10 Books That Screwed Up the World

10 Books That Screwed Up the World: And 5 Others That Didn't Help seems like the type of book to review on April 1st. Somehow. If you have a sarcastic and somewhat twisted sense of humor, that is. But let's not go there, ok?

10 Books That Screwed Up the World indulges so many of my thoughts. It plays off of my strengths and my weaknesses. I liked it entirely too much. I saw the title and immediately I thought, "I MUST read this book!" It wasn't a "oh, I should read that book . . . someday." It was a "I MUST read this book NOW!"

Benajamin Wilker, Ph.D. is the author and his basic premise is that ideas have consequences. Based on that belief, he talks specifically about ten books whose ideas had far reaching consequences and not all together positive ones. He writes from a politically conservative position and that of a Christian. That said, there are a lot of people out there that wouldn't agree point blank with his conclusions, although I myself think they make sense.

Imagine that I'm giving you a playful slug on the shoulder as I say, "AWW, come on! Just read one chapter! It won't kill you." And then I grin mischievously and laugh a goofy laugh. That's about how I feel about this book. It's playful good fun (to me) while being completely and utterly serious.

Wilker hits on Machiavelli's The Prince, Marz & Engels's Communist Manifesto, Darwin's The Descent of Man, Hitlers Mein Kampf and Kinsey's Sexual Behavior, among others. Wilker does not argue that these books should be banned. On the contrary, he says that they ought to be read because they ARE so influential. Only he wouldn't suggest that you read to agree but read to understand where the flaws are. Again, it's all back to ideas having consequences. Darwin prompted eugenics with his book and Hitler laid the course with his. Ideas can take you places and Wilker reminds us that we shouldn't take that for granted. On the contrary, words can wield great power and we need to be aware of what people are saying and thinking so that we can respond appropriately.

I thought this book was well written and well thought out. I highly recommend it for a good time and a deep thought (or two or three). It's a worthwhile read AND a worthy read if it makes you think for one second that what YOU say and do will also matter. Because it will.