Non-Fiction Greats

1. The Conscience of a Conservative [by Barry Goldwater]
2. Friendly Fascism [by Bertram Gross]
3. The Death of Common Sense [by Philip Howard]
4. Understanding Media [by Marshall McLuhan]

The Conscience of a Conservative was the first political book with which I identified. Goldwater [1909-1998] remains one of less than a handful of major figures in national politics for whom I have any respect. [Oddly, William Proxmire would be the other one. Scalia may be added to the list.] Goldwater explains his basic and fully correct view of the proper way to live life in America as an American. He talks about a true conservative outlook. He stresses the values that people must hold to be conservative. He is not talking about the "Anything that makes money is conservative" view of Ronald Reagan and George Bush. I encountered the book in 1963 [when I was 13], I still respect it now. When read today, the issues he talks about seem like prophesy on the current ills and decline of the American nation. "Extremism in the defense of Liberty is no vice." True then, more true today. Friendly Fascism provides an overview of the Fascist nature of current American government and society. It is the most accurate study of American postmodern society. The Death of Common Sense examines the gigantic fallacy upon which postmodern America is based, that is that the careful delimitation of rights, the growth of government to protect those rights, and the increased activity of the legal profession to pursue those rights provides protection of those rights. These items do not. They promote the growth of government and legal power, they do not make life better for any person. They do not improve living conditions for any one except those in the legal profession and those in the government bureaucracy. If you have not read this book, you cannot understand why America is failing to live up to its promise in postmodern times. Once you read it, you will never read a newspaper, watch television news, or follow the activities of government without seeing its bitter truth. Understanding Media identifies the connection of people and culture to the media they use. In an age where life is mediated through the public media, a clear picture of what those media do for you and society is essential to understand life. McLuhan provides the connection.