Explore Conservative Perspectives with These Thoughtful Reads
Dive into a selection of books that offer a nuanced understanding of conservative viewpoints without the sensationalism. These titles will help you engage with differing opinions while fostering respectful dialogue. Open your mind and enrich your conversations with these insightful reads.
The Righteous Mind
450 pages
Jonathan Haidt's writing is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the moral foundations of political divides. His insights as a psychologist provide a unique perspective on why people align with different sides.
Strangers in Their Own Land
305 pages
This book offers a fascinating perspective as the author, a liberal, immerses herself in the lives of blue-collar individuals in Louisiana, striving to understand their worldview.
Black Rednecks & White Liberals
386 pages
In this thought-provoking work, Sowell challenges common stereotypes and provides a unique perspective on cultural and social issues.
The Federalist Papers and Institutional Power In American Political Development
142 pages
Reading 'The Federalist Papers' is highly recommended for anyone interested in foundational political ideas.
The Writings and Speeches of Edmund Burke
506 pages
This 12-volume set contains the complete life works of EDMUND BURKE (1729-1797), Irish political writer and statesman. Educated at a Quaker boarding school and at Trinity College in Dublin, Burke's eloquence gained him a high position in Britain's Whig party, and he was active in public life. He supported limitations on the power of the monarch and believed that the British people should have a greater say in their government.In general, Burke spoke out against the persecutions perpetuated by the British Empire on its colonies, including America, Ireland, and India. Burke's speeches and writings influenced the great thinkers of his day, including America's Founding Fathers.In Volume VII, readers will find: . Fragments from a variety of speeches given 1772-1792. Hints for an Essay on the Drama. An Abridgment of the English History in Three Books
The Thomas Sowell Reader
466 pages
These selections from the many writings of Sowell over a period of a half century cover social, economic, cultural, legal, educational, and political issues. The sources range from Dr. Sowell's letters, books, and newspaper columns, to articles in both scholarly journals and popular magazines.
Milton Friedman on Economics
197 pages
On his death in the autumn of 2006, Milton Friedman was lauded as “the grandmaster of free-market economic theory in the postwar era” by the New York Times and “the most influential economist of the second half of the 20th century” by the Economist. Winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1976, Friedman was both a highly respected economist and a prominent public intellectual, the leader of a revolution in economic and political thought that argued robustly in favor of virtues of free markets and laissez-faire policies. Milton Friedman on Economics: Selected Papers collects a variety of Friedman’s papers on topics in economics that were originally published in the Journal of Political Economy. Opening with Friedman’s 1977 Nobel Lecture, the volume spans nearly the whole of his career, incorporating papers from as early as 1948 and as late as 1990. An excellent introduction to Friedman’s economic thought, Milton Friedman will be essential for anyone tracing the course of twentieth-century economics and politics.
Conscience of a Conservative
112 pages
This book is essential for anyone wanting to grasp the moral and political backbone of conservative thinking from an authentic conservative perspective.
Irreconcilable Differences
127 pages
Irreconcilable Differences is an attempt to peer into the future in the light of recent and ongoing events. Author David Cole proposes that Americans may be living through the beginning of the devolution of the United States of America – a development that may unfold after our lifetimes, although it could happen sooner. Cole surveys examples of devolutionary political developments around the world in recent decades. He offers a running commentary on recent polemics, as commentators in the press consider the evidence of American political decline and decay. He speculates as to exactly what form a devolved United States might take. The conjecture is that a point could be reached at which Americans conclude that an amicable breakup is to be preferred on the whole to an attempt to continue to live under the same tent. Is contemporary America an example of the Aristotelian phenomenon of “coming into being and passing away”?
Conversations with William F. Buckley Jr
212 pages
"The fifteen interviews in this collection are reprinted as they appeared originally ..."--Introduction.
