Ten Books That Shaped My Life, and One of Mine That May Shape Yours
Here are ten books that have shaped my life.
The Bible. Read all of it at least once, although not necessarily in the order found in the Bible. I read the King James Version, although it's more difficult and out of favor. My fall-back version is the New American Standard. Begin with the New Testament. Then go to Genesis. Be prepared to get bogged down in Leviticus. (I have written a 1,750-page commentary on the economics of Leviticus. You may safely skip it.)
Institutes of Biblical Law (1973). by R. J. Rushdoony. This is a defense f the continuing authority of biblical law in the New Testament era. It applies these laws to modern society.
That You May Prosper (1987), by Ray Sutton. It's the best book I've seen on making sense of the Bible. It's free on-line at my web site, www.freebooks.com.
The Law (1850), by Frederic Bastiat. This book is the classic statement against using politics to steal through taxation. It's on-line for free: http://bastiat.org/en/the_law.html
What Has Government Done to Our Money? (1964), by Murray Rothbard. This is the best introduction to monetary theory I have ever seen. It's short. It's easy. It's on-line for free. www.mises.org/money.asp
Dedication and Leadership (1966), by Douglas Hyde. Hyde was a leading Communist Party organizer in Great Britain in the 1940s. This short book tells how they recruited, trained, and motivated new members. He later became a Roman Catholic.
Isaiah's Job (1937), by Albert Jay Nock. It's really an essay, not a book. It's really about Elijah, not Isaiah. It shows why devoting your life to persuading the masses is a big mistake. It's on-line for free: https://www.lewrockwell.com/1970/01/albert-jay-nock/isaiahs-job
The E-Myth Revisited (2004), by Michael Gerber. This book is a good introduction to starting a business. It shows what to do and what not to do.
Fire in the Minds of Men: Origins of the Revolutionary Faith (1980), by James Billiington. It begins with the French Revolution and ends with Lenin. It is by far the most detailed account of the conspiratorial origins of revolution.
Modern Times (1983), by Paul Johnson. This is the best history of the twentieth century. It begins where Billington's book ends.
Plus:
Inherit the Earth (1987), by Gary North. This is my brief introduction to economics, written in two weeks. It's easy. It's on-line for free here: //www.garynorth.com/public/508.cfm
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