Recent Reads

 

So it’s about time we updated the Recent Reads page with some new books that we’ve found really enlightening. There are some great resources on politics out there (not boring at all!) and we hope that you get a chance to check these out. 

 

 A Conflict of Visions by Thomas Sowell – Ever wonder why conservatives and liberals disagree on almost if not every single issue? Thomas Sowell illuminates the underlying assumptions of these two political philosophies to make sense of this relentless rift between the two. One of the best foundational books on politics we’ve read!

 

 Ronald Reagan by Dinesh D’Souza – What’s with all the buzz about Ronald Reagan with conservatives? That’s what I wondered when I first began wanting to know more about politics. Well this wonderfully written book will introduce you to this great American president and how he inspired a generation and beyond of Americans with conservative values.

 

 A Bound Man by Shelby Steele – A renowned expert on race relations, also of mixed race, Shelby Steele gives a highly insightful and personal account of the white guilt complex that has plagued America since the Civil Rights Movement and how this phenomenon has accelerated Barack Obama to the national political scene.  Shelby Steele’s extraordinary eloquence makes this book an enjoyable read.

 

 Embryo: A Defense of Human Life by Robert P. George & Christopher Tollefsen – There are a lot of abortion books out there, many I’ve read. However, this one really outshines them all. Forgoing religious grounds, the authors find common ground with those of all sides, using purely scientific and philosophical reasons for the preciousness of life.

 

 What Our Mothers Didn’t Tell Us by Danielle Crittenden – Modern day feminism seems very attractive and empowering to women – forgetting marriage and children, living as independent women with careers and a string of boyfriends… However, how has a generation of these women ended up? Crittenden assesses the real outcomes of what feminist ideals have brought us and why happiness still eludes many modern women.

 

 FairTax: The Truth by Neal Boortz, John Linder, & Rob Woodall – A whole lot of politicians have been talking about scrapping the IRS and replacing it with the “FairTax”. What the heck is the FairTax and why is it a fairer, more transparent, cost-efficient, business-growing, incentive-driving, better tax system than the monstrous $350-billion-per-year one we have now? Find out in this very informative book!

 

 Liberal Fascism by Jonah Goldberg – In the book’s own words, “Jonah Goldberg reminds us that liberals from Woodrow Wilson to FDR to Hillary Clinton have advocated policies and principles remarkably similar to those of Hitler’s National Socialism and Mussolini’s Fascism.” Fascinating, indeed! 

 

 Do the Right Thing by Mike Huckabee –  Mike Huckabee gives you his first-hand account of his phenomenal 2008 campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. Despite finishing 2nd, his outstanding oratory gift, charisma, and humor caught the eye of Hollywood’s largest talent agency. Only a year after, this very talented former governor of Arkansas now has one of the most popular commentary shows on cable!

 

 Makers and Takers by Peter Schweizer - An extensive research by a Hoover Institution scholar on “why conservatives work harder, feel happier, have closer families, take fewer drugs, give more generously, value honesty more, are less materialistic and envious, whine less… and even hug their children more than liberals”.  

 

 48 Liberal Lies about American History by Larry Schweikart –It is funny that I have to question and relearn almost everything that I was taught in U.S. history. During my high school days, I was subjected to the liberals’ total monopoly on history and given a very biased and manipulated account of it. This book gives a list of the most common liberal lies perpetrated by some of the most popular textbooks and refutes them one by one.

————————————————————————–

Aug 24, 2008

In the past few months, we have been brushing up on our political knowledge. The easiest way to gain knowledge is to read, and to read a lot. We cannot make well-formed judgments on issues without having the necessary background understanding and being aware of all the sides involved. This past summer, we have been on a mad readathon to get caught up with the elections and political debates. Here are some of the best books we’ve read recently that we highly recommend you check out.

Letters to a Young Conservative by Dinesh D’Souza – This is a great introduction to what conservatism is all about. This was the book that inspired us to side with conservatism.

