Books for Children and Young Adults

[undergroundrr]

Do you have any favorites to contribute, @undergroundrr ?

Thanks for dragging me in and bumping the thread. I've been meaning to dig into it.

I can't really speak for what influenced me in a liberty direction when I was very young, because in all honesty, when I emerged from the public school system and even a couple years into college I was a fully indoctrinated egalitarian progressive. Seeing the Gary Cooper Fountainhead movie in my late teens was my gateway to any kind of liberty thinking and sent me on a sharp 180.

Now, having read to my kids for 16 years, I'm sure I could pick out some liberty-friendly literature, and I'll try to beat my brain a little bit in the next few days.

My kids have all been homeschooled. My wife directs a TJEd-based commonwealth school. The older kids are involved in "scholar projects" involving founding American documents that have gone very in-depth. It may seem a bit of a gimmick, but my 13 & 16 year olds can recite the Declaration from memory. They are doing other literature projects as part of their projects there. My oldest twins just finished the Count of Monte Christo to be ready for discussion this week. TJEd was developed by LDS folk so materials tend to be filtered through that lens.

The commonwealth school also puts on plays. My older kids (16 yo twins and a 13 yo) have each read 15-20 Shakespeare plays and have performed in A Midsummer Night's Dream. They have substantial roles in As You Like It next month.

Although I think art with a clear individualist/liberty message is mandatory, I'm not a big believer in limiting the kids to liberty-indoctrinating material. I'm an arts guy, and there's tons of life-enriching, profoundly significant stuff written, composed, sculpted, painted, danced, etc. by pinko commies. In fact, collectivists/socialists have tended to be far better artists in terms of craftsmanship, originality, creativity and even plain capitalistic commercial success than limited governement individualists. I don't see this changing anytime soon. This will horrify some here, but my older kids have caught onto the Hamilton craze and can recite every word (including the bad ones). I'm NOT a fan, but it's amazing how deep our conversations about government can go when they have the context of the founding documents they've been studying combined with the left-wing hip-hop musical take on it. I also don't follow the R-rated movie guideline very consistently. My wife and I and our 16-year old twins had a great viewing of The Shawshank Redemption a few months ago.

Right now, my 6-year old is really into The Magic Treehouse series. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it as great literature, but I suppose it could encourage independent thinking and a thirst for knowledge. They're okay if you don't consider the books for more than they are, and take them as adventure stories where the kids use book knowledge to navigate through the worlds they end up in.

As a family reading in the evening we've been through Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, Wind in the Willows, Peter Pan, Alice In Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass, The Hobbit, the 1st three Harry Potter books, The Wizard of Oz, a little of Heinlein's juvenile writing and probably lots more I can't remember. My wife has done tons of others with them in the course of homeschooling, which hasn't stuck to any particular curriculum but is probably closest to Charlotte Mason/Ambleside, very literature-based.

Although it can't be avoided, I dislike anthropomorphic animal stories (perhaps Watership Down excepted). I've made no bones about it with my kids. As a result, my daughter has rebelled and started making elaborate fur suits. But she's good at it and wants to do business selling her wares, so I guess I'll give it a pass.

I second the recommendation for the Tuttle Twins books. I read the Miraculous Pencil with my 6 & 13 year olds last week. What a fantastic message to cure ANYBODY of the misguided idea that trade and labor protectionism could be beneficial to society.

[helmuth_hubener]

Great post, underground!!

I was a fully indoctrinated egalitarian progressive. Seeing the Gary Cooper Fountainhead movie in my late teens was my gateway to any kind of liberty thinking and sent me on a sharp 180.

Fantastic!

Now, having read to my kids for 16 years, I'm sure I could pick out some liberty-friendly literature, and I'll try to beat my brain a little bit in the next few days.

Yes, give us whatever you've got! Got to spread the wealth, citizen; no fair keeping it for yourself!

My kids have all been homeschooled. My wife directs a TJEd-based commonwealth school.

I had never heard of that. Thank you very much for sharing!

The older kids are involved in "scholar projects" involving founding American documents that have gone very in-depth. It may seem a bit of a gimmick, but my 13 & 16 year olds can recite the Declaration from memory.

