Summer offers something that’s often in short supply during the rest of the year: time to think.
This year’s Pelican Institute Summer Reading List explores the ideas, institutions, and communities that shape American life. From civic engagement and economic literacy to leadership, history, and emerging technology, these recommendations offer something for readers of every age who are curious about how a free society works—and how we can strengthen it for the future.
Whether you’re looking for a quick article to read over lunch, a thought-provoking book for vacation, or a new favorite for the young readers in your life, we’ve got you covered.
Happy reading!
The GUARD Act Puts Policymakers, Not Parents, in Charge of Kids’ AI Use
As artificial intelligence becomes a larger part of everyday life, policymakers face important questions about innovation, privacy, and parental authority. This timely article explores who should make decisions about children’s use of emerging technologies and the tradeoffs that come with government regulation.
Best for: Readers interested in technology, innovation, and public policy.
[Read the article →]
A Message to Garcia
This classic essay has inspired readers for more than a century with its message about initiative, personal responsibility, and getting things done without constant direction. Short enough to read in one sitting, its lessons remain surprisingly relevant today.
Best for:Professionals, leaders, and lifelong learners.
[Read the essay →]
Bowling Alone
by Robert Putnam
What happens when people stop joining clubs, attending community events, and participating in civic life? Putnam’s influential work examines the decline of social capital in America and the consequences for communities, institutions, and democracy.
Best for: Readers interested in community, civic engagement, and American culture.
Buckley: The Life and the Revolution That Changed America
by Sam Tanenhaus
William F. Buckley Jr. helped shape modern American conservatism, but his story is about far more than politics. This sweeping biography explores the life of one of the twentieth century’s most influential public intellectuals and the movement he helped build.
Buckley’s life reminds us that ideas matter, institutions matter, and defending principle sometimes means challenging allies as well as opponents.
Best for: Readers interested in American history, political thought, and intellectual leadership.
The Invisible Heart
by Russell Roberts
Economics books don’t always read like novels. This one does. Through an engaging story, Roberts explores how markets, incentives, and human behavior influence everyday decisions, making economic thinking approachable and memorable.
Best for: Readers looking for an accessible introduction to economics.
Basic Economics
by Thomas Sowell
One of the most accessible introductions to economics ever written. Sowell explains how incentives, markets, and public policy affect everyday life without relying on technical jargon or complicated formulas.
Best for: Anyone who wants to better understand how the economy works.
Tuttle Twins
by Connor Boyack
The Tuttle Twins series introduces children to big ideas through fun stories and memorable characters. Topics include entrepreneurship, personal responsibility, innovation, and the principles of a free society.
Best for: Curious young readers ages 5–12 and family read-alouds.
Henry, the Star-Spangled Spaniel
by Sara M. Carlson
This patriotic story helps younger readers explore American history through an engaging and age-appropriate adventure while encouraging curiosity about our nation’s founding ideals.
Best for:Elementary-age readers and families celebrating America’s 250th anniversary.
