WHO WE ARE - ESSENTIAL CONSERVATIVE BOOKS

One of the most common requests I receive is for a basic reading list of books that define modern American Conservatism. Below is, hopefully, a usable "Starter List" for those who are interested in putting together some basic references and/or learning more about "Who we are."

About the following, I would note TWO things;

1. Reading Adam Smith's "Wealth of Nations" WITHOUT reading "Theory of Moral Sentiments" first makes slogging through WON much harder for most people. Many people I know have expressed the wish that they had read TMS before WON, therefore rather than expecting people to slog through WON, I left it off in favor of TMS. If you fall in love with Adam Smith's exceptionally clear and concise prose, TMS will leave you "all hot and bothered" for WON.

2. I list the most commonly available versions of the books below. SOME books, such as the Indispensable "American Conservative Thought in the Twentieth Century" have long been out-of-print, and for ACTITC, I listed the most easily available version. Recently, I picked up a Very Nice used copy of the ACTITC version listed below for around $10 on Amazon Used.

THE ORIGINAL IDEAS IN THE WORDS OF THE FOUNDERS
The Federalist Papers
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay, Signet Classics
ISBN 0451528816

OUR ORIGINAL CONTRACT -- WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?
The Declaration of Independence and Other Great Documents of American History
John Grafton, Dover Publications, ISBN 0486411249

DESCRIBING THE EARLY AMERICAN IDEAL - NOBODY EVER DID IT BETTER
Democracy in America
Alexis de Tocqueville, Penguin Classics, ISBN 0140447601
A "Cheese-Eating, Surrender Monkey" on an "forced vacation" in the U.S. in 1835 from the aftermath of the original "Fairness Doctrine" then being imposed by the post-Revolution French Left, this "Fairness Doctrine" was more commonly known at the time as "The Guillotine".

TAKE ONE CONSTITUTION, ADD MODERN ECONOMICS FOR AN AMERICAN MIRACLE
Theory of Moral Sentiments
Adam Smith, Book Jungle, ISBN 1438500513

STARTING A REACTION, FOUNDING THE CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT
God And Man At Yale: 50th Anniversary Edition
William F. Buckley, Jr., ISI Conservative Classics, ISBN 089526692X
The single MOST SIGNIFICANT Conservative book, in terms of impact.

40 YEARS LATER - STILL THE BEST SINGLE ANTHOLOGY OF ESSENTIAL CONSERVATIVE THOUGHT
American Conservative Thought in the Twentieth Century, William F. Buckley, Jr., Editor
published by Bobbs Merrill Co, 1970 ISBN 0672513277

ACTITC IS A LITTLE hard to find, but VERY, VERY WORTH IT - some of the clearest writing and thinking on American Conservatism EVER.

THE PROFESSOR EXPLAINS IT ALL
The Road to Serfdom Fiftieth Anniversary Editon
F. A. Hayek, University of Chicago Press, ISBN 0226320618

THE GREAT CONSERVATIVE STATIST - AND ONE OF THE SMARTEST DESPITE THAT
The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Eliot
Russell Kirk, BN Publishing ISBN 9659124112

UNCLE MILTIE CONNECTS MODERN MONEY TO MODERN AMERICAN CONSERVATISM
Capitalism and Freedom: Fortieth Anniversary Edition
Milton Friedman, University Of Chicago Press, ISBN: 0226264211

Since most of these books exist in numerous editions and versions, should anyone have any suggestions as to better versions, PLEASE feel free to post them in the comments. Thanks!