3 Books to Give to Relatives for Christmas?

[dr. hfn]

the title says it all, what 3 books do you reccomend I give my relatives for Christmas?

[Arklatex]

Manifesto

Crash Proof - if you think they'll dig it

Where the red fern grows

[Theocrat]

The Politically Incorrect Guide™ to American History (http://www.regnery.com/books/pigamericanhistory.html)
The Politically Incorrect Guide™ to Islam (and the Crusades) (http://www.regnery.com/books/pigislam.html)
The Politically Incorrect Guide™ to Science (http://www.regnery.com/books/pigscience.html)
The Politically Incorrect Guide™ to Women, Sex, and Feminism (http://www.regnery.com/books/pigwomen.html)
The Politically Incorrect Guide™ to Darwinism and Intelligent Design (http://www.regnery.com/books/pigdarwin.html)
The Politically Incorrect Guide™ to English and American Literature (http://www.regnery.com/books/piglit.html)
The Politically Incorrect Guide™ to the South (and Why It Will Rise Again) (http://www.regnery.com/books/pigsouth.html)
The Politically Incorrect Guide™ to Global Warming and Environmentalism (http://www.regnery.com/books/pigglobal.html)
The Politically Incorrect Guide™ to Capitalism (http://www.regnery.com/books/pigcapitalism.html)
The Politically Incorrect Guide™ to the Constitution (http://www.regnery.com/books/pigconstitution.html)
The Politically Incorrect Guide™ to Hunting (http://www.regnery.com/books/pighunting.html)
The Politically Incorrect Guide™ to the Bible (http://www.regnery.com/books/pigbible.html)
The Politically Incorrect Guide™ to the Middle East (http://www.regnery.com/books/pigmiddleeast.html)
The Politically Incorrect Guide™ to Western Civilization (http://www.regnery.com/books/pigwestciv.html)

[Conza88]

- Economics in One Lesson - If they are into economics in the slightest (that is Keynesian, Chicago, whatever)

Or, America's Great Depression - Murray Rothbard

+ If not, give them The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

- Manifesto - Dr. Ron Paul

- Animal Farm, or 1984, Brave New World..

[RCA]

Click the images to order:

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/9195/manifestoom8.th.jpg (http://www.amazon.com/Revolution-Manifesto-Ron-Paul/dp/0446537519/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228881902&sr=8-1)

http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/6085/atlasshruggedpr8.th.jpg (http://www.amazon.com/Atlas-Shrugged-Ayn-Rand/dp/0452011876/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228882024&sr=1-1)

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/4783/unintendedconsequenceszp7.th.jpg (http://www.accuratepress.net/ross.html)

[ihsv]

Give them all three copies of "The Communist Manifesto", and instead of writing "From Santa" on the tag, write "From Obama" :)

[Kotin]

Frank Herbert's Dune

:D

[haaaylee]

this morning i made the decision to get my dad "foreign policy of freedom" and "blowback"

i also thought about economics in one lesson or economics for real people because he likes to say he saw this coming too but then he says it's all very confusing.

depends on what relative, and what you have talked to them about in regards to politics. get them anything on a subject they seem ignorant on.

[mport1]

1. Economics in One Lesson
2. For A New Liberty
3. The Market For Liberty

[BeFranklin]

The bible :)

[Elwar]

For the Children (around 10-13 or so)
The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible (http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Jonathan-Gullible-Market-Odyssey/dp/817188444X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228926313&sr=8-1)

An Excerpt:

As he rounded a sharp bend in the trail, Jonathan ran full tilt into
the side of a burly man. “Out of my way, chump!” bellowed the
man, brushing him aside like a gnat. Dazed, Jonathan looked up and
saw two men dragging a young woman, kicking and yelling, down
the trail. By the time he caught his breath, the trio had disappeared.
Certain that he couldn’t free the woman alone, Jonathan ran back up
the trail looking for help.

A clearing opened and he saw a group of people gathered around
a big tree – beating it with sticks. Jonathan ran up and grabbed the
arm of a man who was obviously the supervisor. “Please sir, help!”
gasped Jonathan. “Two men have captured a woman and she needs
help!”

