Library
The ideas on this blog are not formed in a vacuum. They are informed by extensive reading and a commitment to engaging with the sharpest arguments from across the political spectrum. This page serves as a living bibliography of the books and articles that have shaped the thinking behind the Realist Agenda.
Books
- The Stoic Virtues Series by Ryan Holiday
A modern and accessible framework for applying the ancient wisdom of Stoicism—a philosophy centered on resilience, courage, and clear-eyed perception—to the chaos of modern life. The series includes:
- The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday
A modern classic that applies Stoic principles to overcoming adversity, showing how obstacles can be transformed into opportunities for growth and success.
- Attack from Within: How Disinformation Is Sabotaging America by Barbara McQuade
A prosecutor’s breakdown of the mechanics of disinformation and how it is being used as a deliberate political weapon to undermine democratic institutions from the inside out.
- When the Clock Broke: Conmen, Conspiracists, and How America Cracked Up in the 1990s by John Ganz
An essential history that traces the roots of today's political pathologies back to the fever swamps of the 1990s, proving that the current crisis is not an aberration but a culmination.
- The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt
A data-driven analysis of how the replacement of a play-based childhood with a phone-based one has contributed to a staggering decline in youth mental health.
- On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder
A concise and urgent guide to recognizing and resisting the early signs of authoritarianism, drawing lessons from the 20th century to inform our defense of democracy today.
Articles & Essays
- The American Police State Is Here by Jonathan V. Last
A chilling look at how the machinery of the state can be turned against citizens, not by a shadowy cabal, but out in the open by political actors who have abandoned democratic norms.
- One About the Atmosphere by A.R. Moxon
A masterclass in using metaphor to dissect the ambient sense of dread and absurdity that defines our current political and social atmosphere.
- Democracy is Not Over by Tom Nichols
A reflection on the results of the election and the role we can play in safeguarding democracy moving forward.
- History Will Judge the Complicit by Anne Applebaum
A historical perspective on why people in positions of power choose to collaborate with authoritarian movements, and how their justifications echo through time.
- The Factors That Made Evangelicals Ready for Trump by Jane Coaston
A sharp examination of the intellectual and moral inconsistencies required to support a candidate like Trump as Evangelical Christians.