Good persistence. The list of grievances didn't seem worth the effort to me, but to have the complete thing down is always more, well, complete.

They are doing other literature projects as part of their projects there. My oldest twins just finished the Count of Monte Christo to be ready for discussion this week. TJEd was developed by LDS folk so materials tend to be filtered through that lens.

Count of Monte Christo seems to me pretty individualistic, pretty Randian. Just for having a determined, triumphant hero, I guess.

I guess that tells you how low literature has sunk that "has a hero who is heroic" actually is a bar, and one over which many modern books fail to hurdle. But really, it should be a basic fundamental. Like having words.

Of course, the "words" part is going away, too, as I think eight out of the top ten selling books on Amazon or something like that are "Adult Coloring Books". Seriously. And you doubt whether our civilization is in deminuosis!

Although I think art with a clear individualist/liberty message is mandatory, I'm not a big believer in limiting the kids to liberty-indoctrinating material.

No, nor am I! Liberty is only one value. And liberty to do what?

Too much individualism, in fact, is probably toxic to liberty. I don't know that you'll agree, but think about that!

A better ideal to seek for in art is perhaps "ennobling". To just glorify the individual, doing whatever he pleases, as if that's the be-all end-all of human existence and purpose is shallow and stupid. And that's what so much art does today. Everybody wave your freak flag and don't conform and wow, that's really brave.

No it's not.

It's shallow and stupid and utterly self-consumed. What's brave is to give up what you want out of respect for the inheritance bequeathed to you by your forebears. What's brave is to suffer, to live in deprivation and agony, that your children might have a future, and that your descendants five hundred years from now might still be carrying the torch, living your way of life.

That's the true individualism. The individualism with roots and fruits. The individualism with a past..... and a future.

The shallow, self-consumed libertarianism we've regressed into and contracted down to has no future. It has not life, it has not passion. It's a dead end.

I'm an arts guy, and there's tons of life-enriching, profoundly significant stuff written, composed, sculpted, painted, danced, etc. by pinko commies. In fact, collectivists/socialists have tended to be far better artists in terms of craftsmanship, originality, creativity and even plain capitalistic commercial success than limited governement individualists.

I agree. I have often mentioned and discussed this reality here on RPF. It's a reality and a problem. A big problem, as I see it. A big problem we must solve.

Artists throughout time have tended to be on the left side of the temperament equation. They just are more attracted to it. The more right-temperamented instead go become CEOs and machinists and farmers, and the creative ones will be engineers and inventors. All art and entertainment and literature is the domain of the left, and they have been pushing,
ever pushing,
always pushing,
our society leftward for the past three hundred years;
further and further leftward,
to annihilation.

I don't see this changing anytime soon.

And yet, it must. And too: it can. We must learn how to create and cultivate creatives with a traditional outlook, who will yank our culture back from the precipice.

We need to present the glorious (and beautiful!) Old-Fashioned Vision in all its compelling attractiveness. And thus save the world.

This will horrify some here

Yep, count me in that camp.

but my older kids have caught onto the Hamilton craze and can recite every word (including the bad ones). I'm NOT a fan, but it's amazing how deep our conversations about government can go when they have the context of the founding documents they've been studying combined with the left-wing hip-hop musical take on it.

Monkey jungle noise. How far we have fallen. Sad.

As a family reading in the evening we've been through Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, Wind in the Willows, Peter Pan, Alice In Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass, The Hobbit, the 1st three Harry Potter books, The Wizard of Oz, a little of Heinlein's juvenile writing

Anything over a hundred years old will tend to be at least somewhat good, simply because while they were leftist for their time, that means they're solidly conservative for our (depraved, collapsing) time. Of course, some were more leftist than others. I don't think anyone could consider Through the Looking Glass particularly traditional, even today . And much of Shakepeare's stuff is scandalous and raunchy, of course.

Although it can't be avoided, I dislike anthropomorphic animal stories.

Oh, anything can be avoided!

And indeed, much must be!

Perhaps it could turn out that more important to the rearing up of your children than the books you do give them, is the trash that you don't.

