Herbert Hoover was a man of many talents: engineer, successful businessman, President of the United States of America and Elder Political Statesman. Hoover's life experiences shaped his values and these values are embodied in four of his own books: De Re Metallica, Principles of Mining, American Individualism, and The Challenge to Liberty. These four works illuminate his intellectual development. It will be these four works by Hoover that will be examined in the context of his life and his intellectual development.