American Marxism
320 pages
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER The seven-time #1 New York Times bestselling author, Fox News star, and radio host Mark R. Levin explains how the dangers he warned against in the “timely yet timeless” (David Limbaugh, author of Jesus Is Risen) bestseller Liberty and Tyranny have come to pass. In 2009, Mark R. Levin galvanized conservatives with his unforgettable manifesto Liberty and Tyranny, by providing a philosophical, historical, and practical framework for halting the liberal assault on Constitution-based values. That book was about standing at the precipice of progressivism’s threat to our freedom and now, over a decade later, we’re fully over that precipice and paying the price. In American Marxism, Levin explains how the core elements of Marxist ideology are now pervasive in American society and culture—from our schools, the press, and corporations, to Hollywood, the Democratic Party, and the Biden presidency—and how it is often cloaked in deceptive labels like “progressivism,” “democratic socialism,” “social activism,” and more. With his characteristic trenchant analysis, Levin digs into the psychology and tactics of these movements, the widespread brainwashing of students, the anti-American purposes of Critical Race Theory and the Green New Deal, and the escalation of repression and censorship to silence opposing voices and enforce conformity. Levin exposes many of the institutions, intellectuals, scholars, and activists who are leading this revolution, and provides us with some answers and ideas on how to confront them. As Levin writes: “The counter-revolution to the American Revolution is in full force. And it can no longer be dismissed or ignored for it is devouring our society and culture, swirling around our everyday lives, and ubiquitous in our politics, schools, media, and entertainment.” And, like before, Levin seeks to rally the American people to defend their liberty.
Brainwashed
253 pages
Reading Shapiro can expose you to competing ideas, making it a worthwhile experience even if you don't agree with him.
The Tyranny of Clichés
409 pages
The bestselling author of Liberal Fascism dismantles the progressive myths that are passed-off as wisdom in our schools, media and politics. According to Jonah Goldberg, if the greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist, the greatest trick liberals ever pulled was convincing themselves that they’re not ideological. Today, “objective” journalists, academics and “moderate” politicians peddle some of the most radical arguments by hiding them in homespun aphorisms. Barack Obama casts himself as a disciple of reason and sticks to one refrain above all others: he’s a pragmatist, opposed to the ideology and dogma of the right, solely concerned with “what works.” And today’s liberals follow his lead, spouting countless clichés such as: One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter: Sure, if the other man is an idiot. Was Martin Luther King Jr. a terrorist? Was Bin Laden a freedom fighter? Violence never solves anything: Really? It solved our problems with the British empire and ended slavery. Better ten guilty men go free than one innocent man suffer: So you won’t mind if those ten guilty men move next door to you? Diversity is strength: Cool.The NBA should have a quota for midgets and one-legged point guards! We need complete separation of church and state: In other words all expressions of faith should be barred from politics …except when they support liberal programs. With humor and passion, Goldberg dismantles these and many other Trojan Horses that liberals use to cheat in the war of ideas. He shows that the grand Progressive tradition of denying an ideological agenda while pursuing it vigorously under the false-flag of reasonableness is alive and well. And he reveals how this dangerous game may lead us further down the path of self-destruction.
Politicians, Partisans, and Parasites
128 pages
From the host of Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News comes a wild and informative ride behind the scenes of a news correspondent. "A must read for Americans of any party." -- Rev. Al Sharpton Political pundit Tucker Carlson cracks commentary on all things Washington with the acerbic wit and razor-sharp insight that have made him a beloved conservative commentator. An unabashed insider whose profile is unmatched, Carlson stands ready to pounce on anyone and everyone who dares enter the political fray. Whether it's the towel-snapping prowess of former presidents or the dumbfounding exploits of his predecessors, there is no sacred ground. Carlson's debut covers his beat with equal parts hilarity and insight in a jocular review that both exposes and defends the absurdity that underlies the world of politics.
The Madness of Crowds
305 pages
Murray's exploration of contemporary social issues provides a thought-provoking perspective that challenges mainstream narratives.
Generation at the Crossroads
472 pages
This edited volume presents a critical examination of political correctness, making it a must-read for those interested in the debate surrounding free speech.
Free To Choose
359 pages
As a Nobel prize-winning economist, Friedman offers insights that are both enlightening and thought-provoking.
The Invisible Bridge
880 pages
This lengthy read provides insight into the cultural and political shifts that led to Reagan's presidency.
