Episode 36 - Books Every Conservative Should Read
Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values
Release Date: 07/16/2019
Roundtable - MAGA Mayhem
Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values
The MAGA coalition is comprised of a wide spectrum whose sole unifying idea is Trump himself. But what happens when that precarious foundation begins to fray? Have recent events shown cracks in the MAGA world that could quickly fracture, or is this all a tempest in a teapot? Join Saving Elephant panelists during our livestream to make sense of it all. Panelists include: Josh Lewis (host), Ryan Rogers, Destry Edwards, Scott Howard, and Christopher Chesny
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183 – Conservative Conservationism with Stephen Perkins
Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values
Younger Americans—regardless of their political affiliations—are increasingly supportive focusing on environmental and conservation issues. But while there may be renewed unity on recognizing the importance of such issues, the policies advocated by the Left and Right continue to differ. The (ACC) is a group of young Americans on the political Right standing up for action over activism in their approach to environmental reform. Joining Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is ACC’s COO, Stephen Perkins, to discuss how economic prosperity and a clean environment don’t...
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182 – Partying Like It’s 1776
Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values
On July 6 Saving Elephants assembled an august team of commentators to commemorate the advent of the United States turning the big 2-4-9! With only one year to go until the nation is 250 years old, the group reflects on the foundational ideas of America, whether she's succeed or failed at those aspirations, and what the future holds for this most exceptional of nations. Meet the panelists: Lura Forcum Lura Forcum leads the , the nation’s go-to organization for information, research, and engagement with independent voters, representing those who are fed up with...
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181 – Escaping the Housing Trap with Chuck Marohn
Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values
The housing market today is in an increasingly unsustainable paradox: younger Americans need houses to be more affordable so that they can become homeowners. Meanwhile, homeowners and the entire U.S. economy need houses to rise in price to make them a secure and profitable investment. Thus, we are trapped between making homeownership increasingly difficult or sinking the economy. Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is joined by president of Strong Towns Chuck Marohn to discuss his latest book: . About Chuck Marohn From Charles Marohn (known as “Chuck” to friends and...
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180 – Uncap the House with Jeff Mayhugh
Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values
What if the surest way to reduce the harmful effects of self-serving politicians in Washington D.C. is to have more of them? Joining Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is Jeff Mayhugh to explain how the artificial “cap” the nation put on the number of representatives in the U.S. House almost a century ago has made government less representative and responsive. Returning to the Founding Father’s understanding of how people might best be represented by their leaders will require a lot of hard work, but it has the potential to benefit all Americans all across the political divide....
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179 – I, Tony with Tony Woodlief
Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values
What if the real division in America isn’t between Republicans and Democrats, Red States vs Blue States, or liberals and conservatives but between the American people and a small group of the political elite whose function is to divide the rest of us? Tony Woodlief joins Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis to discuss how we may not be as divided as we think and how federalism holds the solution to many of the policy battles of the moment. About Tony Woodlief Excerpts from Tony’s bio in the and on his : Tony Woodlief is State Policy Network’s Senior Executive Vice...
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178 – Revolt of the Independents with Lura Forcum
Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values
The 2024 presidential election witnessed a historic number of independent voters—more independents voted than Democrats and they came close to surpassing Republicans. It would seem that now is the time for those who are dissatisfied with both parties to dismantle the two-party duopoly of American government. And yet, the Republican and Democratic parties collectively control all branches of governments at all levels. Why is that? What would it mean for Americans to embrace an “independent” politics and how likely is that to occur? What do independent voters...
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177 – Dear Mr. President with Destry Edwards
Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values
Former president Chester A. Arthur is probably best remembered for his mutton chops and as a trivia question. But he did play a surprising role as a reformer when the nation was in the grips of political corruption. And the story of how he found the courage to do so holds some lessons for how we might interact with political power today in hopes of a better tomorrow. Joining Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is Destry Edwards to discuss his new documentary , and how a single citizen can have an outsized effect on our political system. About Destry Edwards Destry...
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176 – Consuming News Responsibly
Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values
In this era of information overload it’s easy to join the ranks of the too online, filtering our every thought through the latest thing Trump tweeted or how the resistance is reacting. And it’s just as easy to check out entirely and pretend like the news doesn’t matter or, if it does, it’ll have to be someone else’s problem for now. Are there healthier ways to approach the news? How can we maintain sanity in a seemingly endless supply of hot takes and outrage-of-the-moments? Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is joined by Avi Woolf, JB Shreve, and Blake Fischer as they discuss...
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175 – The Two James Burnhams with David Byrne
Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values
James Burnham was one of the most significant intellectual influences on the conservative movement of the twentieth century. As an anti-Communist hardliner, his views on dealing with the Soviet menace head on ultimately shaped US foreign policy in the Reagan administration. And his work at William F. Buckley’s National Review gave the fledgling magazine its foreign policy heft. Throughout his long public career, there emerged two James Burnhams: one who provided the early scaffolding to neoconservative ideas and the other who inspired paleoconservatives. Saving...
info_outlineSaving Elephants has got your summer reading list covered! In this episode Josh walks through classic, foundational books that every conservative should read, as well as some great books that speak to Millennials in particular. Ranging from pithy and digestible to massive, complex, and dry, Josh gives a brief outline of the book and shares why it’s important to understanding conservatism.
While summer is traditionally reserved for light reading, it can also be the perfect time of year to tear into something quite challenging. Reading hard books—if they’re good books—can sharpen our minds and develop our character. Even reading of people with strong character can develop our character. As Russell Kirk put it, “Reading of great lives does something to make decent lives.”
Here is the list of the books and authors referenced throughout the episode
Edmund Burke, British statesman and the “Father of Conservatism”:
Reflections on the Revolution in France
Russell Kirk, political theorist, moralist, historian, social critic, and literary critic:
Barry Goldwater, Senator and 1964 Republican nominee for president:
Roger Scruton, English philosopher:
Irving Kristol, journalist and the “Godfather of Neoconservatism”:
Patrick Deneen, political theorist:
Thomas Sowell, economist and social theorist:
Black Rednecks and White Liberals
Jonah Goldberg, columnist, author, commentator, podcaster:
Timothy Carney, journalist and editor:
Ben Sasse, Senator:
Joseph Sternberg, journalist:
- S. Lewis, author, theologian, professor:
And here are some other great books that I didn’t have time to get through in the podcast but are still worth a read:
The Essential Russell Kirk arranged by George Panichas
The Great Debate by Yuval Levin
The Price of Greatness by Jay Cost
Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow
John Adams by David McCullough
The Selfie Vote by Kristen Soltis Anderson