Dear Reader,Each new year is much like the year before. And each new year holds surprises we could never have anticipated. Our resolutions do not change very greatly, year to year. We hope for more happiness than the year prior, and consider what actions or virtues might give that to us. Health, wealth, love, wisdom, and freedom—we seek the good versions but sometimes the small and venial. We wish to become more fully ourselves. Christians know that is to become more fully like Christ.

People resolve to pray more, people resolve to go to church more, the gym more, to eat less, to eat better, to drink only the point of hilarity. Many people resolve to read more.

To that end, let TAC help you and encourage you. As we at the magazine have celebrated Christmas and look forward to the new year, in an homage to an old “TAC Bookshelf” series, we have sought to share a glimpse this week of some of what the staff were reading in 2022. Our reading this year can become some of your reading in 2023.

Senior director for programs Shaun Rieley will point you to the consolations philosophy can give us in the midst of the tumults of politics. Print editor Helen Andrews has been learning about Chechnya. Staff reporter Bradley Devlin has been catching up on TAC’s archives, and you can too. There’s more from some of the rest of us, too.

On behalf of all of the staff of The American Conservative, let me wish you a blessed New Year, with happiness beside—where’er your body rides or walks, let God now be your guide.

Best,
Micah Meadowcroft
Web Editor

PS—there’s still time to support our end-of-year fundraising campaign! TAC is celebrating 20 years of conservative thought thanks to the support of readers and donors. Will you help us fight for America’s Main Streets for another 20 years? Make your tax-deductible donation today!