1. Philosophical Works
Back in the day, Hen Hud LDer Marc Matsen attempted a list of philosophical books for the team. As he put it, "these are all books whose main ideas can directly translate into LD arguments. Be wary, though -- running a philosopher in a case should not entail repeating his thoughts in your own words. A certain amount of adaptation to the resolution is always necessary, and you have to be sure that both judge and opponent understand what you're talking about (the "well, if you don't know Kant, then I'm not going to explain him to you" approach won't get you too far.)
While the materials of basic debate have evolved over the years, some cornerstones remain. So the list is a mix of classic and so-called contemporary. Use this list as a guide to the people you should at least attempt to read. Some of the books are so essential that they are mandatory. Others are highly recommended. Some are for entry entirely at your own risk. I will use of some Marc's commentary, and some of my own, in this update of the material. The lists on the left will take you directly to specific important titles.
[Note: If you order the book through the Amazon link, the team will earn a percentage of what you pay -- so keep the money in the house, gang.]
Locke, John -- Second Treatise on Government
This classic philosophical explanation of government is required reading for all novices! Buy a book, which is what I would do if I were you, or download the pdf, if you're a cheap #%$^%] Read this before anything else. It is fundamental to social contract theory as used in LD; it is your inaugural Bible. Locke is one of the few philosophers who are beyond reproach (well, almost) in a debate round. Second Treatise isn't tough reading, either. Only the first five chapters are really important; the rest you can skim (if you are so inspired...)
Mill, J. S. -- On Liberty
This is also required reading for all novices. This is actually a good book - the favorite of many debaters. It is a classic defense of individual rights and liberties against the tyranny of the State. On Thought and Discussion, the first chapter, is where all of our 'marketplace of ideas' arguments come from; On the Authority of the State and the Individual gives us the 'harms principle' of legalization; the final chapter, Applications, also provides us with a few choice morsels. The fact that he wrote the book for his mistress in no way diminishes it's appeal and usefulness [Coach's comment -- can anyone substantiate this dubious assertion?]. Good stuff. Most kids prefer reading Locke, but the coach is Millian all the way when it comes to style. Long live Tarnish Jutmoll!
Rousseau, Jean J. -- Social Contract
This is recommended summer reading for all incoming junior varsity, who presumably already have Mill and Locke already under their belts. What's the difference between Rousseau's state of nature and the one you're already used to? Read it and find out, you noble savage. This book isn't as important as the first two, but we include it here because it's easy reading. It presents society in communal terms, using the concept of a 'general will' which guides the actions of the State. As an interesting historical detail, Rousseau had five children by his maid, all of whom he put into an orphanage. [Another dubious Matsenic factoid...]
Rawls, John -- A Theory of Justice
Rawls has gotten much less popular of late, and is mostly used by people who don't know Rawls from whale poop. Know him, and you'll do fine. My special fondness for him is that he makes no claims that he's right, or that his theories sum up the universe. No unified philosophical field theory for him. He believes that his writing has a practical application, not that it underlies reality. Much of this, as Marc originally put it, is dense stuff, expecially once you get into the math. But if you're interested in creating a fair society, this is the book for you.
Kant, Immanuel -- Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals
From March: An acquaintance of Kant's at the University of Konigsberg, after reading half of Critique of Pure Reason (Kant's masterpiece), returned the 800-page book claiming he would go insane if he read any further. Metaphysics isn't the densest of old Kant's stuff, but I wouldn't recommend trying it yourself. Look for a summary or analysis by someone else -- something written for the layman. I don't know any good ones offhand, but a short search should turn up something. Kant gave us the idea of the 'categorical imperative' as a means of evaluating moral acts, and the concept of the 'good will' as the only way of being a moral person - both pretty powerful arguments in LD if used correctly. Give him a try, if you dare. (By the way, Kant lived a rather boring life, but he did die a 90-year old virgin. Just thought I'd pass that on.) [Where does Marc get his information? I will add to this that I happen to know that Henry James died a virgin. Where I get my information will remain my secret.]
