Looking for reading material for a beginner to politics.

To start off with start with books on politics in general, try several different perspectives and find which you like best yourself.

I'm a Libertarian. I support economic and social freedom. This means low taxes, low spending, gay marriage, drug liberalization, no war, etc. I can't speak for other perspectives, but as a Libertarian "For a New Liberty" by Murray Rothbard was really enlightening. It was what pushed me in this direction.

Rothbard provides a bunch of real life examples to make it interesting. It's easy to read, and it's provided as a free audiobook (or you can buy the book on amazon).

MP3 download

iTunes U

 

Where did I claim I have read it? It no it doesn't require a reading of it to know what it says and what it teaches. That you do not shows you need to go and educate yourself about it.

 

Ok!! Exactly what I thought!! You claim knowledge of a book you never read, and yet I am in need of education!!

 

Das Capital, Mein Kampf, 1984, Atlas Shrugged, The Wealth of Nations and The Road to Serfdom are all good reads if you need convincing one way or another on an ideology.

 

Yes it was!!! I remember watching it as a kid and not really noticing how bizarre it was but then watching it again as an adult and seeing the part where the toaster is having horrific dreams about falling into a bath of water and electrocuting itself or someone, man that was just too freaky for a kid's movie, especially when as an adult you understand the underlying connotations (um suicide/murder by electrocution in a bathtub). Psyyychooo kids movie.

EDIT: Found it! And there's even a crazy clown to horrify you even more! HOLY BLEEEEP!!

[video=youtube;YEdZh8a4ZvE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEdZh8a4ZvE[/video]

 

I agree completely!

 

Don't have to read it to know what it is about nor was I even discussing what is it and the principles it sets forth..........so care to withdraw your remark about his having not taught the book?

 

William E Simon's A Time for Action and A Time for Truth

 

Yeah it's more like "The Shining" than a kid's film - I've seen actual horror films which creeped me out less - gave me nightmares when I saw it

 

www.wsws.org knock yourself out !

 

I feel like we need to understand the foundation before we explore the left or right leanings of politics. A study of the money system is a great start, assuming you already have a constitutional understanding. Once you understand where we started financially and where we are today, with explanations of the events that got us here, you can start really forming good opinions about the politics that inevitably play into the money. I personally would suggest reading from independent authors rather than textbooks, but authors who have done in-depth analysis or research that doesn't just lean one way or the other throughout the book. I won't suggest any because it's important your discovery be your own. A guided opinion is not an opinion at all so if you guide your own quest for truth and knowledge, you'll then formulate feelings and beliefs that are your own to stand upon.