Before the Storm
705 pages
This book offers a deep dive into the conservative mindset, exploring the political landscape from the New Deal to the rise of Ronald Reagan.
Reaganland
1120 pages
An engaging account of how America transitioned to the Reagan era, shedding light on the conservative movement's evolution.
Nixonland
899 pages
A fascinating exploration of the Nixon era that reveals how it shaped modern conservatism and American politics.
Conservatism
544 pages
"Conservatism focuses on an exemplary core of France, Britain, Germany and the United States. It describes the parties, politicians and thinkers of the right, bringing out strengths and weaknesses in conservative thought"--Provided by publisher.
Hillbilly Elegy
166 pages
While many praise *Hillbilly Elegy*, it offers valuable insights into the struggles of poor white America, even if the hype may seem exaggerated.
The Democratic Theory of Michael Oakeshott
367 pages
his book offers a description, explanation, and evaluation of Michael Oakeshott's democratic theory. He was not a democratic theorist as such, but as a twentieth-century English political theorist for whom liberal theory held deep importance, his thought often engaged democratic theory implicitly, and many times did so explicitly. The author's project penetrates two renewals. The first is the revitalization of interest in Oakeshott, and the second is the renewal of democratic theory which began in the 1980s. In respect to this latter renewal, the book engages the deliberative turn in democratic theory. These revivals create the context for this new look at Oakeshott. To state the matter as a problem, one might say that in light of new and fecund democratic theory, it is a problem for political theory if one of the most important political theorists of the twentieth century is left out of the discourse insofar as he has something relevant to say about deliberative democracy. It is of no small importance that almost all the work in democratic theory being done these days is of the deliberative/discursive kind, or responses to it. That is, deliberative theory is driving the agenda of democratic theory. The author argues that Oakeshott does indeed have something relevant to say which is applicable to this democratic theory.
The Authoritarian Personality
1073 pages
This hugely influential study on the psychology of authoritarianism was written in answer to Hitler’s Germany—and now rings more relevant than ever as fascism and anti-Semitism sweep across America. What makes a fascist? Are there character traits that make someone more likely to vote for the far right? The Authoritarian Personality is not only one of the most significant works of social psychology ever written, it also marks a milestone in the development of Adorno’s thought, showing him grappling with the problem of fascism and the reasons for Europe’s turn to reaction. Over half a century later, and with the rise of right-wing populism and the reemergence of the far-right in recent years, this hugely influential study remains as insightful and relevant as ever. This new edition includes an introduction by Frankfurt School scholar Peter E. Gordon and contains the first-ever publication of Adorno’s subsequent critical notes on the project. “Adorno and his colleagues could easily have been describing Alex Jones’s paranoid InfoWars rants or the racist views expressed by many Trump supporters.” —Molly Worthen, New York Times
Rediscovering God in America
299 pages
In this New York Times bestseller, join Newt and Callista Gingrich on a walking tour of Washington, D.C. and learn about the great people, events, and ideas that shaped the religious founding of America. Explore the architecture and beauty of America's capital with Newt and Callista Gingrich. You'll tour Washington, D.C. to view the nation's monuments and memorials, including the United States Capitol and the National Archives, where Thomas Jefferson's immortal words jump off the page. But this is not just a walking tour; this is a tour of American history -- of the patriotic founders who were shaped by the fervent belief that America is one nation under God. With this guide, you'll rediscover the soul of our country and find a profound path of discovery and renewal.
What Is Wrong with the World
Chesterton speaks about social controversies from a deeply religiously conservative perspective, addressing political and social issues in a way that goes beyond just biblical references.
Fascists and Conservatives
302 pages
First published in 1990. During the last twenty years, prodigious scholarly effort has gone into the study of fascism and the right in twentieth-century Europe. Quite apart from the study of particular fascist and national socialist movements and of individual right-wing regimes (Fascist Italy, the Third Reich, Franco's Spain, etc.), scholars have striven to locate the essential nature of fascism; to determine what is distinctive about its ideas, programmes, policies and support; to identify what, if anything, differentiates it from other forms of rightism; and to decide whether a satisfactory definition of 'fascism' can be arrived at. This volume is intended to assist the further consideration of these and related problems.