Hobbes, Thomas -- Leviathan
Much of Hobbes is hard to take, as Mark says, but the way he says it is important -- he's one of the first guys to lay out philosophy step-by-step, premise-by-premise, like a mathematician. Marc: He argues that the State is always right -- if it wants to kill you for no reason except scaring people, well, sucks for you. Nevertheless, there are good points to his philosophy - his conception of the wretched state of nature, and his very pessimistic view of humanity are worth examining. These are contained in the beginning of Part II of Leviathan; you can ignore the rest. His writing isn't horrible, but it's a good idea to take notes.
Rand, Ayn -- The Virtue of Selfishness
The "philosophy" of Ayn Rand (called Objectivism) is an interesting blend of conservatism and individualism and lunacy. This book (actually a collection of essays) covers most of the important ethical points. It's not difficult reading, and you can apply it to LD, so take a look at it somewhere along the line. But you can't "run Rand" so to speak, because her name is anathema in many circles; yet while her philosophy is weak compared to, say, Kant, she does have a few ideas worth thinking about.
Mill, John S. -- Utilitarianism
The principle of utilitarianism (that is, that moral acts or laws ought to provide the greatest good for the greatest number of people) is one of the most misunderstood concept in the LD world; just using the word can get you in trouble. Maybe it's because no one has ever actually read up on it, or understands it. Utilitarianism is alive and well today in many respected ethical circles. This book is worth a look if you're serious about philosophy, and it is short.
Nozick, Robert -- Anarchy, State, Utopia
Per Marc: Nozick loves using symbolic logic and such to prove philosophical points, making ASU almost totally incomprehensible to anyone without a few college-level logic courses under their belts. In his rather roundabout manner he presents us with the concept of a 'Night Watchman State' - a minimalist government as contrasted with Rawls' liberal welfare state. Once boiled down, the philosophy is pretty solid. Per Menick: I find this guy pretty unreadable, so good luck.
Sandel, Michael -- Liberalism and the Limits of Justice
Menick couldn't make heads or tails of most of it, but maybe you can. This is as a response to Rawls' Theory of Justice, taking a more communitarian stance. The Scarsdale team used to have an unhealthy obsession with Sandel; didn't hurt them, back in the day.
Adler, Mortimer -- Six Great Ideas
There' s an interesting problem here. Why shouldn't you read syntheses of philosophers, if you find them more easy to understand than the originals? Not all debaters are philosophically inclined, and many Hen Hudders have prefered and profited from books about philosophy than by philosophers. People like Adler are definitely worth a look when you're starting out. If you decide you love philosophy and want to major in it in college, then by all means, hit the original books.
Alderman and Kennedy -- In Our Defense: The Bill of Rights in Action
This is very readable, covering each of the ten amendments that comprise the Bill of Rights. Excellent stuff and a great starter kit on Constitutional law. Highly recommended for everyone.
Alderman and Kennedy --The Right to Privacy
Also by Alderman and Kennedy, this is a little more specific than "Defense," all about RTP in various guises. Quite fascinating, and readable. And relevant.
Putnam, Robert D. -- Bowling Alone
A solid sociological text with communitarian overtones. Emcee read it and eventually used it on every topic in LD, Pffft, Extemp and After Dinner BS.
Bobos in Paradise
This was originally recommended by the '02 graduates. I went at it and enjoyed it immensely myself. It's less relevant than the Alderman/Kennedy books, but it's a great introduction to modern sociology (not unlike Bowling Alone), and you might find usable concepts in it explaining contemporary American/capitalist society.
Variations on a Theme Park
Learn about various theories of urbanism. You'll like this, and you'll get a lot out of it.
Baudrillard -- Simulacra and Simulation
There's a lecture on this book on the podcast page, so after you throw it out the carriage window in a fit of petulance, you can hear all about what you missed. If you need a first, accessible pomo book, this may be it.
