What is Conservatism: A Discussion with Josh Lewis

This book by Candice Millard delves into the life and assassination of James A. Garfield, the 20th President of the United States. It highlights the dramatic events surrounding his death, including the archaic medical treatments that ultimately led to his demise. The narrative also explores the broader context of the time, including the national mood post-Civil War, the political struggles within Garfield's administration, and the roles of key figures such as Alexander Graham Bell and Vice President Chester Arthur. The book is praised for its engaging storytelling and meticulous research.

In this book, Leo Strauss argues that there is a firm foundation in reality for the distinction between right and wrong in ethics and politics. He contrasts classical natural right, as expounded by Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and Thomas Aquinas, with modern natural right, which began with Thomas Hobbes and was further developed by thinkers like Locke, Rousseau, and Burke. Strauss critiques modern natural right for leading to historicist relativism and argues that classical natural right is more in line with human nature as political animals. The book is a comprehensive analysis of the intellectual crisis of modernity and the role of philosophy in understanding natural right.