I am often asked to recommend reading material. I have published my suggested reading lists before, but it’s been several years. Therefore, today’s column will be devoted to this subject.
First, here are a couple of maxims about reading in general. “Leaders are readers.” And, “A man is the sum total of the people he associates with and the books he reads.”
Accordingly, here are a few of the books that I have recently read, that I am currently reading, or that are on my short list of books soon to read (in no particular order).
Life Of Washington
A rare, faith-filled, historic biography of America’s first President, George Washington.
Originally published in 1842.
By Anna C. Reed
George Washington, Frontiersman
By Zane Grey
A History Of The American People
By Paul Johnson
A History Of Christianity In The United States And Canada
By Mark A. Noll
By The Hand Of Providence: How Faith Shaped The American Revolution
By Rod Gragg
The Essential Thomas Jefferson
Edited by John Gabriel Hunt
A Commitment To Valor
A Unique Portrait Of Robert E. Lee In His Own Words
Compiled and Edited by Rod Gragg
Call Of Duty
The Sterling Nobility Of Robert E. Lee
By J. Steven Wilkins
Stonewall Jackson
The Man, The Soldier, The Legend
By James I. Robertson, Jr.
A View Of The Constitution: Secession As Taught At West Point
By William Rawle (1825)
Edited and Annotated by Walter D. Kennedy and James R. Kennedy
The Real Lincoln
A New Look At Abraham Lincoln, His Agenda, And An Unnecessary War
By Thomas J. DiLorenzo
This book is absolutely MUST-READING. It carefully and truthfully unmasks America’s worst president.
War Is A Racket
By Brigadier General Smedley D. Butler
Every American should read this classic. I try to stay reminded of General Butler’s wisdom by reading his book every year or two.
Boston’s Gun Bible
By Boston T. Party
A terrific manual on the Second Amendment, shooting, guns, self-defense, etc. Every American who claims to love liberty should read the chapter entitled “How To Become A Rifleman.” That chapter alone is worth the price of the book.
Lex, Rex, Or The Law And The Prince
By Samuel Rutherford (1600 – 1661)
A CLASSIC! A MUST-READ!
Second Treatise Of Government
By John Locke (1632 – 1704)
John Locke was The Father of America’s Founding Fathers. His “Second Treatise Of Government” is MUST-READING. It just might be the most succinct explanation of Natural Law of all.
You can order Locke’s masterpiece on my web store here:
The Law
By Frederic Bastiat (1801 – 1850)
This is another classic that needs to be read every year.
Vindiciae, Contra Tyrannos
Or Concerning The Legitimate Power Of A Prince Over The People, And Of The People Over A Prince
Edited by George Garnett
This is another MUST-READ classic for all freedom lovers.
They Preached Liberty
“An anthology of timely quotations from New England ministers of the American Revolution on the subject of liberty: its source, nature, obligations, types, and blessings.”
Edited by Franklin P. Cole
I wish every preacher in America would read this book and also these next two:
Political Sermons Of The American Founding Era, 1730-1805
Edited by Ellis Sandoz
Read these sermons from America’s Colonial pulpits, and you will realize the kind of preaching you are NOT hearing but should be.
The Battle of Lexington
A Sermon And Eyewitness Narrative
By Jonas Clark, Pastor, Church of Lexington
Originally Titled: The Fate of Blood-Thirsty Oppressors and God’s Tender Care of His Distressed People
Here is the eyewitness account of the pastor of the Minutemen as they fired the “shot heard ’round the world” on Lexington Green on the first anniversary of the Battle of Lexington, April 19, 1776. What most history books omit is the fact that the Minutemen were comprised mostly of the male congregants of Pastor Clark’s Church of Lexington. READ THIS BOOK!
Plus, on Sunday, April 19 of last year, I publically delivered Jonas Clark’s famous sermon word-for-word to my congregation at Liberty Fellowship in Kalispell, Montana. That presentation is available on DVD. As far as I know, it is the only recording of its kind in existence. Find it here:
Hitler’s Cross
The revealing story of how the Cross of Christ was used as a symbol of the Nazi agenda.
By Erwin W. Lutzer
As I have said many times, this is a book that everyone needs to read. I have personally recommended this book to hundreds of people. GET THIS BOOK!
The Pilgrim’s Progress
By John Bunyan (1628 – 1688)
This is the immortal classic that has sold more copies worldwide than any other book, with the exception of the Holy Bible. A timeless treasure that everyone should read.
Death By Government
By R. J. Rummel
Read this, and you will discover that, compared to the mass murders committed by governments throughout history, John Dillinger, Al Capone, and Bonnie and Clyde were rank amateurs.
A Foreign Policy Of Freedom
“Peace, Commerce, And Honest Friendship”
By former congressman Ron Paul
A great book by America’s greatest congressman.
The Black Book Of Communism
By Stephane Courtois, Nicolas Werth, Jean-Louis Panne, Andrzej Paczkowski, Karel Bartosek, and Jean-Louis Margolin
This is the most definitive and comprehensive book I have ever found on the true history of communism all over the world.
A Christian Manifesto
By Francis A. Schaeffer
A CLASSIC!
The Normal Christian Life
By Watchman Nee
The Cost Of Discipleship
By Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Bonhoeffer’s BEST! A CLASSIC!
The Genesis Flood
By John C. Whitcomb and Henry M. Morris
Maybe the best defense of creationism in print.
THE HOLY BIBLE
Written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God
Listen to these testimonials about the Bible:
“The Bible is one of the greatest blessings bestowed by God on the children of men. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth without any mixture for its matter. It is all pure, all sincere; nothing too much; nothing wanting.” (John Locke)
“It is impossible to mentally or socially enslave a Bible-reading people.” (Horace Greeley)
“I have known 95 of the world’s great men in my time, and of these, 87 were followers of the Bible.” (William Gladstone)
“I have always said and always will say that the studious perusal of the Sacred Volume will make better citizens, better fathers, better husbands…the Bible makes the best people in the world.” (Thomas Jefferson)
“The Bible is the rock on which our republic rests.” (Andrew Jackson)
And, if I may be so bold: I strongly recommend that people read the two books co-authored by my constitutional attorney son, Tim Baldwin, and me.
Romans 13: The True Meaning Of Submission
This is a blockbuster book that shows from both testaments of the Bible that nowhere does God give civil government (or any other government, for that matter) the right to exercise tyrannical power and authority over men; and nowhere does God command His people to give unlimited submission to tyrannical government. This is must-reading for every Christian and non-Christian alike.
To order Romans 13: The True Meaning of Submission, click here:
To Keep or Not To Keep: Why Christians Should Not Give Up Their Guns
This is another book that I believe should be read by every Christian–including every pastor. Once again, my son and I examine both testaments of the Bible and show that God REQUIRES that His people maintain a diligent armed defense of themselves, their loved ones, their community, and their country. We show from Scripture that the right to keep and bear arms is not only a “right” (as recognized in the Bill of Rights–as important as that is) but also a divine DUTY.
Order “To Keep or Not To Keep: Why Christians Should Not Give Up Their Guns”
There’s my list. I’m sure many of you have your own lists that are just as good. Let’s all read a good book this year…or two or three.
© 2016 Chuck Baldwin – All Rights Reserved
