Creating a Conservative Canon
One of my big projects I wish to start once I move the blog over to wordpress is to create a comprehensive hyperlinked conservative canon (a bibliography of works representing modern American conservatism). It's in idea that has been bouncing around my head for a few years now, why not start?
So, if my readers would be so kind to answer in the comment section, what was the most important work of conservatism to you or work that was very influential in your conservatism? (Any liberal readers can make libelous comments about dead white guys.)
6 comments:
Atlas Shrugged (Time to read Rand back into the movement). The Tempting of Amerca (Robert Bork). Capitalism and Freedom (Freedman). The Road to Serfdom (F.A.Hayek). Liberal Fasicm (Jonah Goldberg).
National Review also deserves a link since it carried the banner for the conservative movement for so many years and was my first serious introduction to conservative ideas.
-Aaron
It's a fantastic idea. I wish I had some ideas to contribute, but I came to conservatism more from disgust at liberalism in action (France) than from particular readings. I'll be very curious to find out what you come up with so that I can do some homework (as if I don't have enough!)
Henry Hazlitt's "Economics in One Lesson" deserves mention. And I think many of us who came of age in the late 80's can probably point to P. J. O'Rourke's "Holidays in Hell," and "Republican Party Reptile" as very influential in making American conservatism seem fun and hip, in defiance of stereotypes.
I would add to Bogus Doug's roll PJ O'Rourke's "Parliament of Whores", which is a far more enjoyable lesson into civics than any text book. I was fortunate to have discovered the book at the same time I had the high school class.
Paul Johnson's "Modern Times" was excellent.
I'm down with Rand, although let's stick with Fountainhead as the banner carrier and let the intense move on to Atlas.
For Uncle Ben, might I recommend a tome by John J. Miller - "Our Oldest Enemy" (refers to France of course.
Let's give Heinlein some love and throw in "Starship Trooper" - also serves as a primer for John McCain's America.
In this age of war, we should also inlcude Orson Scott Card's "Ender's Game".
We should also have something that teaches practical politics and the ways of influence - I don't have anything in mind, but then you worked for LI...
And for the lazy among us, watch some of Stossel's old specials on Capitalism and "Is American #1?"
Given what's happening right now, the conservative book that EVERYONE should read is Eric Hoffer's "The True Believer." You can read this in one afternoon if you really want to. You'll not find a better book for understanding the Obama campaign.
Big agreement on the O'Rourke books, especially "Parliament of Whores," which I recently re-read. It still stands up quite nicely, nearly 20 years on.
I'd also suggest "The Conservative Mind," by Russell Kirk and "God and Man at Yale" by WFB. And if you can find it, Bob Tyrrell's "The Conservative Crack-Up."
-None Dare Call it Treason
-The Way Things Ought to be
-None Dare Call it Conspiracy
-Wealth of Nations
-The Bible (KJV)
-The constitution, Federalist papers, and Declaration of Independence
-Slouching Towards Gomorrah
-Democracy in America
-Horton Hears a Who
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