The Psychology of Conservatism (Routledge Revivals)
296 pages
First published in 1973, The Psychology of Conservatism explores attitudes, their measurement, their structure and dynamics, and the personality traits apparently underlying attitude patterns. It examines the link between differing attitudes and discusses characteristic patterns and syndromes. The book focuses on the origins and dynamics of a major factor called "liberalism – conservatism" which is found to account for much of the variance in attitudes amongst different people. Contributors review previous studies relating to personality and attitude before engaging in new studies and proposing their own theories to explain the conservative attitude. The book introduces provocative theoretical ideas and provides a valuable examination of an important psychological and social attitude syndrome. This book will be of interest to researchers in personality and social psychology, sociology and political science and education.
Capitalism
417 pages
In this series of essays, Ayn Rand presents her stand on the persecution of big business, the causes of war, the default of conservatism, and the evils of altruism. The foundations of capitalism are being battered by a flood of altruism, which is the cause of the modern world's collapse. This is the view of Ayn Rand, a view so radically opposed to prevailing attitudes that it constitutes a major philosophic revolution. Here is a challenging new look at modern society by one of the most provocative intellectuals on the American scene. This edition includes two articles by Ayn Rand that did not appear in the hardcover edition: “The Wreckage of the Consensus,” which presents the Objectivists’ views on Vietnam and the draft; and “Requiem for Man,” an answer to the Papal encyclical Progresso Populorum.
Contract with America
212 pages
The November 1994 midterm elections were a watershed event, making possible a Repbulican majority in Congress for the first time in forty years. Contract with America, by Newt Gingrich, the new Speaker of the House, Dick Armey, the new Majority Leader, and the House Republicans, charts a bold new political strategy for the entire country. The ten-point program, which forms the basis of this book, was announced in late September. It received the signed support of more than 300 GOP canditates. Their pledge: "If we break this contract, throw us out". Contract with America fleshes out the vision and provides the details of the program that swept the GOP to victory. Among the pressing issues addressed in this important book are: balancing the budget, stopping crime, reforming welfare, reinforcing families, enhancing fairness for seniors, strengthening national defense, cutting government regulations, promoting legal reform, considering term limits, and reducing taxes.
Nietzsche: Beyond Good and Evil
234 pages
A new translation and edition of Nietzsche's powerful and influential critique of philosophy.
A Conflict of Visions
308 pages
"A classic of a very special kind.... A gem of a book, crafted with passion for the truth and love for mankind." -Christian Science Monitor.
The Reactionary Mind
305 pages
In The Reactionary Mind, political scientist Corey Robin makes a strikingly bold claim about the right's political and intellectual foundations. He contends that from the eighteenth century through today, the right has been united by a defense of inequality and privilege and by a deep hostility to all forms of progressive politics. The book ranges widely, covering figures as various as Edmund Burke and Antonin Scalia, John C. Calhoun and Ayn Rand, Joseph de Maistre and Phyllis Schlafly.
Economics in One Lesson
220 pages
Over a million copies sold! A fundamental influence on modern libertarianism, this classic guide to the basics of economic theory defends capitalism and the free market from economic myths that persist to this day. “A magnificent job of theoretical exposition.”—Ayn Rand Considered among the leading economic thinkers of the “Austrian School,” which includes Carl Menger, Ludwig von Mises, Friedrich (F.A.) Hayek, and others, Henry Hazlitt wrote Economics in One Lesson in 1946. Concise and instructive, it is also deceptively prescient and far-reaching in its efforts to dissemble economic fallacies that are so prevalent they have almost become a new orthodoxy. Economic commentators across the political spectrum have credited Hazlitt with foreseeing the collapse of the global economy which occurred more than fifty years after the initial publication of Economics in One Lesson. Hazlitt’s focus on non-governmental solutions, strong—and strongly reasoned—anti-deficit position, and general emphasis on free markets, economic liberty of individuals, and the dangers of government intervention make Economics in One Lesson every bit as relevant and valuable today as it has been since publication.
