Posted by
Richard on Friday, July 10, 2009 3:15:24 PM
My Summer Reading List, or Books and/or Authors to Read From an Avid yet, Blatantly Biased Conservative Reader
Last week Newsweek came out with a reading list which to be fair included a various number of fiction/non-fiction books. I looked at the list and unless I missed it, there did not seem to be any books by conservative authors. This struck me, as rather strange considering the top book in the country for the last 14 weeks was absent. #
The above being said, I have decided to make my own personal choices for summer reading. Yes they will indeed be mostly conservative authors, (please note the above title to relieve any doubts). There are also a couple of fictional writers as well. My list will not be 100 books long in fact it will be rather short, as the summer is only about 2 -3 months worth of time, and let’s be honest, not a one of us wants to spend the entire summer endlessly reading, nor to I believe we would be able to do so.
Now, before getting into my list, I will say here and now that the BIBLE is not on it What you might say, God’s word is NOT included? Outrageous, bordering on scandalous! Therefore, here is my reason; The Bible is a book that is best read DAILY! In fact I maintain a companion Blogsite at Townhall.com (He Speaks to Me) in which I try to make posts daily. Just as an aside I will state here that I am currently posting a devotional study of the Book of Psalm. I do not necessarily comment but I do present cross references and related scripture as well as translations for words from either the Hebrew or Greek language, using Strong’s concordance. Additionally I define words using Webster’s Dictionary.#
“Enough!” say you, “move on with the list, I am not getting younger here and you’re cutting into my tanning time!”
As you wish and without further distraction please find below my choices. #
1. Liberty and Tyranny - Mark R. Levine
This is necessary read and I suggest to be read before all others on the below list, for all conservatives that are concerned with the direction that this country has taken in the last several months. It is as if Mr. Levin had a crystal ball and was able to foresee all that has so far come to pass. Written mostly prior to the 2008 election Mr. Levin has nailed all that is going currently going down.
2 Liberal Fascism - Jonah Goldberg
I personally have not read this as of this writing but it is very next on my list. I have heard a couple of interviews with Mr. Goldberg and believe that he is on the same page as the above-mentioned Mr. Levin
3 Conscience of a Conservative & Why Not Victory - The late former Senator Barry Goldwater
I have placed both of these together simply because I felt that they compliment each other. However I suggest that one read the former first before reading the latter.
4. Marcus Aurelius - Meditations
A good source for moral guidance
5. 1984 Gorge Orwell
It has been a number of years since I have read this, however one retains the basics of the book and can see parallels into today’s American society
6 Harry Turtledove - Author
If one enjoys history, then one will enjoy alternate history, and Mr. Turtledove is a master in this field. He has written volumes of works, but my favorite is the Timeline 191 series#, which include The Great War Trilogy, The American Empire Trilogy, and The Settling Accounts Tetralogy. I would suggest various book outlets or your local library to find his books.
7. Westerns - Zane Grey, Max Brand, Louis La’ Mour
There dozens upon dozens of choices here, all of them excellent. I can think of nothing better than to spend a rainy day reading a good old fashioned western. I would add, that you know good is good and evil is evil, no liberal gray areas.
8. Additional Authors
Mark Twain, Robert E. Howard, O. Henry, Arthur O. Friel, Laura Ingles Wilder, L. Frank Baum, Francis Parkman.
Mark Twain- Obviously you recognize the name. My suggestion would be “Huckleberry Finn” and yes it includes racially insensitive words.
Robert E. Howard - The creator of Conan the Barbarian. However he had many, many other books that are a very good read.
O. Henry - A lot of short stories, but the best of them all is the “Ransom of Red Chief”
Arthur O. Friel - Very similar to R.E Howard, as he lived around the same time and wrote what is now termed “pulp fiction. He is best know for a wonderful book titled “The Pathless Trail”
Laura Ingles Wilder - The author of the Little house books which includes such titles as “Little House on the Prairie” I personally really enjoyed these as you get an idea of how Americans expanded westward and how they relied on themselves ant NOT on government.
L. Frank Baum - Best known for the “ Wonderful Wizard of OZ” from which the movie came into being. However there is a entire “OZ” series that is definitely an excellent escape for not only the adult reader but the kids as well.
Francis Parkman - He wrote “The Oregon Trail” which details the life of an early westward pioneer. Similar with Ms. Ingles-Wilder “Little House’ books in so far as you see Americans as they used to be; non-dependent on government and more dependent on themselves and their own spirit.
As I had stated earlier in this piece this is a very short list. Remember this is summer reading, and I want folks to enjoy the summer, along with good summer books. The reason I presented the more political reads first and foremost is to keep one in the loop. But I suggest that one does not limit oneself to living entirely in the real world, (unless that is your meat and potatoes). Since summer tends to bring on the escapism that exists in all of us, I had suggested the westerns and alternative history as well as the additional authors. Moreover, as you know there is a plethora of other venues and genre that will allow everyone to enjoy a nice hot summer day, a cool beverage (adult or otherwise), and setting in the sun, or under that shady ole’ tree in the backyard, whereupon you can get something the will exercise your brain instead of vegging out watching American Idol