Books to Understand America

The aim of totalitarian education has never been to instill convictions but to destroy the capacity to form any.

— Hannah Arendt

I believe that America is in decline. A lot of people won’t like that I wrote this.

However, I study history. I study political science. I study human nature. All of my studying and research and thought lead me to an irrefutable conclusion: America is over.

Now, for some, the nuance of that claim will go over their heads. Obviously, the country isn’t over. It’s still here and will be for the foreseeable future. What I mean is our influence, our ideals, our goals. Those are all gone. America has always been an imperfect place, but our power has always been in an ideal to be better than we were yesterday—even if we moved slowly towards it.

Justice, courage, disciple, and wisdom are what America no longer cares about. It’s degraded into a self-absorbed cult of individualism. Many don’t care what happens to their neighbor so long as it doesn’t affect them. They will warm their hands in the ashes of their brothers and sisters and smile because someone owned the libs. Or something like that.

There are still good people in America. But not enough are doing anything about our decay. And I’m sure that’s by design. Either work to make things better or get fired from your job and default on a mortgage. Get blacklisted from finding work in a horrific economy that helps no one except the billionaires many in poverty worship as gods.

The system works!

So, in these times of distress and moral decay, I’m trying to find some fun. None of us leave this place alive anyway. So, my fun is in reading.

As such I’d like to share some of those books that have helped me understand what I understand. How my perceptions have been shaped and formed. So, I think I’m starting a new series: Books to Understand America.

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If you want to understand how the USA got so fucked up and how to un-fuck it, you’d be hard pressed to find four better books. 

*Lies and Politics by Hannah Arendt

*The Revolt of the Masses by Jose Ortega y Gasset

*The Republic by Plato

*Politics by Aristotle

Below is a brief overview of each work as I understand them.

Lies and Politics by Hannah Arendt

Hannah Arendt was a German-Jewish political theorist known for her work on totalitarianism, power, truth, violence, and the fragility of democratic life.

Her essay examines the role of lying in politics, especially how organized deception can distort public reality. Arendt argues that factual truth is essential to political judgment, and when facts are manipulated, citizens lose the shared reality needed for democracy.

Why it matters:

• It explains how political lies are not just moral failures but attacks on shared reality.
• It explores the danger of propaganda, image-making, and official deception.
• It remains important today because democratic societies depend on citizens being able to distinguish truth from manipulation.

The Revolt of the Masses by José Ortega y Gasset

José Ortega y Gasset was a Spanish philosopher and essayist who wrote about culture, politics, modernity, and the crisis of liberal civilization.

Ortega argues that modern society has elevated the “mass man,” a person who enjoys the benefits of civilization but lacks historical understanding, discipline, humility, or responsibility. He worries that mass society can undermine liberal institutions, expertise, culture, and excellence.

Why it matters:

• It critiques anti-intellectualism and the rejection of expertise.
• It warns that democracy can weaken when people demand rights without accepting responsibilities.
• It explores the tension between individual freedom, mass opinion, and cultural decline.

The Republic by Plato

Plato was an ancient Greek philosopher, student of Socrates, and teacher of Aristotle. He is one of the foundational figures in Western philosophy.

He is also the main influence to my idea for the philosopher-manager.

In The Republic Plato asks what justice is and what a just society should look like. Through Socratic dialogue, he explores the ideal state, the nature of the soul, education, leadership, truth, and the philosopher-king.

Why it matters:

• It is one of the most influential works ever written on justice, ethics, education, and political order.
• It introduces major ideas such as the allegory of the cave, the tripartite soul, and philosopher-rulers.
• It challenges readers to think about whether society should be ruled by popular opinion, power, wealth, or wisdom.

Politics by Aristotle

Aristotle was an ancient Greek philosopher, student of Plato, and tutor to Alexander the Great. His work shaped philosophy, science, ethics, politics, and logic for centuries. He also greatly influenced early Muslim scholars and philosophers.

In Politics Aristotle examines the nature of the city-state, citizenship, constitutions, virtue, and the purpose of political life. Aristotle argues that humans are naturally political beings and that the best political community helps people live well, not merely survive.

Why it matters:

• It defines politics as a moral project connected to human flourishing.
• It analyzes different forms of government, including monarchy, aristocracy, polity, democracy, oligarchy, and tyranny.
• It remains important because it connects leadership, citizenship, virtue, law, and the common good.

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