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  • Experts

Liberalism

Most Recommended Books

On Liberty by John Stuart Mill

“On Liberty is the classic statement of traditional liberal values about the limits of state coercion. It’s an eloquent argument for personal liberty on the grounds that it’s the condition in which human beings are most likely to flourish and be happy.”

Jonathan Sumption,

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Winner-Take-All Politics by Jacob S Hacker and Paul Pierson

“This book is about rising inequality and it traces back to fundamental causes. I like books that get back to ultimate causes and that think like social scientists about these causes. The question is, ‘Why is inequality getting worse in so many different countries?’ This book particularly focuses on the US. There are a number of traditional answers, but the most prominent among them is this idea that in a modern economy there is a skill bias in technical change. Our computers and communications have led to a winner-take-all society, where only the really smart can make money.”

Robert J Shiller, Economist

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The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

“This is the great American novel for me—the humanity, the landscapes, the progressive and political and social ethos of the novel, not to mention the amazing characters. Steinbeck is the American Dickens, at least in terms of social consciousness.”

Jonathan Evison, Novelist

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In the 1990s, liberalism of one stamp or another seemed to be sweeping all other ideologies before it. Now it appears to be foundering. Not only is it rejected as a political philosophy by the political establishment in China, Russia, across much of the Middle East and elsewhere, but it is also under siege in its traditional heartlands in North America and Western Europe. Here you can kind find books looking at every aspect of liberalism, its beliefs, history and evolution.

The journalist and author Franklin Foer looks at the roots of liberalism and Columbia University historian, Eric Foner, the evolution of liberalism. Nobel prize-winning economist Paul Krugman discusses the books that inspired him and former leader of the UK’s Liberal Democratic Party, Nick Clegg, selects his favourite books. Three of our interviewees, including Nick Clegg, choose Five Books' most recommended book, John Stuart Mill's On Liberty.

We have interviews recommending books dedicated to the central tenets of liberalism. The journalist John Kampfner chooses his best books on freedom, while Timothy Stanton, professor of politics at York University, recommends books exploring the notion of toleration. Expert on the subject Claire Fox—a broadcaster, former MEP and director of the Academy of Ideas—chooses her top books on freedom of speech.

Many of our interviews on liberalism look at the American experience; we have, for example, a series recommending books on “progressivism”. Former Secretary of State John Kerry selects his top five books on progressivism and talks about what he means by the term. Former mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa discusses progressive America  and the pro-choice activist Cecile Richards assesses how progressives can make a difference. The environmental campaigner and civil rights activist Van Jones addresses change in America, while the noted progressive blogger, Matthew Yglesias, explains his influences. Keith Ellison, the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, also talks about what progressivism means to him.

    Nick Clegg on his Favourite Books

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    Nick Clegg on his Favourite Books - On Liberty by John Stuart Mill

    1

    On Liberty
    by John Stuart Mill

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    Nick Clegg on his Favourite Books - The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov

    2

    The Master and Margarita
    by Mikhail Bulgakov

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    Nick Clegg on his Favourite Books - The Leopard by Giuseppe Tomasi Di Lampedusa

    3

    The Leopard
    by Giuseppe Tomasi Di Lampedusa

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    Nick Clegg on his Favourite Books - The Story of San Michele by Axel Munthe

    4

    The Story of San Michele
    by Axel Munthe

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    Nick Clegg on his Favourite Books - Le Grand Meaulnes by Alain Fournier

    5

    Le Grand Meaulnes
    by Alain Fournier

Nick Clegg on his Favourite Books

Much as some Brexiteers like to pretend it isn’t, England is not only in Europe, but has been, in various centuries and in various ways, at the very heart of it. The former Deputy Prime Minister of the UK, Nick Clegg, discusses his favourite European novels and the founding text of his own political ideology, liberalism.

