In its "Radical Reads Report" for the 2023–2024 academic year, Young America's Foundation (YAF) examined texts that were assigned or recommended by universities participating in Penguin Random House's "Common Reads" program, the largest national initiative of its sort in higher education.
"Many of these titles are very much in line with the Left's ideology," Nick Baker, assistant editor of YAF's campus news website, the New Guard, relays.
According to the report, 142 liberal books, 118 neutral books, 39 books "with an unclear bias," and one conservative book were assigned or recommended.
"Nation of Victims" by Vivek Ramaswamy was the lone conservative selection.
"He goes into the reasons why he believes that America should stray away from this victimhood culture and really go back to the values of what it means to be an American -- hard work, not viewing yourself as a victim of every little thing," Baker details about the presidential candidate's book.
He asserts that YAF is not opposed to liberal books being given to students; they simply do not want a one-sided narrative being pushed.
"Students can read all they want from Marx or Michelle Obama, but they should also be able to hear perspectives from prominent conservatives like Ben Shapiro and so many others in order to get the proper balance," Baker submits.
He concludes that a better program would be for schools to assign two books coming from opposing viewpoints so that students can make arguments as to why they agree and disagree with each side on a given issue.