Other good stuff to pass the warm months, if you're interested. This will make you a fit companion for dinner conversation, and possibly get you upgraded from the childrens' tables of life
2. Semi-philosophical Works
Marc again: None of these books will really help you out too much either in a round or writing your case. However, I have included them here because they are interesting time-fillers, and a definite improvement on Douglas Adams. (Okay, so the books are fun, but in terms of devoting our lives to certain works of literature, the stuff I'm listing here is a hell of a lot more worthy; but please don't start memorizing and repeating it either.) The ratings here are based somewhat on usefulness (things you should know, either for debate or personal satisfaction, or the satisfaction of those who wish to hold a normal conversation with you), and a bit on simple enjoyability. [My, my, that Marc could be a bitter fellow. But if you're not much of a reader, you may wish to either, a) become one, or b) take up something more suitable than debate.]
Orwell, George -- 1984
1984 is the classic attack on totalitarian regimes. Although it is a novel (and a good one), there's plenty of food for thought here, and besides, 1984 has so ingrained itself into our society ('Newspeak' and 'Big Brother' are both direct references) that you should read it anyway. MM Rating : 8
Burgess, Anthony -- A Clockwork Orange
This one may seem a little tough when you start out (the language is a bit confusing, probably because most of it is derived from Russian), but after a page or two you'll get into the swing of it (there are even a few publications that provide a glossary for those who wish to get the exact meanings of all vocab). The book is about the necessity of freedom, even to the extent where criminals and murderers run rampant through the streets. You'll like it; trust your humble narrator on this one. MM Rating : 7
Huxley, Aldous -- Brave New World
This is generally seen as the corollary novel to 1984. They're both fun reading, and they both are based on the principle that a dictatorship based on collectivism is doubleplusungood.(See, if you had read 1984 you would know what that word meant) Anyway, this is a good book to check out at some point, as it is also a common reference. MM Rating : 6 [Coach's rating 10 -- Huxley is one of the great thinkers of the 20th Century, and Marc is one of the great underraters. Imagine a world devoted to empty pleasure!]
Rand, Ayn -- The Fountainhead
Although this is by no means Rand's best book, it does serve to lay out her philosophy in an easy-to-understand sort of way. Being a novel, it does not (as her essays seem to do) scream at the reader using a few catch phrases (she'd make a good demagogue), rather we are introduced to her principles through a few -- intensely unlikeable -- characters. That's my personal opinion, of course : I'm a fan of her other novels, and if you like this one, than please go read the others (especially Atlas Shrugged). [Atlas is definitely the weirder book; neither one says much for her ability as a novelist -- try listening to them on tape; that way you won't hurt your eyes with this drivel but you'll nonetheless get the details.] MM Rating : 5
Golding, William -- The Lord of the Flies
Hobbesian in character though it may be, holding firmly to the belief that a savage beast dwells inside each and every one of us, it's really just a good story. Like most of the other stuff here, it's not absolutely essential, and perhaps even less well known, but it'll do ya good. [Marc's well-known is subjective; didn't Mr. Golding win the Nobel prize?] MM Rating : 4
Durant, Will -- The Story of Philosophy
Durant makes no claim to originality in this work. He simply presents summaries and criticism of the most influential philosophers in history - Plato, Aristotle, Bacon, Locke, Voltaire, Kant, etc. Not much will apply directly to LD, but it's a very well-written book, so take a look. MM Rating : *?*
Machiavelli, Niccolo -- The Prince
Machiavelli isn't properly a philosopher - he ignores the question of morality by asserting that the Prince's duty is only to the betterment of the State, and he goes on to explain how a dictator or monarch can go about maintaining himself in power and expanding his state. It is an interesting read, though. MM Rating : *?*
Gaardner, Jostein -- Sophie's World
From Menick: A history of philosophy wedged into a semi-mystery novel. It's pretty painless, and it does cover just about everybody from the Greeks on. It's no substitute for reading the originals, but you can save that for when you go to Harvard and major in philosophy. In the meanwhile, this will do the job well enough for starters. Lots of kids like it a lot. Humble coach found it treacly. The book is unrated.
3. Stuff Beyond Marc
Beyond him in chronology, not grasp. The list survives the listers.
Weise, Lincoln-Douglas Debate: Values in Conflict. For a good guide to Lincoln-Douglas, the textbook your humble coach started out with.
