Starship Troopers is a military science fiction novel about a soldier named Johnny Rico and his exploits in the Mobile Infantry, a futuristic military unit equipped with powered armor suits. The story follows Rico’s journey from civilian to officer against the backdrop of an interstellar war.
Thomas Hobbes’s ‘Leviathan’ is a seminal work in political philosophy that outlines the structure of society and legitimate government, advocating for a strong central authority to avoid chaos and war.
Plato’s ‘The Republic’ is a philosophical treatise concerning justice, order, and character within a state, and the just individual.
This biography of Thomas Jefferson explores his pursuit of power and influence in a young America. Jon Meacham provides a nuanced portrait of the third President, emphasizing Jefferson’s political savvy, philosophies, and his vision for the nation.
The 5000 Year Leap explores the 28 fundamental beliefs that helped shape the United States’ Constitution and its unprecedented leap in human progress. Skousen discusses how these principles fostered freedom, prosperity, and success.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s ‘The Social Contract’ is a cornerstone of political philosophy, first published in 1762. It explores the concept of social contract theory, suggesting that legitimate political authority rests upon the consent of the governed. Rousseau argues for a form of government where the people are sovereign and laws are made based on the general will. This revolutionary idea influenced the development of republicanism and democratic thought, challenging the traditional view of sovereignty and the relationship between individual liberty and state authority.
The Constitution of Liberty is a thorough exposition on the philosophical and practical foundations of a free society by economist and political theorist Friedrich A. Hayek. Published in 1960, the book defends the principles of a liberal social order based on the rule of law, limited government, and individual freedom. Hayek explores the function of liberty in fostering innovation, maintaining economic prosperity, and allowing individuals to pursue their personal goals without coercion.
The Conscience of a Conservative is a seminal work that laid the foundation for the modern conservative movement in the United States. Written by Barry Goldwater, a senator from Arizona, the book offers a cogent argument for conservative principles such as limited government, personal responsibility, and a staunch defense of individual liberty. Goldwater advocates for states’ rights, criticizes welfare programs, and argues for a strong anti-communist foreign policy. His work is not only a manifesto for conservatism but also a call to action for those who believe in safeguarding the freedoms enshrined in the American Constitution.
John Rawls’s ‘A Theory of Justice’ is a seminal work in political philosophy and ethics, in which Rawls presents his theory of justice as fairness. He argues for a principled reconciliation of liberty and equality, to be applied to the basic structure of a well-ordered society. Central to his theory is the idea of the ‘original position,’ a hypothetical state of equality in which individuals make decisions about the rules of society behind a ‘veil of ignorance,’ unaware of their own particular advantages.