    Books that Inspired a Liberal Economist, recommended by Paul Krugman

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    Books that Inspired a Liberal Economist - Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov

    1

    Foundation Trilogy
    by Isaac Asimov

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    Books that Inspired a Liberal Economist - An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding by David Hume

    2

    An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding
    by David Hume

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    Books that Inspired a Liberal Economist - The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money by John Maynard Keynes

    3

    The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money
    by John Maynard Keynes

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    Books that Inspired a Liberal Economist - Essays in Persuasion by John Maynard Keynes

    4

    Essays in Persuasion
    by John Maynard Keynes

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    Books that Inspired a Liberal Economist - Essays in Economics by James Tobin

    5

    Essays in Economics
    by James Tobin

Books that Inspired a Liberal Economist, recommended by Paul Krugman

Paul Krugman, Nobel prize-winning economist, Op-Ed columnist for the New York Times, and Emeritus Professor of Economics and International Affairs at Princeton, discusses the books that most influenced his formation as a liberal economist.

    The best books on Progressivism, recommended by Keith Ellison

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    The best books on Progressivism - Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story by Martin Luther King Jr

    1

    Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story
    by Martin Luther King Jr

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    The best books on Progressivism - The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X

    2

    The Autobiography of Malcolm X
    by Malcolm X

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    The best books on Progressivism - The Two-Income Trap by Elizabeth Warren and Amelia Tyagi

    3

    The Two-Income Trap
    by Elizabeth Warren and Amelia Tyagi

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    The best books on Progressivism - Winner-Take-All Politics by Jacob S Hacker and Paul Pierson

    4

    Winner-Take-All Politics
    by Jacob S Hacker and Paul Pierson

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    The best books on Progressivism - God’s Politics by Jim Wallis

    5

    God’s Politics
    by Jim Wallis

The best books on Progressivism, recommended by Keith Ellison

As American congressman Keith Ellison—the first Muslim elected to Congress—enters the race to chair the Democratic National Committee, reread this interview on the cause he stands for: progressivism — and the best books to read to fully understand it.

    The best books on The Evolution of Liberalism, recommended by Eric Foner

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    The best books on The Evolution of Liberalism - The Tragedy of American Diplomacy by William Appleman Williams

    1

    The Tragedy of American Diplomacy
    by William Appleman Williams

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    The best books on The Evolution of Liberalism - The End of Reform by Alan Brinkley

    2

    The End of Reform
    by Alan Brinkley

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    The best books on The Evolution of Liberalism - Pivotal Decade by Judith Stein

    3

    Pivotal Decade
    by Judith Stein

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    The best books on The Evolution of Liberalism - To Stand and Fight by Martha Biondi

    4

    To Stand and Fight
    by Martha Biondi

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    The best books on The Evolution of Liberalism - The Feminist Promise by Christine Stansell

    5

    The Feminist Promise
    by Christine Stansell

The best books on The Evolution of Liberalism, recommended by Eric Foner

Historian Eric Foner chooses five books illustrating how concepts of American liberalism have changed over the past 50 years, and about the tension that lies at the heart of liberalism today.

    The best books on Freedom of Speech, recommended by Claire Fox

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    The best books on Freedom of Speech - On Liberty by John Stuart Mill

    1

    On Liberty
    by John Stuart Mill

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    The best books on Freedom of Speech - On Tolerance by Frank Furedi

    2

    On Tolerance
    by Frank Furedi

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    The best books on Freedom of Speech - The Human Stain by Philip Roth

    3

    The Human Stain
    by Philip Roth

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    The best books on Freedom of Speech - The Crucible by Arthur Miller

    4

    The Crucible
    by Arthur Miller

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    The best books on Freedom of Speech - Alone in Berlin by Hans Fallada

    5

    Alone in Berlin
    by Hans Fallada

The best books on Freedom of Speech, recommended by Claire Fox

Modern society has interpreted John Stuart Mill’s concept of tolerance to mean that we should avoid giving offence. The director of the Institute of Ideas tells us about books that show how far we’ve departed from what was meant

    The best books on Progressive America, recommended by Antonio Villaraigosa

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    The best books on Progressive America - The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

    1

    The Grapes of Wrath
    by John Steinbeck

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    The best books on Progressive America - A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

    2

    A Tale of Two Cities
    by Charles Dickens

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    The best books on Progressive America - To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

    3

    To Kill a Mockingbird
    by Harper Lee

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    The best books on Progressive America - Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin

    4

    Team of Rivals
    by Doris Kearns Goodwin

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    The best books on Progressive America - John Adams by David McCullough

    5

    John Adams
    by David McCullough

The best books on Progressive America, recommended by Antonio Villaraigosa

In the last of our series of interviews on American progressivism, the mayor of Los Angeles chooses five novels and biographies that provide lessons from the past and show what a democratic society should aspire to be