Sobel, Longitude -- Probably the shortest book on the list. And you've always wanted to know about the discovery of longitude, right? If you do read this, be prepared to explain, in one sentence, why longitude is important.
Manchester, A World Lit by Fire -- A little bit of older history. Don't you want to know who Lucretia Borgia was?
Lash, Eleanor and Franklin -- Bio of the great couple. You know nothing about these people, but their lives encapsulate the first half of the 20th century, and until you do know something about them, you're sort of ignorant.
Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World -- This book is about things like UFOs and ghosts and whatnot, examined under the bright light of scientific method. It also lists the great logical fallacies, quite useful to the average, fallacious debater.
Huxley, any book other than Brave New World -- Why? Why not? The man was one of the leading writers of his day, and now he is known for one work. He deserves better.
Dickens, David Copperfield -- Savor the writing of one of English literature's greatest craftsmen in the warmth of a golden summer's afternoon. If you don't find the description of Miss Murdstone hilarious and wonderful, don't go any further.
Flexner, Washington: The Indispensible Man -- It's hard to imagine a biography of Prez #1 that is interesting and readable and actually explains what was so special about him.
Schickel, The Disney Version -- Biographies don't all have to be about presidents. If you don't think Uncle Walt is one of the most important personages of the 20th Century, then you simply haven't been thinking.
Maier, American Scripture -- The story of the Declaration of Independence, and it may tell you more about history than any other book you'll ever read.
Pinker, How the Mind Works -- Science again. But philosophers aren't the only ones worry about human existence, and if this book doesn't make your brain a better place, nothing will. It's not an easy tome, but it is readable, and you will get a lot of fodder for the after-dinner conversation out of it.
E.L.Doctorow Ragtime -- A rather dizzying novel (forget the movie, forget the play) that intertwines various historical and conceptual threads in what can only be called a ragtime syncopation. Fun and informative (about mostly useless stuff).
Any Nero Wolfe novel by Rex Stout. These are straightforward mysteries, and every one is a classic. Nero Wolfe weighs a seventh of a ton and lives on W. 35th St. His amanuensis is Archie Goodwin. Meet these people.
This will keep you out of the library: Labyrinths by Jorge Luis Borges. This is dreamy, philosophical, thought-provoking, wierd stuff. Short stories; you'll love it. Trust me.
How about some P.G.Wodehouse? Say, The Inimitable Jeeves. Learn all about Bertie and Aunt Agatha and how upper-class British twits have to be regularly saved from ruin by their butlers. Funny stuff.
When this book arrived at Readers Digest we called it the monkey guts book. The Hot Zone, by Richard Preston. You will learn more than you ever wanted to know about filoviruses, and you will be scared out of your wits. It is highly unlikely you can not finish this book the day you start it. Be prepared! Have fun...
The Claire Le G History Collection
CLG told me she wanted more books on the list, but hated history. So, of course, I responded with a nice list of historical fiction. Some of this stuff is pretty hard-line, but it's all good.
Jean M.. Auel, The Clan of the Cave Bear -- Our adventure begins at the dawn of man, when Neanderthals meet Cro-Magnons. Very reminiscent of taking out the novices to their first dinner after Monticello.
We move on to the glory (?) that was Rome in I, Claudius : From the Autobiography of Tiberius Claudius, Born 10 B.C., Murdered and Deified A.D. 54. Now there's a mouthful. Watching the TV show doesn't count (although it is damned good; the thing is, the book is damned better). When you're done, don't despair. Go on to Claudius the God, Graves's sequel, which is really just more of the same.
Some time passes. You could read Eco's The Name of the Rose, so that the Middle Ages won't be a complete blank, but you're probably better off going straight to Napolean. Now I know what you're thinking, that War and Peace (the Maude translation -- I'd go for Garnett as the second choice) is some sort of joke, the longest book ever written and deadly dull. Well, it may be a little long, but it's never dull. Would I recommend a dull book?
Speaking of the non-dull, how about them Founding Fathers? What a bunch of live wires! You don't believe me? Ask Gore Vidal's Burr. Talk about your quintessential rascal!
