I suppose this is less a “Book Review” and more an endorsement for a book series, the Politically Incorrect Guide^TM series.  Trying to pick my favorite Politically Incorrect Guide^TM book is like trying to choose my favorite Thomas Sowell book – nearly impossible.  Many views I hold today are 180° from where I stood in my youth.  Being Missouri born and raised I have a “show me” attitude and am a doubting-Thomas by nature.  I am always reading trying to find, know &/or understand the “truth” of an issue.  This is what I love about the Politically Incorrect series.  Readers get the “other side of the story.”  While I don’t always agree with the author’s opinions, views or conclusions, I love the food for thought the books offer.  I also love how they recommend for certain segments or topics covered within the books “Books you aren’t supposed to read.”  These book recommendations give readers additional resources to continue or expand their understanding of the segment or topic, beyond what the book has time or space for.

I thought for the current political climate, with all of the talk of Socialism verses the free market; readers might find The Politically Incorrect Guide^TM to Capitalism by Robert P. Murphy, Ph. D. informative.  However, if you have read one of Thomas Sowell’s books on economics or a regular reader of Sowell's columns, nothing in this book will be new to you.  Where Sowell explains economics as a whole in his book Basic Economics, this book simply tries to dispel the misconceptions of some of the more important economic issues in Capitalism, such as, Windfall-profit taxes, pro-union laws, affirmative action, workplace-safety and antipollution regulations, Social Security by explaining how the free-market is better than government intervention.

The Politically Incorrect Guide^TM to the Constitution by Kevin Gutzman is another good read for the times.  I have to warn you about this book though; it took me forever to finish; not because it was hard to read, but because it made me so angry to read how we have so polluted the original meaning of the Constitution and intent of our founders, that I found myself procrastinating finishing the book.  It was just so depressing.  While we are on the topic of the Constitution, let me also recommend The Citizen’s Constitution by Seth Lipsky. This is small and easy to read (great on your bedside or for men out there, bathroom).  The book is the entire Constitution, including amendments, with notes by Lipsky which provide interesting or sometimes quirky information on every phrase in the Constitution and amendments.  This book is not going to give you a complete and full understanding of the Constitution; rather it is just a fun and interesting read (and a great gift).

The Politically Incorrect Guide^TM to American History by Thomas E. Woods, Jr. Ph. D. is chock-full of interesting information we never learned in our public school indoctrination or in the lame-stream-media (LSM).  Woods debunks some of the myths from colonial times through the Clinton administration.  Remember, this is not a comprehensive history of the U.S.  The intent of these books are to bring information, opinions and viewpoints to light you won’t get anywhere else, correct misinformation &/or debunk myths.

The Politically Incorrect Guide^TM to the South by Clint Johnson was a lot of fun to read, for me (maybe not for you, depending on your interest).  While I am a Yankee by birth (from MO), I consider myself a southerner at heart (having lived in the south for the last 18 years).  I think Johnson does a great job of explaining southern culture and modern day southern world view to the ignorant Yankee who believes what he has read in the LSM, that all southerners are uneducated racists.  This book is not just about slavery and the civil war.  It also talks about southern culture and contributions.

The Politically Incorrect Guide to Global Warming^TM by Christopher C. Horner may be a real eye-opener for some.  While it was written in 2007 and doesn’t reference the more recent scandals (most of which are chronicled on at this great blog, by these really funny guys in Minnesota Here).  However, it will arm the reader with knowledge they aren’t going to get at school or in the LST.

Ok, allow me one more recommendation.  I know I have to stop somewhere.  The Politically Incorrect Guide^TM to Women, Sex, and Feminism by Carrie L. Lukas. How ironic our daughters who benefit from a devoted mom and dad, in traditional roles, go off to college to be completely indoctrinated into the false feminist doctrines.  Often not finding out until it is too late, that the feminist doctrines are, more often than not, damaging to women, children, the family and society as a whole.  If anyone benefits from feminism it is amoral, irresponsible, puerile men.  Our older girls and young women need the information in this book to help them in make correct life choices.  However, if you are a fan of Dr. Laura, none of the information in this book will surprise you.

The point is what topic you would like to know more about?  There is a good chance there is a Politically Incorrect Guide^TM available.  The series will challenge your understanding and expand your knowledge on that topic.

Dr. Thomas Sowell is the author of 43 (and counting) books and countless articles, commentaries and papers.  In my opinion, he is the intellectual giant of our time.  What further sets Sowell apart is his ability to take very complex ideas or issues and write about them in terms an average person can understand.  Every book and article Sowell has written is worth your time.  I decided to recommend Basic Economics because it is especially timely for the current political climate.  One of the problems with our political system is that too many voters don't have a basic understanding of economics.  Further, many politicians either lack an understanding, as well, or find it politically expedient to ignore basic economic facts.  For example, there are voters who think you can get "free healthcare" from the government and many politicians are too happy to sell voters "free healthcare."  While some of us may intuitively know there is nothing free in this world, in Basic Economics Dr. Sowell articulates and helps the reader understand why this is so.  Warning, the book is 551 pages long and not "light" reading; easily understood, but you have to be able to think about what you're reading.  Also, it will make your blood boil at what politicians get away with, because too many (politicians & voters) don't have a basic understanding of economics.  However, don't let me scare you off.  The information in this book is not just important, but really very interesting.  It is packed with information we all need to have to be educated voters and conscientious citizens.

