21 March 2008
Monthly Book Discussion List
Posted by Terrie Soberg under: General .
We had a suggestion from SGS to start a monthly book discussion. I have been toying with a similar idea for some time, so I think this is great. I’d like to have people begin by writing down as many book suggestions as they want and perhaps the reason why that book would be a good choice. I will compile the list and announce the first book for the month of April.
This will be a wonderful way of increasing participation and sharing information while learning together. We have a number of people who contribute so much to our site and we appreciate each of you. Remember to invite your friends and neighbors to join us!
Note: I’ve moved this back to the top so we can get some more input. We’ve had some great suggestions, but let’s see if we can come up with a few more.
20 Comments so far...
E.E. Says:
17 March 2008 at 11:55 pm.
I love that picture of the books, very classy. I really want to read biographies of Washington and/or Jefferson. I’ve read some and I know that most important thing is the author so I need to try and look up who are the best authors and not the ones who twist the trust. This should be fun.
Stumpy Says:
18 March 2008 at 12:04 am.
If I suggest my favorite reading we could jist cut out the pictures of all them girls.
Terrie Soberg Says:
18 March 2008 at 1:03 am.
Hey Stumpy, I see the picture of your ass on the front, but I didn’t know the Farmer’s Almanac has pictures of girls too!
Jesse Says:
18 March 2008 at 1:17 am.
Whoa - SCORE!
Matt Says:
18 March 2008 at 10:28 am.
Here are my suggestions:
Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury and 1984 by George Orwell.
SGS Says:
18 March 2008 at 1:59 pm.
Orwell’s 1984 definitely is a great book! I have not read it for a while, nor have I with Animal Farm. I am thinking that a good book to begin with, as a prelude to this reading club, is W. Cleon Skousen’s The Five Thousand Year Leap. It helped me to understand why our nation was formed as it has been. It also helped me to appreciate the basic rights I have been given. For example, for a long time, I do not understand why the gun rights matter that greatly. I finally got it when I read this book. Basically, this book identifies the principles of the Founding Fathers when they emerged on the journey to establish the greatest nation ever. Each principle is covered briefly, enough to get us start, but not enough to get us lost :). The old writings of those Fathers are used exceedingly. Here are some extraction from National Center for Constitutional Studies:
Discover the 28 fundamental beliefs of the Founding Fathers which they said must be understood and perpetuated by every people who desired peace, prosperity, and freedom.
These beliefs have made possible more progress in 200 years than was made previously in over 5,000 years. Thus the title “The 5,000 Year Leap”.
The following is a brief overview of the principles found in The 5,000 Year Leap, and one chapter is devotes to each of these 28 principles.
Principle 1 - The only reliable basis for sound government and just human relations is Natural Law.
Natural law is God’s law. There are certain laws which govern the entire universe, and just as Thomas Jefferson said in the Declaration of Independence, there are laws which govern in the affairs of men which are “the laws of nature and of nature’s God.”
Principle 2 - A free people cannot survive under a republican constitution unless they remain virtuous and morally strong.
“Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.” - Benjamin Franklin
Principle 3 - The most promising method of securing a virtuous people is to elect virtuous leaders.
“Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt. He therefore is the truest friend to the liberty of his country who tries most to promote its virtue, and who … will not suffer a man to be chosen into any office of power and trust who is not a wise and virtuous man.” - Samuel Adams
Principle 4 - Without religion the government of a free people cannot be maintained.
“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports…. And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion.” - George Washington
Principle 5 - All things were created by God, therefore upon him all mankind are equally dependent, and to him they are equally responsible .
The American Founding Fathers considered the existence of the Creator as the most fundamental premise underlying all self-evident truth. They felt a person who boasted he or she was an atheist had just simply failed to apply his or her divine capacity for reason and observation.
Principle 6 - All mankind were created equal.
clipped…
Ghost Says:
18 March 2008 at 3:33 pm.
I’ve always wanted the Five Thousand Year Leap. Glenn Beck loves that book.
Sharon Anderson Says:
18 March 2008 at 5:40 pm.
I think 5000 yr leap would be a great choice. I would read it with our 13 yr old son as part of our homeschool.
Bryon Says:
18 March 2008 at 5:50 pm.
I would read it.
Saddened Says:
19 March 2008 at 11:54 am.
“Miracle at Philadelphia” by Catherine Drinker Bowen is a fabulous book that isn’t about just one founding father but is about the creation of our Constitution. It is so inspiring. It is available at Amazon for $11.53. That is my suggestion for reading.
