: Sowell broaches a topic that many critics try their best to avoid, hypothesizing that the problems within black culture can be traced back to its emulation of white Southern redneck culture. He also describes the achievements of Chinese and Jews in America, and their cultural emphasis on education and family.
