Leftist bias in our education system has grown to alarming proportions, writes Joshua Lawsom in The Federalist. “Leftist indoctrination finally becomes very apparent by high school and happens right under our noses.” Many students don’t have a good alternative to a public high school. And if your high-school graduate is heading to college for a university degree, the situation is not necessarily hopeless, Lawson reminds parents.
Learning more information from robust sources, however, can raise students’ chances of not getting sucked into false portrayals of American history, economics, and more. So, whether you’re a student heading back into hostile territory, or a parent or friend worried about the bias in our schools and looking for a send-off gift or two, here are eight books conservatives should have in their arsenal.
Structured as a novel with a grand narrative, “A History of the American People” is unapologetic in its admiration of the United States and highly critical of leaders or movements that have failed to uphold its founding principles.
In this scholarly, well-researched book, West provides an expert defense of the Founders against attacks on their views on race, sex, voting rights, welfare, and many other hazardous topics.
In “Liberty and Tyranny,” Levin discusses the virtues of faith, the Founding Fathers, the free market, and the Constitution, all while landing devastating body blows to the threadbare arguments of the left.
Today’s culture praises victimhood, fake “self-esteem,” government handouts, and deflecting blame onto others. Peterson preaches personal responsibility, confronting one’s inner demons, and courage in the face of life’s inevitable difficulties. Against all odds, Peterson’s message is picking up steam and shifting the narrative.
Shapiro’s thesis—that the West owes a profound debt to Athens and Jerusalem—builds off of the work done by thinkers like Leo Strauss. The book stands out in its ability to succinctly distill complicated ideas so a wider audience can benefit. You don’t need a Ph.D. in philosophy or political theory to read it, and that’s a good thing.
Friedman leaves no argument unanswered in a work that is just as relevant today as it was when it was published during the final period of the Cold War. Unfortunately, we still hear far too many misguided calls to abandon capitalism or turn our back on free-market principles. Friedman articulates why trusting government to solve our problems remains such a perilous mistake.
To properly take in Sowell’s complete wisdom, a student’s best bet is “The Thomas Sowell Reader.” Containing nearly 100 of Sowell’s best essays, the compendium covers a lot of ground. Its organization allows it to be picked up whenever you need to compare Sowell’s thoughts with the prevailing voices (or insanity) of the day.
British conservative politician Daniel Hannan examines what makes America so special, and what we risk to lose if we turn our backs on its core principles. Hannan’s take is illuminating because of its 30,000-foot view of America from an outsider. Americans often don’t realize how good they’ve got it, and Hannan does a great job of pointing out the things we shouldn’t take for granted.
Debbie Young
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