At any book store in the country, you can find hundreds of titles from right-leaning authors — and they are selling like hotcakes.
Over the past few years, the Tea Party groundswell and the presidency of Barack Obama has fueled a new and growing crop of conservative authors, as well as renewed interest in the canon of nonfiction works that have shaped conservative thought in American culture and politics.
The following is a list of 13 books that are staples to any Republican bookshelf. While the list by no means comprehensive, its a good starter guide for any young conservative looking to get his or her feet wet in the movement.
"The Conscience of a Conservative" by Barry Goldwater
The 1960 publication of Goldwater's book is often credited with reigniting the conservative movement and boosting the Arizona Senator's 1964 bid for the White House.
In the opening chapter, Goldwater makes a clear distinction between the right and left, writing, "the conscience of the Conservative is pricked by anyone who would debase the dignity of the individual human being. Today, therefore, he is at odds with dictators who rule by terror, and equally with those gentler collectivists who ask our permission to play God with the human race."
More than 50 years since its publication, The Conscience of a Conservative, has endured and continues to inspire conservative thought.
"Democracy in America" by Alexis de Tocqueville
In 1831, Alexis de Tocqueville and Gustave de Beaumont embarked upon a nine-month quest across the American landscape. Leaving behind their post-revolutionary homeland, they saw a flourishing democracy they believed could serve as a model for other nations (including their own).
They traveled to 17 out of the 24 states in the union, interviewing settlers, lawyers, bankers, and even two presidents, finally recording their observations in one of the most insightful and influential analyses of American political society.
"Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand
The fourth and final novel by Objectivist founder Ayn Rand, Atlas Shruggedis considered her magnum opus, and a must-read for any budding conservative.
The book describes a dystopian America, in which society collapses under increasingly oppressive government intervention, as the most productive members disappear, led by the hero John Galt. The story lays out the basic tenets of Rand's philosophy, championing reason, individualism, capitalism, and "rational selfishness."
Despite being very long and very, very dark, Atlas Shrugged has enjoyed enduring popularity since its 1957 publication. Sales of the book have spiked since the 2007 economic downturn, and the opening line, and its opening line, "Who is John Galt?" has become a common slogan on Tea Party signs and bumper stickers.
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