Books, books, and more books!

I bought another new book at work today. Something must be wrong with me! My to-read list grows ever longer, and I am still, as always, notoriously slow about taking books off my list, though I have no trouble whatsoever adding them on! Ah, for an unending supply of time in which to digest all these lovely books. . . In any case, the new one is The Making of America: The Substance and Meaning of the Constitution. It is full of detail and fascinating content, and I cannot wait to dive into it. I have had my eye on it at work for months now, every time I go into the book room, and I finally caved today and bought it. The temptation of being able to buy books at discount is too much for me sometimes. =D

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I did finish The Revolution earlier this week, though. One more off the list! It was terrific. In my opinion, it should be required reading for every American who cares about our country and its future. Barry Goldwater Jr. says that it is "the real truth about Liberty" and "take a wrecking ball to the political establishment". Throughout the book, Dr. Paul argues that the fundamental questions Americans need to be asking about government and society have become taboo; they are so far off the table that it's almost impossible to bring them up in political discussion in modern society. Despite politicians' endless promises of "change", we should know better. True change is not coming. As Dr. Paul puts it in the preface, "Real change would mean something like the opposite of [what politicians end up giving us]. It might even involve following our Constitution. And that's the one option Americans are never permitted to hear."

Instead of asking serious questions in the political arena, Dr. Paul argues, our mainstream media "focuses our attention on trivialities and phony debates as we march toward oblivion." The Revolution brings these serious questions to the forefront of discussion once again. Dr. Paul analyzes our modern world in light of the Constitution and the principles that shaped it. He recognizes the radical importance of such principles: "These ideas cannot be allowed to die, buried beneath the mind-numbing chorus of empty slogans and inanities that constitute official political discourse in America."

Through the next six chapters, Dr. Paul asks--and more importantly, answers!--fundamental questions about society and government. These chapters cover "the false choices of American politics, the foreign policy of the founding fathers, the constitution, economic freedom, civil liberties and personal freedom, and money: the forbidden issue in American politics."

Though not incredibly detailed (readers looking for exhaustive studies of the topics should look elsewhere), Dr. Paul's survey and overview is concise, clear, and extremely insightful. It is, at times, encouraging, depressing, and sometimes downright shocking in its honesty.

It is, in short, a must-read for anyone who cares about liberty and the future of America. It is a fascinating read, even for someone who has but little interest in politics. It is very near the top of my list of the most influential books I have read. I simply cannot recommend it enough.

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Now I am working my way through the rest of Postmodern Times. I cannot wait to review this one when I'm done. It is absolutely fantastic. I'm coming to the conclusion that I will read just about anything by Gene Veith. He is intellectual and yet very readable, full of depth and yet accessible. He is rapidly becoming one of my favorite authors.

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This post has become a ramble to a much greater extent than I intended it to be. My days of summer are rapidly dwindling, however, and I am attempting to take advantage of the time and do as much reading as I possibly can before I am hit with textbook syndrome again.

The rest of my evening will probably consist of several chapters of Postmodern Times, looking through The Making of America, and, if I don't fall asleep first, a few dozen pages of Anna Karenina.

What is your favorite way to spend a summer evening? This is certainly one of mine. =)