If you enjoy Basic Economics or if you want to start on a smaller scale I would recommend Economic Facts and Fallacies, also by Dr. Sowell.  This book is only 221 pages long and easy to read (as are all of Sowell's books).  However, in this book he is not explaining basic economics (and a prior knowledge is not required to understand this book).  Sowell addresses some of the most obnoxious economic fallacies we have been spoon fed by politicians and the media because it suited their agendas; ideas such as, "green space," "discrimination,"  "foreign aid," the fallacy of asking why is one country is poor instead of asking, why another country is rich, the idea of "social justice," the ability of the media and politicians to use statistics in dishonest ways to further their agendas, and more.  For such a serious topic, this was a fun read.  This book will really arm you to recognize "B.S." when listening to the media or a politician.

Although Black Rednecks and White Liberals is not really about economics (although it touches on some economics-it is by Dr. Sowell after all) it is another favorite of mine by Dr. Sowell.  The book touches on aspects of race, culture and history of which I had never heard or read before.  It was eye opening and I highly recommend it.

My last Sowell recommendation is Late Talking Children which was later expanded on in The Einstein Syndrome: Bright Children Who Talk Late.  This is a very topic specific book I would recommend to parents with a young toddler who is not yet speaking or for a parent who had a late talking child.  Our daughter, a preemie, was a late talker and it was positively uncanny how many of her characteristics paralleled those of other late talking children, as described in this book.  Sowell's son was also a late talker which is where his interest came from.  This was actually my first Sowell book and my introduction to Dr. Sowell.

So you know you are conservative, but are at a loss to articulate it.  You want to show your friends or loved ones the error of their "progressive/liberal" world view, but get tongue tied.  Because, "God said so!" is not compelling enough an argument for some you may encounter.  If you are ready to enter the fray and fight for our country you must read The Conservative's Handbook by Phil Valentine (among other books we have and will recommend).  Let me say up front I agree with most of what Phil writes in general, but diverge on specifics of some issues.  Further, the small size (about 7"x5" & 1 1/2" thick) of the book makes it very uncomfortable for reading.  I get the whole "easy to carry handbook" idea (it can easily fit in a purse or coat pocket), but you practically need clamps to keep it open for reading, but I will say it is very durable.

Now, about the book; the subtitle is Defining the Right Position on Issues from A to Z. Phil uses the alphabet to go through most of the positions you will encounter with liberals.  For example, chapter one is America is good, two is Belief in God is a cornerstone of our republic, ending with Zero Tolerance is the only way to effectively deal with crime in chapter 26.  He covers guns, drugs, immigration, global warming, quotas, and taxes, just to list a few topics.  Each chapter is backed up with footnotes allowing the reader to verify a statement, statistic or fact.  If you are a true conservative he won't be telling you anything you didn't already know, but he does take large complex issues and distills them to 20-30 pages each, giving you a condensed platform of thought when going head to head with a liberal.  I also recommend keeping the book lying around (or in the bathroom) in case after reading the whole book, you need a refresher on a certain topic.  Once again, this is a great book to mail "anonymously" to someone you think might need it!

I would also recommend this to anyone who considers him/herself to be a progressive or a liberal.  First, I think more people have conservative world views on a number of topics, but just don't realize it.  Second, if you really are a progressive/liberal, are you sure???  Read Phil's book and see how much you disagree with.

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The Top Ten Myths of American Health Care, A Citizen’s Guide by Sally C. Pipes is not only an excellent book, but very easy to read.  Some books I have tried to read in the past about various topics I wanted to understand better were so laborious and mind numbing I either ended up just skimming them or quit reading altogether.  Pipes shows it is the quality of writing, not the volume that determine a books worth.  I wish more writers would follow her example.  This book is  just the facts, point by point.  As the title indicates she discusses the top ten myths about health care, using facts and statistics to break down these oft-repeated myths.  The best part is all of the facts and statistics are backed up with end notes listed at the back of the book.  Many of the end notes include websites where the reader can go and do more research if they wanted to.  At the end she also has a chapter discussing several solutions or steps we need to take to improve our Health Care System, as there will never be one quick fix to this problem.  The book is hard to find, but on Amazon.  I suggest it to anyone (everyone) who wants to understand the health care/insurance issue better.  And frankly, we are running out of time, so order today!!!

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