Of course, things got pretty dicey here in the 60s. The 1860s, that is. Now Gone With the Wind may be the most pap-ish book on the list, but it's absolutely great fun, and Scarlett is one of the great heroines (?) of all time. If you like her, check out her British model, Becky Sharp in Vanity Fair (which will bring you back to Napoleon, but not the stone age. I do love Becky Sharp, though).
Late additions, 8/99
Why did Spain invade the New World in the 1500s, and not vice versa? Jared Diamond poses this and similar questions in Guns, Germs, and Steel : The Fates of Human Societies -- A fascinating mix of science and history. Fun stuff.
Terrible Honesty : Mongrel Manhattan in the 1920's by Ann Douglas -- The art scene in the 20s, but as much as anything else, this will explain Freud, William James, the Black Renaissance, Hemingway, and modernism. One of the most enlightening books on any of these subjects that I have ever read.
I don't think I mention it anywhere, but why don't you read this: Lingo -- It's probably the best novel ever written by anyone with whom you are personally acquainted.
New for 2000
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde -- To be honest with you, or earnest, I'd be perfectly content if you read anything by Wilde, but Earnest is my favorite. Bunburying is the only acceptable excuse for missing meetings.
Genome : The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters This is the best book on genetics I've ever read, and I actually felt as if I learned something by the time I was done. If learning something sounds especially onerous to you, avoid this one like the plague.
Huckleberry Finn Menick admits it: this is one book he will have to have on that desert island, otherwise he's not going. I've read this book more times than I can remember. I think it's time to read it again. If you haven't read it since you've become a teenager, the time has come.
Watership Down You've probably read it already, and I don't know if it bears rereading, but if you haven't read it, it's awfully enjoyable. If you've never heard of it, it's about rabbits. Really.
Tristram Shandy A one-of-a-kind novel. Relatively indescribable. Maybe it's the ur-Monty Python.
New for 2001
Cryptonomicon This novel by Neal Stephenson is a good example of the contemporary kitchen-sink novel pioneered by Thomas Pynchon. You'll be hard-pressed to put it down, even though the plot is elusive, and you'll actually understand things you didn't understand before when you're finished. (The unbelievably long trilogy is now being published, a prequel of sorts to this. More of the same, as they say.)
Welcome 2004 - An Ewok Recommendation!
An Introduction to Political Philosophy by Jonathan Wolff As the quote on the back puts is, "This is exactly what its title says--it introduces students to many of the central topics of political philosophy and in the process to many of its most distinguished figurues from Plato to John Rawls." In other words, a good place to get your feet wet, with wet-tootsie evidence of many, many highlightings by Ewok himself, in his private edition.
2006 and BenT chimes in
Tocqueville's Democracy in America Sez Cap'n Ben: Since many of the possible topics for next year involve government, or specifically the United States government (as many topics do), I might suggest Tocqueville's Democracy in America as a possible read for anyone that really wants a good foundation in the workings and ideals that hold this government, as well as democracy in general, together. The passage "On the Reelection of of the President" might be especially useful in the term limits topic. Obviously, not one of those books that should be mandatory, but a helpful read for those with time on their hands to read 700 pages. And now that AP exams are over, who doesn't have that time?
A Nicole suggestion via Ben
Taking Sides : Clashing Views on Controversial Political Issues Per Ben: The book seems to contain a series of essays, written by renowned scholars, arguing pro and con of 21 issues on the American political landscape. Relevant topics include: Political campaigns (a possible relation to the term limits topic), judge philosophy (would have been possibly useful on judicial activism), capital punishment (which just so happens to have appeared on the newest edition of topics), the religious right (possibly useful on the separation of church and state topic as well as future topics), socioeconomic inequality (also relating to one of the education-oriented topics in the new list), immigration restrictions (another blown opportunity for use in a debate round), and spreading democracy to other nations (also looks familiar).
Menick says: There seems to be a whole series of titles like this. I'm ordering one up for myself, to check them out. This may be good on many counts going forward.