298: Capitalism and Freedom by Milton Friedman

(During the month of September I'm recommending conservative titles with which every well-read progressive should be familiar.)

Capitalism and Freedom

Thank PBS for Milton Friedman's outsized influence in modern politics. Friedman was a Nobel-prize winning economist notable for his advocacy of free markets and limited government interference. After winning the Nobel in 1976 Friedman co-created a 10-part series titled Free to Choose. He also served as an unofficial adviser to candidate Ronald Reagan and then served on Ronald Reagan's President's Economic Policy Advisory Board throughout the Reagan administration. Free to Choose aired repeatedly on PBS channels through the 1980s, creating a whole generation of fans.

Why this is libertarian/conservative: Friedman's work is one of the fundamental pillars of modern Libertarian economic thought. The idea that regulations are hurting businesses, that a free market can handle most economic problems, that the Federal Reserve hurts our economic interests, and that school vouchers are a panacea for our public education system can all be traced back to Friedman. If you're not familiar with Friedman, then you're not familiar with the arguments being echoed by today's Libertarian-influenced Republicans.



You can find the Free to Choose series in multiple places online. Here, for example.

299: Reflections on the Revolution in France by Edmund Burke

(During the month of September I'll be recommending conservative titles with which every well-read progressive should be familiar.)

Reflections on the Revolution in France

To understand the distinctions between modern liberalism and modern conservatism start with the debate between Thomas Paine and Edmund Burke. Paine was a revolutionary leader in both the US and in France. From his revolutionary pamphlet Common Sense, to his more substantial works The Rights of Man and The Age of Reason, Paine lays out the framework for modern liberalism. Paine's later works were in direct conversation with Edmund Burke. Burke, a member of the British House of Commons, supported the American Revolution, but opposed the French Revolution. Burke argued that change must be rooted in tradition, and that politics must take into account human nature, which is often irrational. For Burke, scientific government was impossible. He also saw liberal icons like Rousseau as ultimately corrosive to the cause of liberty and representative government.

Why this is libertarian/conservative: When liberals and progressives talk about the Enlightenment and the origins of liberalism they refer to the American Revolution. When conservatives talk about the Enlightenment and the origins of liberalism they refer to the French Revolution. Ostensibly built on the same principles the American and French revolutions had diametrically opposite results. In the US a long-lasting democratic republic was established. In France the revolution led first to the Terror and then to the rise of the dictator Napoleon Bonaparte. If you're looking for a critique of liberalism you probably want to learn more about the French Revolution.

300: The Virtue of Selfishness by Ayn Rand

(During the month of September I'll be recommending conservative titles with which every well-read progressive should be familiar.)

The Virtue of Selfishness

In this slim volume Ayn Rand lays out her philosophy in a nutshell. Altruism weakens society, and society is strengthened by rational self-interest. This collection of essays originally appeared The Objectivist Newsletter. In addition to influencing our political landscape, Rand has had an out-sized influence on the modern entrepreneur. Mark Cuban, Jimmy Wales, and John Mackey have all cited Rand as having a positive influence.

Why this is libertarian/conservative: Libertarianism has gone from the fringes to the mainstream in the last 50 years. We have a Senator named Rand and nobody flinches. Imagine the hoopla that would surround a candidate with the first name Marx, named out of respect to Karl Marx. These days people associate Ayn Rand with a select set of ideas that support the conservative/libertarian marriage. Few remember her as the radical atheist, pro-abortion, and Reagan-hating woman she was. Although there are a die-hard few that recognize all of those positions as consistent with her philosophy.

Buy the Kindle version: The Virtue of Selfishness



I chose this collection of essays because I think it serves as a good introductory text. If you're interested something more substantial check out Rand's Atlas Shrugged, thought by many to be one of the most important works of the 20th century.

Buy the Kindle version: Atlas Shrugged (Centennial Edition)

or the book:

301: The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis

(During the month of September I'll be recommending conservative titles with which every well-read progressive should be familiar.)

The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis

In these 31 letters the senior demon Screwtape guides the rookie devil Wormwood in his efforts to corrupt a Christian man during the second world war. Using this conceit C. S. Lewis meditates on sin, faith, and other theological challenges. One of Lewis's most popular books.

Why this is conservative/libertarian: This is a classic Christian work. You don't have to be Christian or conservative to enjoy Lewis's witty style. Despite the humor, Lewis takes seriously the moral questions he addresses. Lewis has given a lot of thought to his faith, and it shows through in this book.

302: Orthodoxy by G. K. Chesterton

(During the month of September I'll be recommending conservative titles with which every well-read progressive should be familiar.)

Orthodoxy by G. K. Chesterton

Chesterton is an engaging writer and this is a thoughtful, well-written, witty, and often insightful work. In Orthodoxy Chesterton explains why he is a Christian. As he explains how he came to this 'orthodoxy' he also lays the argument for why Christian orthodoxy is a positive influence on British life and politics.

Why this is conservative/libertarian: One of the key concerns of conservative philosophy is the role faith should play in public life. While progressives argue for a clear separation between church and state, conservatives see religion playing a positive and important role in governance. Orthodoxy helps explain why some Christians see the role of Christianity as essential to the civilized society.



You can find free versions here.

303: The Conservative Mind by Russell Kirk

(During the month of September I'll be recommending conservative titles with which every well-read progressive should be familiar.)


The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Eliot by Russell Kirk

American conservatism hit its nadir in the 1950s. The liberal presidency of FDR was widely credited with defeating the Great Depression and the Axis powers. The Republican party had split in the 1910s, with Republican progressives like Teddy Roosevelt fighting against pro-business leaders. The pro-business faction won and bore the brunt of the blame for the stock market crash and the following economic devastation.

In 1953 Russell Kirk released this argument for conservatism. Widely ignored at first, it eventually became a canonical text for the modern conservative movement.

Why this is conservative/libertarian: There are a handful of must-reads in order to understand the modern conservative movement. This is one of them.

Get the Kindle version: The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Eliot



The Portable Conservative Reader makes an excellent companion volume to The Conservative Mind.

It's Conservative Month at A Progressive's Library

Welcome to Conservative Month at A Progressive's Library! The well-read progressive knows what she is arguing against. Your argument will be more persuasive if you can fairly state your opponent's position and then explain (using facts, evidence, and logic) why that position contradicts itself or strays from the known evidence. To do this you need to be familiar with conservative literature.

I think there are two things you'll learn from reading the works recommended this month. The first is that you are sometimes going to have to change your mind. The progressives of the early 20th century, the libertarians of the mid-20th century, and liberals and progressives of the early 21st century have more in common than you might imagine. In fact, one of the great 20th century progressives, Louis Brandeis, identified as a conservative and would have been comfortable with big chunks of modern libertarianism.

The other thing you'll learn is how far today's conservative rhetoric is from traditional conservative arguments. There's a lot more radicalism in today's Republican party than conservatism.

Since I only have a month I've tried to cast as wide a net as possible. This month I'll write about A-list thinkers and Z-list rabble rousers. I'll cover classic literature and contemporary humor.

Just as I'm blending liberal and progressive works during the rest of the year, I'm blending libertarian and conservative texts this month.

If you have any recommendations let me know in the comments.