An Inspirational Reading List

by Richard A. Cheatham, Press Media Group, LLC

There’s an old saying that you can tell a lot about a person by looking at the books in his library. No doubt that’s very true.

If you were to closely examine my personal library you would certainly discover a lot about me. You would quickly realize that I’m fascinated by why humans do what they do, as indicated by the many books on history, philosophy, politics and economics. Human nature fascinates me.

Most people continue to evolve as they live and learn. Some stop at some point and become intellectually stagnant. For those of you who don’t mind being provoked and intellectually stimulated, I recommend the following books.

1984 by George Orwell - As a young man I read this (at the time) futuristic yet dark story. It and Animal Farm helped me to understand a thing or two about classic ways people attempt to dominate others.

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand - As I entered college, I read this hefty novel. I remember being swept away. I later read The Fountainhead and Anthem also by Rand. What a sense of life! I can’t imagine reading any of these passionate, romantic books without being moved emotionally and intellectually.

How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World by Harry Browne - This inspirational book was a fresh look at the life each of us creates, the one for which we are ultimately most responsible.

The Law by Frederick Bastiat - Though written in 1850 this visionary masterpiece on politics and economics is as valid today as it was when it was written and as it will be 500 years from now. After reading it, I became a television journalist covering state government in Virginia and found Bastiat right on the money.

No Treason by Lysander Spooner - This fascinating book, also written in the 19th century, almost burned my fingers as I read it. Talk about provocative!

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein - This was one of my rare journeys into hard core science fiction. One of the virtue of this type of literature is that it helps us evaluate common human values by examining them in exotic situations and places.

The Discovery of Freedom by Rose Wilder Lane - This extraordinary book chronicles the progress made over the centuries by individuals and societies, especially America, not by bold “leaders” with bloody swords in their hands. Inspirational!

Leonard Reed, Albert J. Nock, Robert LeFevre, Thomas Sowell, Karl Hess, Murray Rothbard, Ludwig von Mises, Henry Hazlitt, Milton Friedman, F. A. Hayek, Walter Williams, Thomas DeLorenzo and so many, many others have made their own contributions to this extraordinary literature of hope and life.

LFB.com - Website for Laissez Faire Books, the best, not the only, place to find such books.

LewRockwell.com - An extraordinary website where one can read essays on all the topics covered in the books above. Provocation at its best.

©2006 by Richard A. Cheatham. All rights reserved. Mr.Cheatham is a professional speaker/writer and is syndicated through Press Media Group, LLC. Contact him through, Living History Assoc., Ltd., at www.LHALtd.com or DrawBackVeil@aol.com.