“Don’t be alarmed,” the man said gruffly. “She’s under arrest.
Forget her and move along, we’ve got work to do.”

“Arrest?” said Jonathan, still huffing. “She didn’t look like, uh,
like a criminal.” Jonathan wondered, if she was guilty, why did
she cry so desperately for help? “Pardon me, sir, but what was her
crime?”

“Huh?” snorted the man with irritation. “Well, if you must know,
she threatened the jobs of everyone working here.”

“She threatened people’s jobs? How did she do that?” asked
Jonathan.

Glaring down at his ignorant questioner, the supervisor motioned
for Jonathan to come over to a tree where workers busily pounded
away at the trunk. Proudly, he said, “We are tree workers. We knock
down trees for wood by beating them with these sticks. Sometimes
a hundred people, working round-the-clock, can knock down a
good-sized tree in less than a month.” The man pursed his lips and
carefully brushed a speck of dirt from the sleeve of his handsomely
cut coat.

He continued, “That Drawbaugh woman came to work this
morning with a sharp piece of metal attached to the end of her stick.
She cut down a tree in less than an hour – all by herself! Think of
it! Such an outrageous threat to our traditional employment had to
be stopped.”

Jonathan’s eyes widened, aghast to hear that this woman was
punished for her creativity. Back home, everyone used axes and
saws for cutting trees. That’s how he got the wood for his own
boat. “But her invention,” exclaimed Jonathan, “allows people of all
sizes and strengths to cut down trees. Won’t that make it faster and
cheaper to get wood and make things?”

“What do you mean?” the man said angrily. “How could anyone
encourage an idea like that? This noble work can’t be done by any
weakling who comes along with some new idea.”

“But sir,” said Jonathan, trying not to offend, “these good tree
workers have talented hands and brains. They could use the time
saved from knocking down trees to do other things. They could
make tables, cabinets, boats, or even houses!”

“Listen, you,” the man said with a menacing look, “the purpose
of work is to have full and secure employment – not new products.”
The tone of his voice turned ugly. “You sound like some kind of
troublemaker. Anyone who supports that infernal woman is trouble.
Where are you from?”

Jonathan replied anxiously, “I don’t even know Miss Drawbaugh
and I don’t mean any trouble, sir. I’m sure you’re right. Well, I
must be going.” With that, Jonathan turned back the way he came,
hurrying down the path.

[AutoDas]

Click the images to order:

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/9195/manifestoom8.th.jpg (http://www.amazon.com/Revolution-Manifesto-Ron-Paul/dp/0446537519/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228881902&sr=8-1)

http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/6085/atlasshruggedpr8.th.jpg (http://www.amazon.com/Atlas-Shrugged-Ayn-Rand/dp/0452011876/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228882024&sr=1-1)

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/4783/unintendedconsequenceszp7.th.jpg (http://www.accuratepress.net/ross.html)

You should add these images to the wiki.

[RCA]

Adding images to the wiki might be a good future project, but I can't imagine how long the list would have to be!


You should add these images to the wiki.

[newyearsrevolution08]

For the Children (around 10-13 or so)
The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible (http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Jonathan-Gullible-Market-Odyssey/dp/817188444X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228926313&sr=8-1)

An Excerpt:

As he rounded a sharp bend in the trail, Jonathan ran full tilt into
the side of a burly man. “Out of my way, chump!” bellowed the
man, brushing him aside like a gnat. Dazed, Jonathan looked up and
saw two men dragging a young woman, kicking and yelling, down
the trail. By the time he caught his breath, the trio had disappeared.
Certain that he couldn’t free the woman alone, Jonathan ran back up
the trail looking for help.

A clearing opened and he saw a group of people gathered around
a big tree – beating it with sticks. Jonathan ran up and grabbed the
arm of a man who was obviously the supervisor. “Please sir, help!”
gasped Jonathan. “Two men have captured a woman and she needs
help!”

“Don’t be alarmed,” the man said gruffly. “She’s under arrest.
Forget her and move along, we’ve got work to do.”

