Books are the lifeblood of western civilisation, and there are, by common consent, a number that have had enormous influence on our assumptions and how we think and act.
Ranging across historical, religious, political, social, and cultural themes, the plan is to concentrate on a small selection of non-fiction books that inform, stimulate, and challenge.
Instead of choosing randomly, the books I have selected relate to some broad themes of enduring significance and interest, such as:
- Cultural and social issues
- The relationship between the individual and the state
- How societies rise and collapse
The following is my provisional list including well-established classics from the past, but also recent publications that [in my view] make a significant contribution to our understanding of major subjects. Have a look on Amazon for a summary and reviews.
Cultural and social
- Material Girls: Why Reality Matters for Feminism by Kathleen Stock
- The Babylonian Captivity of the Church by Martin Luther. This and his other writings brought about the Reformation, a process that changed western Europe profoundly
- Animal Liberation, Now; by Peter Singer. A recent publication that has made a major contribution to the way society is re-assessing its relationship with [other] animals.
Individual and the State
- The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx. After the Bible, although just 120 pages long, it is arguably the most important book ever written.
- The Road to Somewhere by David Goodhart, for a positive analysis of identity.
Order and Decay
- Political Order and Political Decay by Francis Fukuyama. This is a lengthy but easy read, and is both comprehensive and wide-ranging. Written a few years ago, it has great significance now.’