[HALYCE]

https://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/books/

[helmuth_hubener]

https://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/books/

I browsed through the list. I could not see a single book I would want to read to any child. I could not see a single book in the toddler section not deserving to be burned.

I Love Saturdays y Domingos
Daddy, Papa, and Me
My Two Grannies
Pecan Pie Baby

Count me Out, Out, OUT!

[Occam's Banana]

CNN: The right-wing children's entertainment complex is upon us [As opposed to what? LOL - OB]

@CaptUSA

https://twitter.com/tuttletwins/stat...59904438743043


Related threads (Tuttle Twins):

Anyone heard of the "Tuttle Twins"?
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...tle-Twins-quot

The Tuttle Twins Learn About [Bastiat's] The Law
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...tiat-s-The-Law

The Tuttle Twins Return!
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...e-Twins-Return!

Tuttle Twins 5-Pack
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...e-Twins-5-Pack

Tuttle Twins - New Book Based on Ron Paul's Book
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...on-Paul-s-Book

Tuttle Twins: Episode 1
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...wins-Episode-1

Related threads (general/other):

libertarian books for kids?
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...books-for-kids

Little Libertarians - Children's Books for Ages 0-7
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...s-for-Ages-0-7

[CaptUSA]

CNN: The right-wing children's entertainment complex is upon us [As opposed to what? LOL - OB]

@CaptUSA

https://twitter.com/tuttletwins/stat...59904438743043


Related threads (Tuttle Twins):

Anyone heard of the "Tuttle Twins"?
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...tle-Twins-quot

The Tuttle Twins Learn About [Bastiat's] The Law
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...tiat-s-The-Law

The Tuttle Twins Return!
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...e-Twins-Return!

Tuttle Twins 5-Pack
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...e-Twins-5-Pack

Tuttle Twins - New Book Based on Ron Paul's Book
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...on-Paul-s-Book

Tuttle Twins: Episode 1
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...wins-Episode-1

Related threads (general/other):

libertarian books for kids?
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...books-for-kids

Little Libertarians - Children's Books for Ages 0-7
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...s-for-Ages-0-7

[tod evans]

[SpiritOf1776_J4]

I've gone back to my habit of reading everything recently - children's books, teen books, adult books, etc. Easy to do when you can access everything online, and I find your concentration and peace vastly increase when you aren't constantly reading social media 'tidbit' posts in a heavily censored, manipulated , mobbed environment. Also seeing ever more often how moronic most online stuff has become.

So basically the same habbits since childhood, since I was reading on an adult level since 7-8 -- but still reading and rereading what I liked.

Here's my list based on things posted on thread that I have read

"My Side of the Mountain",
I've seen the movie, but have not read the book - have always meant to.

the Little House books
I've read/reread the series recently looking for a pioneer family story I liked as a boy - wasn't in this series though.

Ender's Game
I liked the first book, never could get into the others. The brother and sister team writing posts on the online networks was fascinating, especially from an 80s perspective. I read it as a teen, it is a little violent though.

The Stainless Steel Rat series
Used to think it was ok. I can't get into it anymore, because I was introduced to it by a guy that was an informant and thought a bit too much of himself (and one of defcon's founders), ie a real stainless steel rat. I think I wrote a story about and put it up someplace.

Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series
Very long series I never could start. As a child, I read the secret seven and encyclopedia brown. I've reread all the sherlock holmes stories many times. I'm reading Enid Blyton now - since no one is sure how many books she has actually written - 300? 700? I may be at it for a few months. Most of her books show children with a lot of independence, but there are a few stinkers - her school books are not much good, and her naughtiest girl books are complete marxist rubbish that cs lewis would call an 'experimental' or progressive school.


The Hobbit;
An Unexpected Party
In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.

