#37 Sun and Steel - Yukio Mishima

Mein Kampf, written by Adolf Hitler while he was imprisoned following the failed Beer Hall Putsch in 1923, is a two-volume work that combines autobiography and political treatise. The book details Hitler's early life, his experiences during World War I, and his increasing antisemitism and militarism. It outlines his vision for Germany, including the need for Lebensraum (living space) in Eastern Europe, and his racist and anti-Semitic views. The work became the central text of National Socialism and a blueprint for Hitler's policies, including aggressive foreign policy and the persecution of Jews and other minority groups.

Yukio Mishima's "Sun and Steel" is a unique blend of autobiography, philosophical essay, and physical training manual. Mishima details his rigorous physical training regimen, emphasizing its impact on his mental and creative life. He connects physical discipline with spiritual and artistic growth, arguing that the body is a crucial vessel for self-expression and self-discovery. The book offers a compelling exploration of the relationship between physical strength, mental fortitude, and artistic creation. It remains a powerful testament to Mishima's dedication to self-improvement and his complex artistic vision.

The Turner Diaries is a novel that depicts a fictional white supremacist revolution in the United States. Written by William Luther Pierce under the pseudonym Andrew Macdonald, the book is presented as a diary kept by the protagonist, Earl Turner. The narrative details Turner's involvement in a violent uprising against the U.S. government and other perceived enemies of white supremacy. The book has been widely criticized for its extremist and racist content.

Written in 1785 while Marquis de Sade was imprisoned in the Bastille, this novel tells the story of four wealthy men who lock themselves in a castle with various accomplices and victims. The narrative involves detailed descriptions of sexual perversions, torture, and murder, serving as a catalogue of sexual deviations and a critique of societal structures. The manuscript was lost during the French Revolution but was later rediscovered and published in 1904.

Published in 1957, 'Atlas Shrugged' is Ayn Rand's magnum opus and her longest novel. The story is set in a dystopian United States where increasingly burdensome laws and regulations strangle innovation and productivity. The plot follows Dagny Taggart, a railroad executive, and Hank Rearden, a steel magnate, as they struggle against 'looters' who exploit their work. A mysterious figure named John Galt leads a strike of productive individuals, persuading them to abandon their companies and disappear. The novel culminates with Galt's three-hour radio speech explaining his philosophy of Objectivism, which emphasizes rational self-interest, individual rights, and the importance of the human mind. The book explores themes of capitalism, property rights, and the failures of governmental coercion, presenting a provocative vision of a society in collapse and the potential for a new capitalist society based on Galt's principles.