I truly believe that any good leader should be well versed in the philosophy and history of those that came before him. Any good leader, therefore, should have read the following texts and writings in order to understand the American paradigm of leadership:
The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith- Long considered to be the “capitalist handbook,” The Wealth of Nations was the basis for our economic principles and the source material for many of the founding ideas of our system of governance.
The Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes- Hobbes’ insight into Natural Law and the sacrifices of liberties in order to maintain societal order stood as a rich source to the founding fathers on the philosophy of republican ideals.
A Letter on Tolerance by John Locke- The primer for any society that underlines the inherant principles of religious tolerance and its effect on a society.
The Federalist Papers- A collection of writings by our founding fathers outlining the tenants of what would become the most important American document- The Constitution of the United States
The Republic by Plato- One of the fathers of philosophy, Plato outlines representative democracy, its merits and faults.
The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli- Written while he was imprisoned by the Medicis, Machiavelli gives insight into how leaders justify their decisions.
Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville- Tocqueville’s observations of post-revolutionary America give insight to the American condition.
In addition to the above, contrasting writings should also be read, including:
The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels- The defining document of communism, its principles and tenants.
The Little Red Book by Mao Tse-tung- China’s first communist dictator outlines the his own brand of communism.
Thus Spoke Zarathustra: A Book for All and None by Friedrich Nietzsche- The father of facism and the man credited with ending all future political philosophy by bringing forth the notion that “God is dead” and therefore ending any other arguements based upon theology. Nietzshce influenced the most infamous dictator in modern history, Adolph Hitler, with his notion of the “ubermensch” or superman. Hitler perverted these ideas in Mein Kampf and used them to exterminate over 10 million people in pursuit of his master race.
Other suggested readings:
The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand- Rand is known as the mother of relativism. Both novels underscore her relativist viewpoints.
The writings of George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt, Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan- These specific leaders were either fundamental founding fathers or shapers of the modern age, their writings and speeches should be studied to understand the American condition.
This, of course, is not a comprehensive list, but it is a good start for anyone looking to understand American leadership.
