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To view this on the COS website, click here [[https://conventionofstates.com/news/5-books-every-american-should-read|5-books-every-american-should-read]]


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====== 5 Books Every American Should Read ======


These five books will give you a true understanding of our country and its founding.


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|//This article first appeared on SelfGovern.com. To get more articles like this straight to your inbox, [[https://selfgovern.com/campaign/|sign up for our free newsletter here (and receive a free PDF download!)]].//\\ \\ In the fight to preserve America, it’s important that We the People stay educated, vigilantly equipping ourselves with the knowledge needed to combat the lies of those who oppose our efforts. Regrettably, in a market crowded with anti-American propaganda, it can often be hard to distinguish the truth from the lies. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of five books that you can trust to supply you with intellectual ammunition to refute the deception of our culture.\\ \\ ===== 5. If You Can Keep It – Eric Metaxas =====\\ \\ [[https://selfgovern.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/81Qo137ktL.jpg|{{https://selfgovern.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/81Qo137ktL-680x1024.jpg?680x1024}}]]\\ \\ In this relatively short book, #1 NYT bestselling author Eric Metaxas masterfully details a rudimentary yet profound understanding of what makes America an exceptional nation, and what we must do if we hope to maintain that exceptionalism. It’s safe to say the information contained within this book was once common knowledge for the average American, but after decades of living under an educational system that has largely neglected to teach even the basics of what it means to be a citizen of the United States, this is Metaxas’ attempt to regain lost ground. If only every citizen of the United States would read it, we’d be much better off.\\ \\ ===== 4. Animal Farm – George Orwell  =====\\ \\ [[https://selfgovern.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/9781781129692.jpg|{{https://selfgovern.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/9781781129692-671x1024.jpg?671x1024}}]]\\ \\ From the esteemed author of //1984//, //Animal Farm// is the allegorical tale of farm animals who form a society of freedom and equality only to watch it implode into despotism at the hands of their own leaders. It serves as a wake-up call for those concerned by the steady loss of individual liberties, while also offering an insider’s look at the tactics of would-be oppressors. Especially in this modern era of lockdowns and mandates that are violated by the very “leaders” who impose them on others, this story of a ruling class that exempts itself from its own rules has never been more pertinent.\\ \\ ===== 3. 1776 – David McCullough =====\\ \\ [[https://selfgovern.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/71B9K5jdSpL.jpg|{{https://selfgovern.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/71B9K5jdSpL-683x1024.jpg?683x1024}}]]\\ \\ David McCullough is an incomparable historian, and his masterpiece, //1776, //is a must-read for anyone who is even remotely interested in learning more about the miraculous birth of America. This astonishing account of George Washington’s attempts to lead a ragtag band of inexperienced citizen-soldiers in an impossible fight against a formidable world superpower is a deeply impactful testimony to the resiliency of the American Spirit and the Providence that preserved our nation in its most desperate hour. Anyone who is willing to read this history with an open mind will certainly be imbued with a sense of wonder and awe at the American story.\\ \\ ===== 2. Democracy in America – Alexis De Tocqueville =====\\ \\ [[https://selfgovern.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/712vepP7AtL.jpg|{{https://selfgovern.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/712vepP7AtL-624x1024.jpg?624x1024}}]]\\ \\ When Frenchman Alexis de Tocqueville came to America in 1831, he only meant to study our prison systems, but in the end, he left with a much deeper, fundamental understanding of what set this country apart from the rest of the world. He compiled his discoveries into the famous book, //Democracy in America//, which essentially invented the concept of American Exceptionalism. Even if you don’t read this classic from cover to cover, it’s still an invaluable resource for those hoping to understand the “secret” to America’s extraordinary success, and a practical guidebook for how to restore her to greatness.\\ \\ ===== 1. The Bible  =====\\ \\ [[https://selfgovern.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/71a5DFRtZgL.jpg|{{https://selfgovern.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/71a5DFRtZgL-717x1024.jpg?717x1024}}]]\\ \\ No other book can boast of such a profound impact on the world, nor on the founding of America. As God’s inspired instruction manual to the human race, the Bible was tremendously influential on the revolutionary leaders whose ideas crafted this nation, and it’s no surprise that the United States has been exceptionally blessed because of it. Many of our Founding Fathers, such as John Adams (who affirmed that “[[https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/99-02-02-5166|The Bible]] contains the most profound philosophy, the most perfect morality, and the most refined policy that ever was conceived upon earth”) and Roger Sherman (who [[https://books.google.com/books?id=W3iSDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT104&lpg=PT104&dq=The+Bible,+when+not+read+in+schools,+is+seldom+read+in+any+subsequent+period+of+life...The+Bible...should+be+read+in+our+schools+in+preference+to+all+other+books+because+it+contains+the+greatest+portion+of+that+kind+of+knowledge+which+is+calculated+to+produce+private+and+public+happiness.&source=bl&ots=MYMn0t6pqI&sig=ACfU3U3qfM5DvQTI5xis3Nue0srpnoPb0A&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj-9srHj8DyAhVSEzQIHUYfAYAQ6AF6BAgMEAM#v=onepage&q=The%20Bible%2C%20when%20not%20read%20in%20schools%2C%20is%20seldom%20read%20in%20any%20subsequent%20period%20of%20life...The%20Bible...should%20be%20read%20in%20our%20schools%20in%20preference%20to%20all%20other%20books%20because%20it%20contains%20the%20greatest%20portion%20of%20that%20kind%20of%20knowledge%20which%20is%20calculated%20to%20produce%20private%20and%20public%20happiness.&f=false|believed]] “[T]he Bible… should be read in our schools in preference to all other books because it contains the greatest portion of that kind of knowledge which is calculated to produce private and public happiness”) were firmly convinced that the future well-being and continued prosperity of America would depend heavily on our willingness to return to this book upon which our country was founded.\\ \\ //Jakob Fay works for the Convention of States Project, a project of Citizens for Self-Governance.//|


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|  __Page Metadata__  ||
|Login Required to view?  |No                  |
|Created:                 |2021-08-23 17:42 GMT|
|Updated:                 |2021-08-30 07:00 GMT|
|Published:               |2021-08-23 07:00 GMT|
|Converted:               |2025-11-11 11:58 GMT|
|Change Author:           |Article V Patriot   |
|Credit Author:           |Jake Fay            |