Many of my own views and values have come from the books I've read. Currently I'm reading three books at once: Thomas Paine's "Common Sense," George Washington's "Rules of Civility and Other Writings & Speeches" and the King James Bible (I'm in Jeremiah in the bible).
However, given what's currently happening in our nation, one of the most interesting books I've read was "The Naked Communist" by W. Cleon Skousen. Skousen was at one time a special agent for the FBI and worked under J. Edgar Hoover while one of the main jobs of the FBI was to keep tabs on the communists and their movements in the U.S.
"The Naked Communist" is reference to the fact that his book is about communism exposed with nothing left to hide. Skousen discourses on the cost of living and production in the U.S. compared to other countries as well as compares and contrasts the communist government and theological systems with the American capitalist and religous systems.
The book came out in the 1960's and is therefore a very interesting voice from the past. However, despite being a voice from the past, one of the most significant points I took away from the book (which is full of interesting graphs and graphics breaking down the systems) is that the man for which communism was designed or designed to preside over - doesn't exist. This is why communism didn't work.
He details the revolution and went on to point out that there wasn't a single revolution of the proletariat in which class warfare and aristocracy wasn't replaced by the communists with a new aristocracy and ruling class with an even tighter grip. An example? Anyone notice that Obama is not poor? He made $5M last year while he rails against the wealthy (compare that to Ghandi). How much power does Castro have? What kind of health care did Lenin receive compared to the people (or the American congress compared to the people?)? What special stores do the Chinese party leaders shop at and what priveleges do they enjoy that others do not enjoy?
It's easy reading and well worth adding to a reading collection. Oh, but the one thing that I really like that I often have referenced is the part in which Skousen details the chain of events that began World War I and the role of the communists in that war. That paragraph alone is worth the book (for me). I bought it used at a book store and it is signed by Skousen himself.
I've read Marx's works and found him persuasive and yet a crack head and delusional. This book really throws open the light on the folly that is communism and socialism. I recommend it.
