20 Essential Books on Conservative Politics: A Reading List

20 Essential Books on Conservative Politics: A Reading List

This list presents 20 influential works on conservative politics, offering a starting point for understanding the diverse intellectual history of this political ideology. From foundational texts to contemporary analyses, these books represent a range of viewpoints within the conservative tradition.

1. Adams, John. 'Thoughts on Government.' 1776.2. Burke, Edmund. 'Reflections on the Revolution in France.' 1790.3. Hayek, Friedrich. 'The Road to Serfdom.' 1944.4. Buckley Jr., William F. 'God and Man at Yale: The Superstitions of 'Academic Freedom'.' 1951.5. Kirk, Russell. 'The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Eliot.' 1953.6. Goldwater, Barry. 'The Conscience of a Conservative.' 1960.7. Buckley Jr., William F. 'Up from Liberalism.' 1959.8. Reagan, Ronald. 'A Time for Choosing.' 1964.9. Friedman, Milton. 'Capitalism and Freedom.' 1962.10. Buckley Jr., William F. 'The Unmaking of a Mayor.' 1966.11. Buckley Jr., William F. 'Why the South Must Prevail.' 1957.12. Buckley Jr., William F. 'Miles Gone By: A Literary Autobiography.' 2004.13. Chambers, Whittaker. 'Witness.' 1952.14. Buckley Jr., William F. 'The Reagan I Knew.' 2008.15. Thatcher, Margaret. 'The Downing Street Years.' 1993.16. Buckley Jr., William F. 'Gratitude: Reflections on What We Owe to Our Country.' 1990.17. Kristol, Irving. 'Neoconservatism: The Autobiography of an Idea.' 1995.18. Sowell, Thomas. 'A Conflict of Visions: Ideological Origins of Political Struggles.' 1987.19. Buckley Jr., William F. 'Nearer, My God: An Autobiography of Faith.' 1997.20. Kirk, Russell. 'The Conservative's Handbook: Defining the Right Position on Issues from A to Z.' 1996.

This list is by no means exhaustive, but it offers a starting point for anyone interested in understanding the complexities and nuances of conservative political thought.