“Arrest?” said Jonathan, still huffing. “She didn’t look like, uh,
like a criminal.” Jonathan wondered, if she was guilty, why did
she cry so desperately for help? “Pardon me, sir, but what was her
crime?”

“Huh?” snorted the man with irritation. “Well, if you must know,
she threatened the jobs of everyone working here.”

“She threatened people’s jobs? How did she do that?” asked
Jonathan.

Glaring down at his ignorant questioner, the supervisor motioned
for Jonathan to come over to a tree where workers busily pounded
away at the trunk. Proudly, he said, “We are tree workers. We knock
down trees for wood by beating them with these sticks. Sometimes
a hundred people, working round-the-clock, can knock down a
good-sized tree in less than a month.” The man pursed his lips and
carefully brushed a speck of dirt from the sleeve of his handsomely
cut coat.

He continued, “That Drawbaugh woman came to work this
morning with a sharp piece of metal attached to the end of her stick.
She cut down a tree in less than an hour – all by herself! Think of
it! Such an outrageous threat to our traditional employment had to
be stopped.”

Jonathan’s eyes widened, aghast to hear that this woman was
punished for her creativity. Back home, everyone used axes and
saws for cutting trees. That’s how he got the wood for his own
boat. “But her invention,” exclaimed Jonathan, “allows people of all
sizes and strengths to cut down trees. Won’t that make it faster and
cheaper to get wood and make things?”

“What do you mean?” the man said angrily. “How could anyone
encourage an idea like that? This noble work can’t be done by any
weakling who comes along with some new idea.”

“But sir,” said Jonathan, trying not to offend, “these good tree
workers have talented hands and brains. They could use the time
saved from knocking down trees to do other things. They could
make tables, cabinets, boats, or even houses!”

“Listen, you,” the man said with a menacing look, “the purpose
of work is to have full and secure employment – not new products.”
The tone of his voice turned ugly. “You sound like some kind of
troublemaker. Anyone who supports that infernal woman is trouble.
Where are you from?”

Jonathan replied anxiously, “I don’t even know Miss Drawbaugh
and I don’t mean any trouble, sir. I’m sure you’re right. Well, I
must be going.” With that, Jonathan turned back the way he came,
hurrying down the path.

never heard of this book BUT want it now. I found the commentary version

http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Jonathan-Gullible-Commentary/dp/0958457328/ref=pd_cp_b_1?pf_rd_p=413864201&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=817188444X&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1YCWDP6MQD8F59CTSTHY

A great read to my son, or myself if I can't sleep :D

[beerista]

I'll second (or third or whatever the case may be) "Economics in One Lesson" -- especially since I just gave this one to a family member.

I also agree that "Economics for Real People" is a really great primer on Austrian economics and probably would have rather given this one to the recipient of EIOL in retrospect.

Not to reopen the great debate, but I think that giving Rand to anyone is a great way to marginalize your viewpoint before they ever open the book. Not that there's anything actually wrong with Rand, but she does have a PR problem in the mainstream. People who've never read her often have problems with her: a knee-jerk reaction. Overcoming this is not a task you want to add to the already formidable challenge of opening someone's mind to new ideas. If they've never heard of her or don't have any preconceived notions, then what the hell; give it a shot. You know you're gift givee best.

Mostly, I just wanted to bump this thread 'cause I too am looking for suggestions on just this topic as I'm planning to annoy my family and friends this year with the gift of books I think they should read in lieu of gifts they might actually want. (I'm telling myself they'll thank me for it later.)

[Theocrat]

What's so special about the book Economics in One Lesson?

[RSLudlum]

never heard of this book BUT want it now. I found the commentary version

http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Jonathan-Gullible-Commentary/dp/0958457328/ref=pd_cp_b_1?pf_rd_p=413864201&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=817188444X&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1YCWDP6MQD8F59CTSTHY

A great read to my son, or myself if I can't sleep :D

Very good. Both my daughter and I read it at the same time. Definitely get the commentary version. It has tons of quotes, references, background and discussion at the end of every chapter.