How to be a conservative
210 pages
This book offers a valuable insight into conservative beliefs, providing readers with a way to understand a different perspective, even if it doesn't fully embody those beliefs.
Parliament of Whores
268 pages
This book is filled with terrific humor that makes it a delightful read.
Greenlights
129 pages
This great book helped change my perspective and made me more understanding overall.
God and Man at Yale
304 pages
William F. Buckley Jr. is a great writer, known for his thoughtful and engaging style, making his works worth reading even for those with differing political views.
The Conservative Sensibility
598 pages
This book is probably the best one for understanding the nuances of conservatism.
The Point of It All
418 pages
Charles Krauthammer's books are well written and thought-provoking, making them a must-read for anyone interested in insightful commentary.
How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life
274 pages
This book offers a fresh perspective on Adam Smith's ideas and how they can be applied to modern life, making it a great read for those looking to understand economic principles in a relatable way.
Big Business
288 pages
In this book, Cowen presents a compelling argument in favor of big business, challenging common perceptions and encouraging readers to reconsider their views on capitalism.
The Complacent Class
254 pages
Cowen's exploration of societal complacency provides insightful commentary on contemporary issues, making it a thought-provoking read for anyone interested in the dynamics of modern society.
Peace Kills
228 pages
His works are funny, enlightening, and sorta thoughtful, making them a great read for anyone looking for humor with depth.
Don't Burn This Book
237 pages
Dave Rubin's 'Don’t Burn This Book' may have an elementary reading level, but it provides a unique perspective from a self-described disaffected Liberal, making it an interesting read.
Deer Hunting with Jesus
290 pages
Years before Hillbilly Elegy and White Trash, a raucous, truth-telling look at the white working poor -- and why they have learned to hate liberalism. What it adds up to, he asserts, is an unacknowledged class war. By turns tender, incendiary, and seriously funny, this book is a call to arms for fellow progressives with little real understanding of "the great beery, NASCAR-loving, church-going, gun-owning America that has never set foot in a Starbucks." Deer Hunting with Jesus is Joe Bageant’s report on what he learned when he moved back to his hometown of Winchester, Virginia. Like countless American small towns, it is fast becoming the bedrock of a permanent underclass. Two in five of the people in his old neighborhood do not have high school diplomas or health care. Alcohol, overeating, and Jesus are the preferred avenues of escape. He writes of: • His childhood friends who work at factory jobs that are constantly on the verge of being outsourced • The mortgage and credit card rackets that saddle the working poor with debt • The ubiquitous gun culture—and why the left doesn’ t get it • Scots Irish culture and how it played out in the young life of Lynddie England
The Right Side of History
263 pages
Ben Shapiro's 'The Right Side of History' offers a nuanced perspective that challenges the often harsh portrayal of his views, making it a worthwhile read.
The Conservative Tradition
3 pages
The lectures in this series are engaging and provide a balanced perspective, making it enjoyable even for those with opposing views.
Unfreedom of the Press
272 pages
This book provides a deep insight into the media's failures and biases, making it essential for anyone wanting to understand the current media landscape.
The Conservative Mind
580 pages
The book that launched the modern American conservative movement, now available in trade paperback.
What's the Matter with Kansas?
328 pages
"Frank answers these questions by examining the conservative revolution in his home state, a place that has lately drawn the astonished attention of the world for its unlikely skirmishes over abortion and homosexuality. In Kansas, as in so much of mid-America, Frank finds, society's losers are even more committed to the Republican agenda than are society's winners. The state's low-wage slaughterhouse workers and its struggling farm towns today far outdo the state's real-estate millionaires and its prosperous telecom execs in dedication to a political program that can only wind up hurting them.".
