Politics Books Recommendations for a Dummy?

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civilwar

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Hi, hopefully this is in the right subforum.
I have many non-Catholic friends, and often they talk about politics and other issues.
Sometimes I feel like I am pretty unknowledgable about these issues.
As a Catholic I know that I don’t agree with systems like Socialism and Communism, but I can’t really express WHY in logical terms. I’m not sure about how the whole political system works.

Long story short I want to educate myself on social issues from a Catholic or even unbiased Non-Catholic perspective and any book/website recommendations are welcomed.

As well as politics, any other good books that will help me expand my ability to debate and speak about current issues in a group, be they about philosophy, thelology, economics, are
also welcome.

I’m only beginning to learn about these things, so nothing overly complicated please!!!
 
P.S I live in Ireland, so books about the American political system are welcome but maybe not as relevant to me.
 
A book from the 1990s is useful; EJ Dionne’s Why Americans Hate Politics. . . just a good general background.
 
Have you thought of reading the social encyclicals of the Church?

Rerum Novarum – “Of New Things” (1891)
Quadragesimo Anno – “On the Fortieth Year” (1931)
Mater et Magistra – “Mother and Teacher” (1961)
Pacem in Terris – “Peace on Earth” (1963)
Gaudium et Spes – “The Joys and Hopes” (1965)
Dignitatis Humanae – “Human Dignity” (1965)
Populorum Progressio - “The Progress of Peoples” (1967)
Octogesima Adveniens – “On the Eightieth Year” (1971)
Laborem Exercens - “Through Work” (1981)
Sollicitudo Rei Socialis – “The Social Concern of the Church” (1987)
Centesimus Annus – “The One Hundredth Year” (1991)
Evangelium Vitae - “The Gospel of Life” (1995)
Caritas in Veritate – “Charity in Truth” (2009)

All avaliable on the Vatican website, or to buy from CTS for example.

Should keep you busy for a while! 😉
 
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