Watch out for the Food Police, the Tall Tax, and those merryberries. :D

[rajibo]

I asked Santa for these three books this year:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41M39u3PlUL._SL500_AA240_.jpg

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41M72F1R4QL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA240_SH20_OU01_.jpg

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/519x8uIr3yL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA240_SH20_OU01_.jpg

[Imperial]

Brave New World (Animal Farm will also suffice; while Brave New World describes the closest example possible to a dystopia,although not perfect of course, Animal Farm describes how a dystopian state metaphorically comes into existence.)

Toxic Sludge Is Good For You (How the public relations industry has seeped into government and the media for the worse; alternatively, Amusing Ourselves to Death may have more depth and focuses on a changing US culture in thought, but has some critical errors in my view)

The Revolution: A Manifesto: Although I feel it is too short to effectively argue many points, it does give general food for thought in all directions, some important points, and is the most applicable today due to its recent publishing.

[beerista]

What's so special about the book Economics in One Lesson?

Frankly, the most special thing about EIOL is not that it's particularly special, but that no one (that I know of) has done it much better. The writing is accessible to any layman. The author uses examples of economic fallacies from real life rather than beginning with theory and definitions which might bore the only casually interested. The author is a journalist, not an economist.
The structure, as the author points out in the intro, is along the lines of Bastiat's essay "That Which Is Seen and That Which Is Unseen" and as such concentrates not on educating the reader on economics basics, which he seems to take as pretty much common sense, but instead on the perversions of economic thought in everyday government programs that the reader is likely to encounter. He does this by repeatedly pointing out the hidden or less obvious downsides of programs that seem beneficial, or at least well intentioned, on their face.
If there's a downside to this book, it may be that the author is not much of a coddler. When attacking much-loved liberal programs, it doesn't hurt to bend over backwards to mention how great the intentions are and how much we understand the motive. That said, EIOL is not at all combative.

Or you could just click here (http://www.amazon.com/Economics-One-Lesson-Shortest-Understand/dp/0517548232/ref=si3_rdr_bb_product)to go to the Amazon page and "search inside" to read a bit for yourself.

While we're on the subject, I think The Law (link to free ebook in my signature) and other essays by Bastiat are about the best intro to freedom and economics one can get. Of course, they may be for a bit more erudite gift-getter.

[beerista]

Brave New World

Oh, and since we're also considering fiction, my vote goes to 1984. I think that it is probably impossible to read that book today without a creeping sense of dread and recognition.

[LibertyEagle]

Give them all three copies of "The Communist Manifesto", and instead of writing "From Santa" on the tag, write "From Obama" :)

lolol

[Theocrat]

Frankly, the most special thing about EIOL is not that it's particularly special, but that no one (that I know of) has done it much better. The writing is accessible to any layman. The author uses examples of economic fallacies from real life rather than beginning with theory and definitions which might bore the only casually interested. The author is a journalist, not an economist.
The structure, as the author points out in the intro, is along the lines of Bastiat's essay "That Which Is Seen and That Which Is Unseen" and as such concentrates not on educating the reader on economics basics, which he seems to take as pretty much common sense, but instead on the perversions of economic thought in everyday government programs that the reader is likely to encounter. He does this by repeatedly pointing out the hidden or less obvious downsides of programs that seem beneficial, or at least well intentioned, on their face.
If there's a downside to this book, it may be that the author is not much of a coddler. When attacking much-loved liberal programs, it doesn't hurt to bend over backwards to mention how great the intentions are and how much we understand the motive. That said, EIOL is not at all combative.

Or you could just click here (http://www.amazon.com/Economics-One-Lesson-Shortest-Understand/dp/0517548232/ref=si3_rdr_bb_product)to go to the Amazon page and "search inside" to read a bit for yourself.

While we're on the subject, I think The Law (link to free ebook in my signature) and other essays by Bastiat are about the best intro to freedom and economics one can get. Of course, they may be for a bit more erudite gift-getter.

Thank you for that review. I just might have to add that book to my library someday.

[Theocrat]

Let's help him or her decide on which three books to give his or her relatives for Christmas. :)