Conservatism
471 pages
At a time when the label "conservative" is indiscriminately applied to fundamentalists, populists, libertarians, fascists, and the advocates of one or another orthodoxy, this volume offers a nuanced and historically informed presentation of what is distinctive about conservative social and political thought. It is an anthology with an argument, locating the origins of modern conservatism within the Enlightenment and distinguishing between conservatism and orthodoxy. Bringing together important specimens of European and American conservative social and political analysis from the mid-eighteenth century through our own day, Conservatism demonstrates that while the particular institutions that conservatives have sought to conserve have varied, there are characteristic features of conservative argument that recur over time and across national borders. The book proceeds chronologically through the following sections: Enlightenment Conservatism (David Hume, Edmund Burke, and Justus Möser), The Critique of Revolution (Burke, Louis de Bonald, Joseph de Maistre, James Madison, and Rufus Choate), Authority (Matthew Arnold, James Fitzjames Stephen), Inequality (W. H. Mallock, Joseph A. Schumpeter), The Critique of Good Intentions (William Graham Sumner), War (T. E. Hulme), Democracy (Carl Schmitt, Schumpeter), The Limits of Rationalism (Winston Churchill, Michael Oakeshott, Friedrich Hayek, Edward Banfield), The Critique of Social and Cultural Emancipation (Irving Kristol, Peter Berger and Richard John Neuhaus, Hermann Lübbe), and Between Social Science and Cultural Criticism (Arnold Gehlen, Philip Rieff). The book contains an afterword on recurrent tensions and dilemmas of conservative thought.
How Fascism Works
241 pages
“No single book is as relevant to the present moment.”—Claudia Rankine, author of Citizen “One of the defining books of the decade.”—Elizabeth Hinton, author of From the War on Poverty to the War on Crime NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW EDITORS’ CHOICE • Fascist politics are running rampant in America today—and spreading around the world. A Yale philosopher identifies the ten pillars of fascist politics, and charts their horrifying rise and deep history. As the child of refugees of World War II Europe and a renowned philosopher and scholar of propaganda, Jason Stanley has a deep understanding of how democratic societies can be vulnerable to fascism: Nations don’t have to be fascist to suffer from fascist politics. In fact, fascism’s roots have been present in the United States for more than a century. Alarmed by the pervasive rise of fascist tactics both at home and around the globe, Stanley focuses here on the structures that unite them, laying out and analyzing the ten pillars of fascist politics—the language and beliefs that separate people into an “us” and a “them.” He knits together reflections on history, philosophy, sociology, and critical race theory with stories from contemporary Hungary, Poland, India, Myanmar, and the United States, among other nations. He makes clear the immense danger of underestimating the cumulative power of these tactics, which include exploiting a mythic version of a nation’s past; propaganda that twists the language of democratic ideals against themselves; anti-intellectualism directed against universities and experts; law and order politics predicated on the assumption that members of minority groups are criminals; and fierce attacks on labor groups and welfare. These mechanisms all build on one another, creating and reinforcing divisions and shaping a society vulnerable to the appeals of authoritarian leadership. By uncovering disturbing patterns that are as prevalent today as ever, Stanley reveals that the stuff of politics—charged by rhetoric and myth—can quickly become policy and reality. Only by recognizing fascists politics, he argues, may we resist its most harmful effects and return to democratic ideals. “With unsettling insight and disturbing clarity, How Fascism Works is an essential guidebook to our current national dilemma of democracy vs. authoritarianism.”—William Jelani Cobb, author of The Substance of Hope
Starship Troopers
290 pages
It's a fascinating exploration of military life and civic duty, raising questions about citizenship and responsibility.
Stranger in a Strange Land
655 pages
This novel offers a unique perspective on humanity and society, making it a thought-provoking read.
Conservatism
175 pages
Discusses the history and evolution of the conservative tradition through the centuries, and looks at how the writings of John Locke and Thomas Hobbes have influenced modern conservatives such as Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher.
The Vision Of The Annointed
346 pages
One of America’s pre-eminent economists offers a provocative critique of the failures of liberalism In The Vision of the Anointed, Thomas Sowell presents a devastating critique of the mind-set behind the failed social policies of the past thirty years. Sowell sees what has happened during that time not as a series of isolated mistakes but as a logical consequence of a tainted vision whose defects have led to crises in education, crime, and family dynamics, and to other social pathologies. In this book, he describes how elites—the anointed—have replaced facts and rational thinking with rhetorical assertions, thereby altering the course of our social policy.