Re-read LOTR so many times as a boy I have trouble keeping interest reading it now - although I can watch the movies or listen to some of - the good - audio books. The riddles in the dark chapter is interesting for things most people and teachers seem to miss - and fyi the original version of the chapter is slightly different, and wasn't under copyright here (which is why lotro books used to say authorized, and respect the wishes of the author on it, because ace was reprinting them as not under copyright here).

fyi - the opening line of the hobbit is essentially an extendxed tautology - a hobbit is an actual word, it means hole dweller. "in a hole in the ground lived a hole dweller", etc.

comic books and MAD Magazine.
Mad Magazine used to have great(?) satire. The left has killed it into pcness. Always liked comics, but likewise new comics are pc, and not meant for kids - not priced for kids either. They seem to be meant for weirdo adult leftists, whose mental capacity probably doesn't allow much else.
Conan comics were good (70s, 80s). So were the original star wars. Brian Daley's original Han Solo trilogy was good - more in line with the original Han Solo shot when threatened character.

Scouting for boys
Picked up a used copy cheap a few years ago. The scout books went well with self discipline as a young christian boy. Now I'd have to double check if its not the other meaning of "scouting for boys".

Steal this book
I'm not much of a fan of abbie hoffman nowadays, but if you want similar, but later period pieces of a technical bent, you might try
"hackers" (a collection of history pieces), soul of a new machine, out of the inner circle, and shockwave rider (sf book).

A boys book of..
The book I found like this at the school library when I was growing up was "the Amateur Scientist" collection by Scientific America, and it was dated even then, but worth reading. I recently bought a copy for 50 cents, and note the online copies go for much much more - but I'm keeping it. It's harder to find books and magazines with nuts and bolts explanations than in the 80s, but I noticed nuts and volts was still around, and a uk magazine called practical electronics is interesting and more like the old ones. Make is too expensive. Hackaday online will keep you busy enough.

Red Planet, by Robert Heinlein.
Haven't read that one. I like the moon is a harsh mistress by Heinlein. I don't like later "dirty old man" Heinlein much - and as a teen didn't either. although I keep rereading Friday by Heinlein for some reason, and it is from that later period. Perhaps something about running a private intelligence agency is appealing, but the book drops off at the end, and unfortunately doesn't answer some things iy should have.

Foxfire....
I like this type of information, but never could get into the series.


but Zamyatin's "We" is good.
Ayn Rand's Anthem is often overlooked.
After all the attacks on pronouns, the historic royal we's, and looking at bible translations mistranslate plural you, you all, with singular you, I'm absolute convinced its true. I must be forgotten. Or maybe its the prisoner series, and I am not a number (but if you want to follow this line of reasoning about I, the last few shows of that series might seem very trippy if you really get into it).

The Probability Broach is Sci Fi where a detective in our world goes through a "probability broach" into
a Libertarian USA where the Constitution was My
Good theme, but the actual book didn't stay with me.

Isaac Asimov.
The foundation trilogy first book was great, but a lot of the big idea books seem to fade out later in the series - like the author has a hard time ending them. River-world did it, and so did Chronicles of Amber. Asimov is one of the authors whose non-fiction books I also like.

Count of Monte Christo.
Les Misérables might go well with that, as well as Kris Kristofferson's song 'the law is for protection of the people'.

Gary Cooper Fountainhead movie
It's not as bad as some people say. The book doesn't hold my interest as much as atlas shrugged does. I read most of Rand when I was a teen, including many of the objective newsletters. I can't say I'd recommend it as a teen at all. Reading the Bible would have been better, as long as you are already a Christian and with some prayer. I wouldn't read any religious books on the bible or new translations though - rewriting the bible's meaning because it is too independent of the world system is very common - and a favorite pastime of communist countries like china or authoritarians.
They rewriting it or trying to get rid of it for a reason.

I like pairing books like Romantic Manifesto of Rand's with Men without Chest's by CS Lewis. (CS Lewis is another author I don't really recommend for lousy, but subtly lousy, theology for the unwary -- sounds good, but not biblical.

Irwin A. Schiff,*
I found books by Schiff in the library when I was a teen, and they probably started me more onto the liberty movement than anything. Rand seemed to be more interested in stealing my liberty as a Christian, and undercutting my ability to organize with like minded liberty folks like a atheist communist would than anything. Rand first jobs were with the communists in the soviet union btw. She supposedly left that, and came to America to tell us how to be free. The problem, she said, was our Christianity. (did I say I don't recommend her for teens already? I don't recommend CS Lewis either).

