Listicle

Ten Books Underpinning Conservatism that You Have to Read

Regardless of your ideology, these are worth your time

Liberals and conservatives alike should read these books to understand the intellectual roots of the conservative movement. Agree or disagree, the ideas found in these works have been fundamental in shaping the political discourse and policy in America over the last 70 years.

1. A Conflict of Visions: Ideological Origins of Political Struggle

A Conflict of Visions: Ideological Origins of Political Struggles

Thomas Sowell argues that nearly all ethical and policy disputes emerge from a fundamental conflict between two competing visions of human nature that he terms the "constrained" and the "unconstrained".

In the constrained vision, human nature is unchanging and selfish. In the unconstrained vision, human nature is influencible and altruistic. Sowell makes his case by digging into various political disputes throughout American history, framing them in light of this dichotomy.

2. Modern Times: The World from the Twenties to the Nineties

Modern Times Revised Edition: The World from the Twenties to the Nineties (Perennial Classics)

This is an expansive book of history, delving into world events from WWI through the 90's. Paul Johnson examines all of it from the vantage point of a fiscal and social conservative, interpreting and unifying the events of 70 years through the context of his ideology. 

3. Ethnic America: A History

Sowell traces the histories of nine ethnic groups and examines how various factors have impacted their journey in America. Sowell's holistic approach gives great insight and context to the experience of America's ethnic minorities.

4. Things That Matter

Things That Matter: Three Decades of Passions, Pastimes and Politics [Deckled Edge]

Charles Krauthammer is perhaps one of the most recognizable voices in intellectual conservatism today, with his weekly column a conservative pillar in The Washington Post and frequent TV appearances. In Things That Matter, he reflects on the past 30 years of politics and culture and includes several seminal essays on policy ranging from America's role as a superpower to Jewish destiny.

5. Ideas Have Consequences

First published in 1948, Ideas Have Consequences was highly influential in forming the modern conservative movement. Weaver explains what he sees as the decline of Western civilization in the 20th century as a being a result of a shift to relativism over absolute reality.

6. Free to Choose: A Personal Statement

Friedman argues that economic freedom is essential for personal freedom, and that increased government controls erode that economic freedom and can lead to political tyranny. 

7. The Road to Serfdom

The Road to Serfdom: Text and Documents--The Definitive Edition (The Collected Works of F. A. Hayek, Volume 2)

Published in 1944, The Road to Serfdom was visionary in its forceful argument against collectivist government, seeing how it might devolve into the very sort of facist regimes that the US was fighting at the time. As the Soviet Union emerged from the other side of the conflict, it quickly became clear that Hayek's arguments were all too prescient.

8. The Conservative Intellectual Movement in America Since 1945

In this excellent chronicle of the conservative movement, George Nash traces the roots of modern conservativism's ideology, its evolution, and its intra-ideological conflicts from a purely historical perspective.

9. Radical Son: A Generational Odyssey

David Horowitz tells the story of his career as a political activist, starting as a far-left radical in the 1960's to a conservative in the 1990's. A fascinating account of a career intellectual that went through a rather stunning evolution.

10. Conscience of a Conservative

Most will recognize this classic by Barry Goldwater. Short and sweet, Goldwater's main thesis is simple: the only goal of government should be to expand individual freedom.