The Conservative Intellectual Movement in America Since 1945 by George N. Nash – This book traces the intellectual basis of conservatism in America. We can’t truly understand conservatism and liberalism today without knowing how each tradition developed in our country.

Conservative Comebacks to Liberal Lies by Gregg Jackson – If you ever need to get your hands on quick facts and refutations, this is the book. It is clear and concise and every issue can be easily found in an A to Z format. This handbook will definitely be in my backpack this college semester!

What’s So Great About America by Dinesh D’Souza – A wonderful analysis of why “America is the greatest, freest, and most decent society in existence”. Eloquently written, it explains why we are so fortunate to live in this country. We should know, our family emigrated from China to New Zealand to America. We can honestly say this is our favorite place!

War and Decision: Inside the Pentagon at the Dawn of the War on Terrorism by Douglas Feith – Before reading this book, we were skeptical about why the United States went to war.  With all the media hype about “Bush lied, people died”, it was hard to figure out the truth behind it all. This book clarifies a lot of the confusion by giving a behind-the-scenes account of the plans and strategies that have defined the war.

Willful Blindness: Memoir of the Jihad by Andrew C. McCarthy – This book gives a chilling success story of the investigation and prosecution of the terrorists of the 1993 World Trade Center bombings. It is a timely reminder that radical Islam is a real and present threat that emerged much before the world ever witnessed 9/11.

Basic Economics by Thomas Sowell – First of all, all I can say is that Thomas Sowell’s discernment of economics is indisputable. This book is designed to make complex theories of economics understandable to to the average Joe. The content is extensive, from price controls to the rise and fall of businesses. After reading it, you’ll definitely have a firmer grasp on the tough topic of economics.

Economic Facts and Fallacies by Thomas Sowell – Rent control, racial inequality and gender discrimination. Haven’t we all heard of politicians claiming to be champions of these? Well in this book, Sowell sheds light into the numerous economic fallacies that the media and politicians have successfully spread. He explains the consequences of such fallacies and refutes them by utilizing hard facts. Don’t ever be fooled again!

America Alone by Mark Steyn – Mark Steyn is one of my favorite pundits.  He’ll get you laughing through the whole book even while discussing a serious topic: the rapid spread of Islam throughout Europe and the world, and what that really means for western civilization and beyond.

What’s So Great About Christianity by Dinesh D’Souza -This is a well-researched defense of Christianity and the bible, analyzing the truth of our faith through science, politics, history, and morality. Despite what is politically correct, readers will be surprised by the multitude of evidence that support the claims of the Bible from so many different angles.

Do As I Say (Not As I Do): Profiles in Liberal Hypocrisy by Peter Schweizer – Exposing the blatant hypocrisy on the political left, readers will discover what liberal leaders like Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton, Michael Moore, and Ted Kennedy really do with their lives, despite what they say they do.

The Crisis of Islam: Holy War and Unholy Terror by Bernard Lewis – As a leading authority on Islam and its history, Bernard Lewis masterfully gives a fair assessment of the rise of radical Islam, dating back from the crusades to the 21st century. This “walk through history” book explains the distorted animosity radical Islam has against the West. A timely book!

Darwin’s Black Box: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution by Michael Behe – One of the best attacks on Darwinism from a schooled biochemist. Behe uses Darwin’s own words to refute the theory of Evolution.  In a nutshell, Behe reports how science, and especially biochemistry, has progressed so far since the late 19th century when evolution was devised, that with what we know now about life, macro evolution seems highly implausible.

Hoover’s Digest – By the excellent intellects at the Hoover Institution, this informative digest comes out quarterly, addressing contemporary economic, social, and political matters. Try it out, cos they’re offering a free copy by signing up at their website!

As we continue our reading, our recent reads will be routinely updated.  Please join us in reading our way to understanding and discerning the issues of our time.