Ben Shapiro himself also writes books, which include How to Destroy America in Three Easy Steps, The Authoritarian Moment: How the Left Weaponized America's Institutions Against Dissent, and Brainwashed: How Universities Indoctrinate America's Youth. Shapiro's works often reflect his staunch views, including critiques of alt-right ideology, opposition to same-sex marriage, and abortion, and skepticism about big tech platforms like Facebook. Despite his polarizing positions, Shapiro has a significant following, attributed to his articulate arguments and analytical approach. You can also check out our summary of his book, The Right Side of History.
1. Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance
The Hillbilly Elegy book tells a true story about what life feels like when people are trying to get rid of poverty, addiction, and low social mobility. J.D. Vance describes the struggles of white working-class communities in Appalachia. The Vance family is the epitome of most American families who fought for the American dream. The book examines the cultural and systemic factors that resonate with conservative notions of personal agency and social responsibility.
2. Nudge by Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein
The Nudge book teaches people how to make good decisions in their lives and even in public policy. The authors introduce the concept of “choice architecture.” From a political point of view, the book corresponds to centrist or progressive views on creating policy interventions that respect individual freedom while solving systemic problems. To read more about the main ideas and understand the content of the chapters, our Nudge summary can help you.
3. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
“Very enjoyable. It is a good book.” This is the description Ben Shapiro gave to The Haunting of Hill House. It is a gothic novel that explores psychological horror through themes of trauma, isolation, and the supernatural. It is the story of four seekers who arrive at a notoriously unfriendly pile called Hill House. Although the novel does not directly address political issues, it will leave a mark on the way we perceive the world as a whole.
4. String Theory by David Foster Wallace
String Theory by David Foster Wallace is a great example of American sports literature. The author was characterized by the New York Times as “the best tennis-writer of all time.” The book describes the skills of Michael Joyce, Roger Federer, Tracy Austin, and many others. David Foster Wallace tries to convey how effort and psychological resilience are necessary for achieving success.
5. The Revenge of Geography by Robert Kaplan
The Revenge of Geography by Robert Kaplan describes how geography influences long-term politics. The book provides insight into what lies ahead for continents and countries around the world. Robert D. Kaplan explains how timeless truths and natural facts can help prevent the threatening cataclysms of this century. “It's very good. [...] There are actual physical geographies on the ground, making it difficult for us to control certain areas of the globe.” This is how Ben Shapiro reacted to the book.
6. The Rise and Fall of Violent Crime in America by Barry Latzer
The Rise and Fall of Violent Crime in America is a book whose title reflects its subject matter, namely the period of US crime in the 1960s. However, the book is also an analysis that explores the decline in violent crime in the United States since the 1990s, focusing on social, economic, and legal factors. Shapiro encourages reading with his review, “The justice system is not biased against black people or Hispanic people, read [this book] and you will see the statistics.” We also encourage you to read Just Mercy summary on a similar topic.
7. Reasons to Vote for Democrats by Michael J. Knowles
Reasons to Vote for Democrats by Michael J. Knowles is a satirical book that criticizes the politics of the Democratic Party. The book attracts conservative circles. Donald Trump called it “a great book for your reading pleasure,” and Ben Shapiro called it “The most thorough book on Democratic ideas ever written.”
8. Think Again by Adam Grant
Think Again by Adam Grant emphasizes the skill of being able to rethink and unlearn. It encourages open-mindedness, which is critical for constructive political discourse and bipartisanship, and appeals to audiences regardless of political affiliation. Adam Grant compares intelligence to a curse, not just a cure, and describes both its positive and negative effects. After reading it, you can also say about this book in a short way as Ben Shapiro did: “Great book.”
Most of the books on the above list have a clear political overtone, yet many of the recommendations are also suitable for everyday life. Perhaps this is not the type of literature where you will simultaneously read while studying the pages, but you will keep a lot of interesting and useful information in your memory. If you still have doubts about choosing a book, watch a few episodes from Ben Shapiro's blog, so you can get to know him better, understand his preferences, and then compare them with yours.