Book Description
Chosen by Book-Of-The-Month Club as a primary selection for an unprecedented second time! The story of the Constitutional Convention. One of America’s preeminent biographers, Bowen brings to life the hot summer months of argument and agreement, debate and decision. In the summer of 1787, 55 men from differing backgrounds and beliefs came together in Philadelphia to draft our Constitution. James Madison, their secretary, describes in detail the conflict and contributions of Patrick Henry, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington, to name a few, as these men of different upbringing and philosophies hammered out what would remain as the guiding principles for over 200 years of the United States government.
E.E. Says:
21 March 2008 at 11:15 am.
Saddened, I read that years ago. It is great and I agree it would be a good choice. I need to read it again.
T. Fan Says:
21 March 2008 at 11:42 am.
Gutzman is a great scholar. This book hits the nail on the head.
The Politically Incorrect Guide™ to the Constitution
by Kevin Gutzman
The Constitution of the United States created a representative republic marked by federalism and the separation of powers. Yet in recent decades, numerous federal judges — led by the Supreme Court — have used the Constitution as a blank check allowing them to substitute their own views on hot-button issues such as abortion, capital punishment and “gay marriage” for perfectly constitutional laws enacted by “We, the People” through our elected representatives. Now, The Politically Incorrect Guide™ to the Constitution shows that there is very little relationship between the Constitution ratified by the thirteen states more than two centuries ago and the “constitutional law” imposed upon us in the name of that Constitution since then. Instead of the system dominated by state-level decision-makers and elected officials the Constitution was intended to create, the judges have given us a highly centralized system in which bureaucrats and appointed officials make most of the important policies.
Jesse Says:
21 March 2008 at 12:33 pm.
I would like us to read either “Death of the West” or “State of Emergency” by Pat Buchanan. If the second one is a little too Ron Paul for people, the first one should be something we can all agree on.
Bryon Says:
21 March 2008 at 1:50 pm.
I have read 1984 and Fahrenheit 451. Surprisingly Fahrenheit 451 was on my “college bound reading list” given to me by my English teacher telling me what the experts say I need to read. However this did not stop me from noticing that this book had a great message.FYI I am a junior in high school. I am reading Death of the West right now.
Sharon Anderson Says:
21 March 2008 at 3:09 pm.
Hey Bryon. I’m impressed. You must be very well read. George Wythe College in Cedar City, Utah focuses on reading of the classics and developing statesment (as opposed to politicians). They might also have a reading list you would be interested in.
Bryon Says:
21 March 2008 at 4:19 pm.
Thank you Sharon. I was reading The Lord of The Rings in the fifth grade. I have always loved books and have recently grown a taste for non-fiction. I might look into that. I will be busy with books that people suggest on this site.
Matt Says:
21 March 2008 at 4:40 pm.
Gives me hope to see a lot of younger people on this blog interested in learning and conservative.
Roy Bischoff Says:
21 March 2008 at 11:35 pm.
Here are some of the books from George Wythe College. Under the Education minor this is the list of classics:
Adams, The Education of Henry Adams*
Alcott, Little Women
Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress
Card, Ender’s Game
Cooper, The Last of the Mohicans
Cooper, The Deerslayer
Clark, The Ox-Box Incident
Crane, The Red Badge of Courage
Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby*
Dickens, David Copperfield
Dickens, Oliver Twist
Dostoevski, Crime and Punishment
Dostoevski, The Brothers Karamazov*
Franklin, Autobiography
Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird
Melville, Moby Dick
Mitchell, Gone with the Wind
Potok, My Name is Asher Lev
Shakespeare, (5 plays required)*
Swift, Gulliver’s Travels
Tolstoy, (any novels)
Twain, Huckleberry Finn
Twain, Tom Sawyer
Twain, Connecticut Yankee
Wallace, Ben Hur
My favorite book is Ender’s Game.
Terrie Soberg Says:
21 March 2008 at 11:43 pm.
I learned about George Wythe College when they were first starting out. Getting a Master’s Degree from them is on my To Do Before I Die list!
SGS Says:
22 March 2008 at 4:08 pm.
BRYON - YOU READ LOTR IN FIFTH GRADE?!? I have tried to read Tolkin’s work a few times but I was never able to get beyond a few pages until recently! It turned out I started out with wrong book. I started out reading “The Hobbits”, which is not the first book of the LOTR series. It was not until then when I was told of this error! But still, fifth grade, wow! You indeed are well-read!
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