I read Conan books by Robert E Howard as a child and John Carter of Mars a lot. I read Pilgrim's Progress when I was 30, and regret not having it in school when I was a kid (because it was Christian without a doubt), Mark Twain has a certain independent humor (the superstitions the kids supposedly have in tom sawyer is a little trying), Oliver Twist for bad people vs innocence, etc etc.

fyi just in response to what is already on thread. I'm currently reading books I have never read - my cell phone is loaded with them.

[SpiritOf1776_J4]

fyi - Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin and the Federalist papers. I wrote many essays in high school from the federalist papers. (self chosen source).

[Occam's Banana]

Businessweek is so bothered by this they've tweeted it 20 times in the past month-and-a-half.

https://twitter.com/BW/status/1569643486562885635

CNN: The right-wing children's entertainment complex is upon us [As opposed to what? LOL - OB]

@CaptUSA

https://twitter.com/tuttletwins/stat...59904438743043


Related threads (Tuttle Twins):

Anyone heard of the "Tuttle Twins"?
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...tle-Twins-quot

The Tuttle Twins Learn About [Bastiat's] The Law
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...tiat-s-The-Law

The Tuttle Twins Return!
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...e-Twins-Return!

Tuttle Twins 5-Pack
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...e-Twins-5-Pack

Tuttle Twins - New Book Based on Ron Paul's Book
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...on-Paul-s-Book

Tuttle Twins: Episode 1
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...wins-Episode-1

Related threads (general/other):

libertarian books for kids?
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...books-for-kids

Little Libertarians - Children's Books for Ages 0-7
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...s-for-Ages-0-7

[CaptUSA]

Businessweek is so bothered by this they've tweeted it 20 times in the past month-and-a-half.

https://twitter.com/BW/status/1569643486562885635

My youngest has pretty much outgrown the Tuttle Twins, but we've read them all, including the teen books, and have even subscribed to the monthly magazine. Every time a "news" outlet posts something like that, Connor and team share the heck out of it. Hard to get better free advertisements!

It's kind of a personal justification for me. When Connor first self-published "The Tuttle Twins Learn About THE LAW", I contacted him and told him he was about to become VERY successful. Very proud of their operation!

[Occam's Banana]

Related threads (Tuttle Twins):

Anyone heard of the "Tuttle Twins"?
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...tle-Twins-quot

The Tuttle Twins Learn About [Bastiat's] The Law
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...tiat-s-The-Law

The Tuttle Twins Return!
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...e-Twins-Return!

Tuttle Twins 5-Pack
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...e-Twins-5-Pack

Tuttle Twins - New Book Based on Ron Paul's Book
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...on-Paul-s-Book

Tuttle Twins: Episode 1
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...wins-Episode-1

Related threads (general/other):

libertarian books for kids?
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...books-for-kids

Little Libertarians - Children's Books for Ages 0-7
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...s-for-Ages-0-7

https://twitter.com/cboyack/status/1664102070230880256

[Occam's Banana]

Related threads (Tuttle Twins):

Anyone heard of the "Tuttle Twins"?
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...tle-Twins-quot

The Tuttle Twins Learn About [Bastiat's] The Law
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...tiat-s-The-Law

The Tuttle Twins Return!
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...e-Twins-Return!

Tuttle Twins 5-Pack
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...e-Twins-5-Pack

Tuttle Twins - New Book Based on Ron Paul's Book
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...on-Paul-s-Book

Tuttle Twins: Episode 1
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...wins-Episode-1

Related threads (general/other):

libertarian books for kids?
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...books-for-kids

Little Libertarians - Children's Books for Ages 0-7
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...s-for-Ages-0-7

The Tuttle Twins score a victory in the "real world":

THREAD: 12 year-old kicked out of class for Gadsden flag patch on backpack

[...]

https://twitter.com/cboyack/status/1696508346700828971


[...]

https://twitter.com/cboyack/status/1696580505414537417


[...]

[Anti Federalist]

https://twitter.com/cboyack/status/1664102070230880256

Waco

[Occam's Banana]

Making Liberty Work For The Future - With Guest Connor Boyack

Connor Boyack is the founder of the Libertas Institute and the author of the highly influential "Tuttle Twins" series of books geared toward teaching young people about freedom and liberty.

//