Reading the Right Books: A Guide for the Intelligent Conservative (Paperback)

~ Lee Edwards (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Books contain the ideas, make the arguments, and preserve the history necessary for the maintenance and perpetuation of liberty. Reading the Right Books is a practical list of thoughtful and accessible books — not the "classics" but solidly good books — recommended to provide a general framework around which the reader can build a firmer structure of political knowledge. Edited and annotated by Lee Edwards, the Distinguished Fellow in Conservative Thought at The Heritage Foundation, Reading the Right Books is a guide for intelligent, conservative-minded readers who want to prepare themselves for a public life of thought and action, and so seek to know more about politics, public policy and modern conservative thought, as well as literature, economics, religion, history, and statesmanship.

Product Details

• Paperback: 151 pages
• Publisher: The Heritage Books; 1st edition (April 25, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 089195127X
• ISBN-13: 978-0891951278
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #290,751 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Be Transformed by the Renewing of your Mind", May 28, 2009

By	D. L. Christoph "DChrist" (Penn's Woods) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"The more one reads, the more one sees we have to read."
(John Adams)

But read what? Not all books are equally valuable. As Francis Bacon once wrote, "some books are to be tasted, others are to be swallowed, and some few are to be chewed and digested." This is one of those rare discerning guides that can help reveal which recent books were the best of the best, the most pivotal in bringing innovative and important ideas to invigorate our culture.

Edwards explains, "Not all of the books in our Guide are conservative books or written by conservatives, but every book will deepen your appreciation of conservatism. ___Reading the Right Books___ aims to help fill the gaps in history, politics, economics, and similar areas created by the politically correct, illiberal education of too many colleges and universities."

For those who believe (as did great leaders like George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, and Ronald Reagan) that self-education is a lifelong responsibility... for those who feel misled by the mainstream media, conventional history, leftist university, or the mutterings of the masses... for those who can appreciate the transformative power of books.... this is a superlative guide to the most meaningful and regenerative ideas of the 20th century.

As one particularly thoughtful conservative had said,
"Ideas have Consequences."

5.0 out of 5 stars Reading The Right Books, June 4, 2009

By	Bruce J. Rioux "Bookman" (Burlington, Vermont) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have liked this book very much. It has saved memuch time looking in other areas for guidance.

5.0 out of 5 stars Watering hole for conservative readers., April 9, 2009

By	Brian Sherman "BK Sherm" (San Diego) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a great little book for those interested in knowing which books to read from authors that have a conservative viewpoint. The Author has been on the scene for a long time and has been in contact with many of the Authors he prescribes.
The books listed are from the areas of conservative thought on Economics, Statesmanship, Religion (though not decidedly evangelical), American History, Totalitarianism, World History, World Politics, Public Policy, Political Culture, Unconventional Thought and Literature.
I would consider myself a lover of books and mainly of these very subjects so I was very happy to find many that I had not heard of. If you are one that doesn't like to read from the liberal perspective because your heart can't take it here is a gem of book.