13 Books Every Conservative Must Read

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During a period of economic downfall, Dagny Taggart, operations head of Taggart Transcontinental, is tasked with mending the collapsing Rio Norte Line, which services Colorado - the last industrially thriving area in the nation. This challenge is further complicated by the disappearance of several gifted entrepreneurs. In the midst of this, the Mexican government seizes control of Taggart’s San Sebastian Line, the lifeline to Francisco d’Anconia’s copper mills. Unexpectedly, Francisco, a formerly successful industrialist and Dagny's ex-lover, lets his mills turn worthless. To salvage the financial crisis, Dagny's brother Jim manipulates political connections to eradicate their Colorado competition. Dagny, on the other hand, turns to a revolutionary alloy, Rearden Metal, created by Hank Rearden. The duo becomes romantically involved while attempting to revive a discarded motor that runs on static electricity.

However, their efforts are thwarted as the State Science Institute defames Rearden metal, causing Taggart’s stocks to plummet. Unfazed, Dagny establishes her own firm to rebuild the line, achieving significant success. Soon, an increase in restrictive legislation cripples the Colorado industry, forcing several industrialists, including oil tycoon Ellis Wyatt, to vanish mysteriously. Francisco implores Rearden to question the worth of working under such repressive circumstances. Rearden, under trial for violation of new laws, stands defiant and is let off as the authorities fear being perceived as oppressive. Later, Rearden is blackmailed into signing over his metal to protect Dagny's reputation after Jim discovers their affair. Consequently, Dagny resigns and retreats to a mountain lodge.

When a tragic accident befalls Taggart Tunnel, Dagny resumes her position. She soon crash lands in a secluded valley while in pursuit of a potential target of the "destroyer". This valley is inhabited by the vanished industrialists, who are on a cognitive strike. John Galt, the man behind the strike and the inventor of the motor, is revealed as the "destroyer". Despite falling for him, Dagny leaves the valley, only to find the government has seized the railroad industry. After publicly exposing the blackmail and oppressive government practices, she is coerced into rejoining the industry. Eventually, the country's economy collapses, and John Galt seizes control of the airwaves, divulging the conditions of his strike. Captured by the desperate government, he refuses to cooperate, leading to his rescue by Dagny and the strikers. Finally agreeing to the strike, Dagny, along with the other strikers, prepares to return as the nation collapses.

Atlas Shrugged

La rebelión de Atlas

Top Novels for Conservatives

An avant-garde architect named Howard Roark finds himself expelled from his architecture school for his refusal to abide by antiquated traditions. He chooses to move to New York where he works with a discredited architect, Henry Cameron, who Roark highly admires. Meanwhile, Peter Keating, Roark's former schoolmate, also ends up in New York, working for a top architectural company run by the renowned Guy Francon. While Roark and Cameron's works are underappreciated, Keating's ability to charm and appease his superiors leads him to rapid success. However, Roark's uncompromising approach to design ultimately results in him working at a granite quarry in Connecticut.

At the quarry, Roark feels an intense draw towards Dominique Francon, the beautiful and mercurial daughter of Guy Francon. Dominique shares a similar disgust for society's mediocre architecture and is searching for something more. After a disturbing encounter, Dominique comes to realize that she deeply admires Roark and his work. Despite this, she publicly attempts to sabotage his career while privately meeting with him. Ellsworth Toohey, an architectural critic with socialist views, perceives Roark as a threat and manipulates a businessman into suing Roark for his unconventional architectural style, resulting in Roark losing his business. Dominique marries Peter Keating as a form of self-inflicted punishment for her feelings towards Roark.

Gail Wynand, a jaded publisher who capitalizes on public opinion, becomes infatuated with Dominique and offers Keating financial gain and prestige in exchange for his wife. Dominique, expecting Wynand to be worse than Keating, is surprised to find him principled. Wynand unknowingly becomes friends with Roark, not aware of the latter's past with Dominique. Roark, intrigued by the concept of economical housing, agrees to design a public housing project under the condition that his design remains unaltered. Upon discovering that his design has been compromised, Roark destroys the project and is arrested. Wynand initially supports Roark but later succumbs to public opinion. However, Roark's passionate defense about selfishness and individuality sways the courtroom, resulting in his acquittal. Roark marries Dominique and is commissioned by Wynand to design a skyscraper symbolizing the power of the individual.

The Fountainhead

El Manantial

An award-winning pig, Old Major, gathers his fellow farm animals for an assembly where he shares his dream of a world where all animals coexist without human oppression. After his death, three younger pigs - Snowball, Napoleon, and Squealer - articulate his ideas into a philosophy named Animalism. Through a successful revolt, they oust the human farmer, Mr. Jones, from the property, now renamed as the Animal Farm. With new found passion for the cause, Boxer, the horse, dedicates his strength for the farm's prosperity, vowing to work harder than before.

The Animal Farm initially thrives under the new leadership. Snowball focuses on teaching the animals to read while Napoleon takes the young pups under his wing to instill in them the principles of Animalism. Despite defeating Mr. Jones again in what would later be referred to as the Battle of the Cowshed, internal disagreements between Napoleon and Snowball escalate. Napoleon ruthlessly drives Snowball away from the farm with his pack of dogs, thus assuming undisputed authority and dismantling the democratic structure of the farm. He now declares that only pigs will make decisions for the collective good.

Napoleon suddenly reverses his stance on the windmill project previously proposed by Snowball, and the animals, particularly Boxer, devote themselves to its completion. When the windmill collapses, Napoleon blames it upon Snowball's sabotage. Any animal questioning Napoleon's leadership meets a swift end by the dogs. Napoleon, with his authority unchallenged and his deeds justified by his propagandist, starts displaying human-like behaviors - sleeping in a bed, drinking alcohol, and trading with other farmers. Betraying his loyal workforce, Napoleon sells the injured and aging Boxer for whiskey money. Over the years, the pigs grow more human-like, and the original principles of Animalism are manipulated to justify their actions. By the end, the animals peering through the farmhouse window can no longer differentiate between the pigs and the humans.

13 Best Conservative Books of All Time

Atlas Shrugged

The Fountainhead

Animal Farm

Economics in One Lesson

The Shortest and Surest Way to Understand Basic Economics

The Road to Serfdom

The Bonfire of the Vanities

A Novel

Democracy in America

The Conscience of a Conservative

Witness

The Federalist Papers

God and Man at Yale

The Superstitions of 'Academic Freedom'

The Conservative Intellectual Movement in America

Since 1945

The Conservative Mind

From Burke to Santayana

Sources

What To Read Next

13 Best Conservative Books of All Time

Atlas Shrugged

The Fountainhead

Animal Farm

Economics in One Lesson

The Shortest and Surest Way to Understand Basic Economics

The Road to Serfdom

The Bonfire of the Vanities

A Novel

Democracy in America

The Conscience of a Conservative

Witness

The Federalist Papers

God and Man at Yale

The Superstitions of 'Academic Freedom'

The Conservative Intellectual Movement in America

Since 1945

The Conservative Mind

From Burke to Santayana

Sources

What To Read Next

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