I think most of us here would agree that modern education is an exercise in both indoctrination and racketeering. I say that as a guy with an MS from a Tier 1 school, in case anyone thinks I'm just a bitter drop out.

Self-education is the way to go.

In that spirit, I thought I'd put together a set of books you folks would find both enlightening and enjoyable.

  1. [The Outsiders](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Outsiders_(novel). This is for the younger crowd. Many might find it funny that a book written by a woman is in the top spot here. Just read it. It is extremely congruent with TRP. Note that it was written in the 60's, before feminism had so thoroughly infected our now crumbling civilization. So, the author is quite honest about what type of men women want.

  2. Introduction to Probability Theory. An elementary understanding of probability will put a person far, far ahead in today's world. Most people, including "experts" are terrible at it. And, as a result, no other branches of learning are so abused as are probability and statistics. I would actually recommend a community college class on the subject, but this is a good text that someone can probably get through with little guidance.

  3. Rational Choice in an Uncertain World. This is a little-known, but excellent work. It is best read once you have some understanding of probability, although it's readable regardless. The bottom line is that humans, even "experts" are not particularly good at making rational choices. It serves up some models for how we operate and how to upgrade one's thought process.

  4. The Bell Curve. Charles Murray is one of the most maligned scholars alive today. He also happens to be correct in terms of just about everything he says. This is a must read. If you wish, go ahead and read Dawkins' "Mismeasure of Man" afterwards, and note how pale a response it truly is when compared to Murray's work.

  5. Starting Strength. Strength training is essential and effective. There is no better introductory book.

  6. On Killing. Some of Grossman's conclusions are off. He's one of these guys who thinks video games desensitize people and make them killers--the data just isn't there. But, the scholarship behind this work is quite good, and there are many insights into what it really means to be "alpha" and "beta." Here's a hint: it's not whether you can pick up women in a bar.

  7. The Illiad. All men should have read this classic by the time they were 12. For centuries, this was the case. I doubt many born after 1980 have. Seriously, read it.

  8. The Ranger Handbook. This is a simple, practical text on tactics, survival, and military planning. It has been the quintessential tactical handbook for the US military for half a century. Reading between the lines will give you some insight into the true purpose of Ranger School: developing thoughtful perseverence. There are few lessons more important for men of any time period.

  9. Assessment of Men. This is a catalogue of how the OSS was built in WWII. Be warned: it is heavy reading. You can skip some of the technical parts, especially in the latter half. But, the synopsis is this: the entire purpose of the selection process was to find men who could maintain frame.

  10. 1984. This book really doesn't need an explanation. Read this before you are forced to win a victory over yourself.

You'll notice that "Models" and other TRP-approved works are not included here. That's not a knock on those works, at all. But, lots of people here will have already recommended those. Beyond that, these are more fundamentally important texts.

I'd argue that the 10 books above are foundational for the education of a man. And, because of the nature of our society, many will have been obscured, even here.

This is because our society has sought to avoid and downplay the importance of power and conflict. This is the core reason why it has slowly stripped masculinity from men. So, though TRP proponents are seeking it, few have experience in conflict, as very few outlets are available to experience it honestly. You'll notice a theme in the above books; none of them shy away from power and conflict.

Understanding power and conflict is fundamental to understanding the human condition, or even life as it exists on earth. This understanding is the key that has really been lost in our sheltered civilization. TRP, a study in conflicts arising over mating, and between the sexes, is merely a sub-component of this greater body of knowledge.