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Two this week –
The first question of the week is going to be shamelessly self-serving, because I’ve been on a roll this summer as far as reading is concerned (I’m currently reading my ninth book in the past thirty-two days — this is what Kristofer was referring to in the comments section as me “finally getting my face out of the paperbacks”), and I want recommendations! So the first question of the week is: what two books do you consider ‘must-reads’ for understanding the issues of today?
(PS: The books that I’ve read this summer so far are [the two I recommend most are in bold]: World War IV by Norman Podhoretz, Party of Defeat by David Horowitz, The Rage and the Pride by Oriana Fallaci, A Long Short War by Christopher Hitchens, The West’s Last Chance by Tony Blankley, While Europe Slept by Bruce Bawer, The Case for Israel by Alan Dershowitz, and Islam Unveiled by Robert Spencer; and I’m currently reading Of Paradise and Power by Robert Kagan.)
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The second is also self-serving, but (I suppose) important: I’m currently considering writing and self-publishing a relatively brief book (~150 pages) about the war against jihadism (possibly with Aron Goldman’s assistance). Its main purpose would be persuasive, not polemical: it would be a call-to-arms to the conservative base and anyone else that values Enlightenment values and Western civilizational superiority to reengage in the war against jihadism — to convince them that it is indeed the defining issue of our time. Topics addressed would include: Has Neoconservatism Failed?, The Folly of Appeasement, Islam and Jihadism, The Necessity of Democracy, and Myths About the War Against Jihadism. It would also include a section outlining recommendations for the way forward.
If I were to go through with this project, would you consider making a purchase? It would cost no more than $12 and would be available through Amazon.com. If I found sufficient support to go through with this, the book would probably be available for purchase in a few months.
Thanks!
July 18th, 2008 at 6:48 am
Two books that increased my understanding of our world today: Mark Steyn’s “America Alone” explains that demographics is destiny, especially in Europe, and Amity Schlaes “The Forgotten Man” reminds us of all the New Deal programs that we still suffer from and are trying to expand.
July 18th, 2008 at 6:54 am
If you liked America Alone, Phil, check out:
Londonistan by Melanie Phillips
While Europe Slept by Bruce Bawer
Eurabia by Bat Ye’Or
The West’s Last Chance by Tony Blankley
July 18th, 2008 at 7:37 am
First:
Liberal Fascism by Jonah Goldberg
2nd:
America Alone by Mark Steyn
July 18th, 2008 at 8:00 am
If you’re into history:
Carnage and Culture - Victor Davis Hanson
Modern Times - Paul Johnson
The Boys of Pointe Du Hoc - Douglas Brinkley
Heroes - also Paul Johnson
Otherwise…
America Alone - Mark Steyn
A Different Drummer - Michael Deaver
Freedomnomics - John R. Lott
Religion of Peace - Robert Spencer
What’s So Great About Christianity - Dinesh D’Souza
July 18th, 2008 at 8:02 am
Im in - you got my $12 -
July 18th, 2008 at 9:21 am
I’ll spend $24.
- Islamic Imperialism : A History, by Efraim Karsh
- Through Our Enemies’ Eyes: Osama Bin Laden, Radical Islam & the Future of America, by Michael
Scheuer
- After Colonialism, by Gyan Prakash
- The kite runner, by Khaled Hosseini
July 18th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
1. “The Revolution” by Ron Paul
2. “The Road To Serfdom” by F.A. Hayek
July 18th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
In the last week or two I’ve read:
1. Persian Fire by Tom Holland (basically a history of the Persian War with Greece in t 5th and 6th centuries BC).
2. The Rubicon by Tom Holland (a history of the fall of the Roman Republic).
3. Colossus by Niall Ferguson (a sort of analysis of American Empire). Ferguson’s Empire, which deals with the British Empire, is also excellent.
And I’m 500 pages into Paul Johnson’s Modern Times and I’m trying to trudge my way through Macaulay’s The History of England. I actually think all of them have given me a much better understanding of the issue’s of today- history often illuminates the present- but Modern Times and Colossus are more obviously relevant.
If you’re looking for books dealing with the jihad, I’d read (beyond the stuff you mentioned, which is a pretty excellent list):
1. Future Jihad by Walid Phares
2. The War of Ideas by Walid Phares
3. The Crisis of Islam by Bernard Lewis
4. The Last Days of Europe by?
5. The Suicide of Reason by Lee Harris (though Harris doesn’t really have a conventional neoconservative perspective on solutions, if my memory serves me).
I also actually like Orianna Fallaci’s The Force of Reason a little better then The Rage and the Pride, though frankly, I think if you’ve read any Fallaci you’ve pretty much gotten the gist of her feelings. These are all relatively short books (under 350 pages I think), but pretty interesting. If you’re looking for something a little more substantive, Bernanrd Lewis’s The Middle East: A Brief History (like 400+ pages) seems pretty helpful, though I only got through a hundred or so pages being distracted.
July 18th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
8 — You actually named a few books I was looking at. Colossus, The Crisis of Islam, and The War of Ideas all piqued my interest at Borders.
I figured the same thing about Fallaci. It’s not that I’m not interested in reading The Force of Reason, but her books are polemical rants, not critical analysis, and I think, as you said, that I ‘got the gist’ of her.
July 18th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
You guys can put me down for a copy.
July 18th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Wonder why so few people responded this week…
July 19th, 2008 at 10:14 am
100 People Who Are Screwing Up America
July 19th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
The Looming Tower: Al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 — Lawrence Wright (also a great read)
Power, Faith and Fantasy: America in the Middle East — Michael Oren
possibly….:) I’m not a bad editor. I’d be willing to help, if that is at all useful