The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) is a conservative carnival, attended by presidential hopefuls, students and guys who dress up in colonial-era outfits.
One perennial feature is the bookstore, which sells fringe texts and conservative staples. For those looking for some spring-break reading, here is a selection of some of the more intriguing books available this year.
Ablaze For God, by Wesley L Duewel
A religious book, which tries to teach people how they too can be ablaze for God. It turns out that “your personality [is] so suffused with the presence and beauty of the Lord that others instinctively sense that God is with you!” Like Billy Joel, the text makes clear: “We didn’t start the fire, it was always burning since the world’s been turning.”
It Is About Islam, by Glenn Beck
Islam is the world’s second-largest religion and radio host Glenn Beck owns George Washington’s copy of Don Quixote so, of course, he’s an expert on the subject. Beck makes clear there are “moderate Muslims”, though he writes that that sounds “overly political correct”. His book mostly focuses on “the true origins of Islamic extremism as well as the deadly theological motivations behind these agencies of destruction”. If you’re looking for a nice, relaxing beach read for the summer … this probably isn’t it.
Rush Revere and the First Patriots, by Rush Limbaugh
There is no better way to learn American history than through a time-travelling Rush Limbaugh and a talking horse named Liberty. In this tale, teacher Rush Revere takes Liberty and a group of children back to the eve of the American revolution. They go on a series of adventures.
The Communist, by Paul Kengor
Barack Obama may have less than a year left in the White House but that leaves plenty of time for conservatives to enjoy conspiracy theories about him. Frank Marshall Davis was a friend of Obama’s grandfather, who the president knew while growing up in Hawaii. Conspiracy theories on the right have grown around Davis’s relationship with Obama because Davis was once a member of the Communist party. This book asks the question: “Is Obama working to fulfil the dreams of Frank Marshall Davis?” It is unclear if the dreams of Frank Marshall Davis included the gridlocked Congress and government dysfunction of today.
The Case Against the Fed, by Murray N Rothbard
Rand Paul may be long out of the presidential race but you can still read libertarian economist Murray Rothbard’s attack on the Federal Reserve. Rothbard, a close associate of Ron Paul, Rand’s father, is one of the key intellectual influences on the political movement that was inspired by Ron Paul’s 2008 presidential run. Even with the Republican primary dominated by Donald Trump, perhaps the least libertarian candidate in the field, Paulistas looking for nostalgia can still read about ending the Fed.
The Art of the Deal, by Donald J Trump
Donald Trump’s second-favorite book ever, after the Bible, the Art of the Deal is his own guide to negotiating. It’s unclear whether it is proving particularly helpful for those Republicans still trying to cope with the fact that Trump is the GOP’s likely nominee. Or if it was deployed at any time, on either side, when Trump withdrew from speaking at CPAC on Saturday.
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