By Connor Boyack
Illustrated by Elijah Stanfield
4Rbooks: 5.5/6, Grades 4+
Amazon rating: 4.8/5.0 and 4.8/5.0,
Good Reads: 4.40/5, 4.51/5
Common Sense Media: no reviews
Synopsis:
Ethan and Emily Tuttle are back with new lessons in the constitution, government, free-market capitalism, the education system, and much more. In these two new books the nine-year-old twins tackle big government and personal responsibility.
In the Leviathan Crisis they are confronted by demagogues, rulers who appeal to people’s desires and prejudices to gain power, which grows with each new crisis.
In 12 Rules Boot Camp the twins help their young uncle realize what it takes to become personally successful, not in monetary gains and fame, but by taking personal responsibility for themselves and their community.
Parental Guidance: Low
There is nothing in these books that is inappropriate, unless….
Recommendation: High if…
I reviewed the first 11 books in this series back in October of 2020. I didn’t realize there were two new books until recently. Here is what I wrote about those first 11. It still holds true about these new books.
If your political and economic beliefs lean more conservative and free market, this is an excellent set of books for teaching those concepts to your children. 3-5 graders would be best as a read along. Middle school students should be able to handle the concepts on their own, with an occasional clarification question. I think teenagers and adults would also find these books as an easy, but useful read and reminder of conservative principles.
If your political and economic beliefs lean more progressive, these books probably won’t interest you. Unless you want to learn what the other side believes to bulk up your counter arguments.
Each book is based on the writings of thinkers and philosophers from the past. A short biography of the person, and short review of their writings is provided at the end of the book. Great resource for deeper study.
Leviathan Crisis details how governments take advantage of crises to prey on people’s fears with reassurances of protection and programs to help which then leads to more programs and ultimately less freedoms.
12 Rules Boot Camp is based on Jordan Peterson’s book, 12 Rules for Life.
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