    The best books on Progressivism, recommended by John Kerry

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    The best books on Progressivism - Silent Spring by Rachel Carson

    1

    Silent Spring
    by Rachel Carson

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    The best books on Progressivism - The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

    2

    The Grapes of Wrath
    by John Steinbeck

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    The best books on Progressivism - Letter from the Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr

    3

    Letter from the Birmingham Jail
    by Martin Luther King Jr

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    The best books on Progressivism - The Conscience of a Liberal by Paul Wellstone

    4

    The Conscience of a Liberal
    by Paul Wellstone

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    The best books on Progressivism - The Other America by Michael Harrington

    5

    The Other America
    by Michael Harrington

The best books on Progressivism, recommended by John Kerry

John Kerry, the 68th United States Secretary of State, picks five books that every progressive should read, and discusses the divide in America between the haves and have-nots

    Influences of a Progressive Blogger, recommended by Matthew Yglesias

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    Influences of a Progressive Blogger - Sovereign Virtue by Ronald Dworkin

    1

    Sovereign Virtue
    by Ronald Dworkin

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    Influences of a Progressive Blogger - Justice, Gender, and the Family by Susan Moller Okin

    2

    Justice, Gender, and the Family
    by Susan Moller Okin

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    Influences of a Progressive Blogger - The American Political Tradition by Richard Hofstadter

    3

    The American Political Tradition
    by Richard Hofstadter

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    Influences of a Progressive Blogger - Winner-Take-All Politics by Jacob S Hacker and Paul Pierson

    4

    Winner-Take-All Politics
    by Jacob S Hacker and Paul Pierson

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    Influences of a Progressive Blogger - Collapse by Jared Diamond

    5

    Collapse
    by Jared Diamond

Influences of a Progressive Blogger, recommended by Matthew Yglesias

The prominent left wing blogger tells us what books have shaped his worldview. He explains why America needs to wake up to the forces preventing change, and better understand the root causes of its political deadlock

    The best books on How Progressives Can Make a Difference, recommended by Cecile Richards

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    The best books on How Progressives Can Make a Difference - A Hope in the Unseen by Ron Suskind

    1

    A Hope in the Unseen
    by Ron Suskind

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    The best books on How Progressives Can Make a Difference - How the Pro-Choice Movement Saved America by Cristina Page

    2

    How the Pro-Choice Movement Saved America
    by Cristina Page

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    The best books on How Progressives Can Make a Difference - Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton

    3

    Cry, The Beloved Country
    by Alan Paton

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    The best books on How Progressives Can Make a Difference - Rain of Gold by Víctor Villaseñor

    4

    Rain of Gold
    by Víctor Villaseñor

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    The best books on How Progressives Can Make a Difference - Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder

    5

    Mountains Beyond Mountains
    by Tracy Kidder

The best books on How Progressives Can Make a Difference, recommended by Cecile Richards

Cecile Richards, American pro-choice activist and former president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, discusses the stories of struggle and resilience that have inspired her and can give encouragement to others seeking change

    The best books on The Roots of Liberalism, recommended by Franklin Foer

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    The best books on The Roots of Liberalism - The State by Woodrow Wilson

    1

    The State
    by Woodrow Wilson

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    The best books on The Roots of Liberalism - The Metaphysical Club by Louis Menand

    2

    The Metaphysical Club
    by Louis Menand

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    The best books on The Roots of Liberalism - The Promise of American Life by Herbert Croly

    3

    The Promise of American Life
    by Herbert Croly

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    The best books on The Roots of Liberalism - The Age of Reform by Richard Hofstadter

    4

    The Age of Reform
    by Richard Hofstadter

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    The best books on The Roots of Liberalism - The Paradox of American Democracy by John Judis

    5

    The Paradox of American Democracy
    by John Judis

The best books on The Roots of Liberalism, recommended by Franklin Foer

Our weekly series on American progressivism continues with the journalist and author discussing the genesis of liberalism – and how the Civil War remade politics

    The best books on Change in America, recommended by Van Jones

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    The best books on Change in America - The Bridge by David Remnick

    1

    The Bridge
    by David Remnick

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    The best books on Change in America - Means of Ascent by Robert A Caro

    2

    Means of Ascent
    by Robert A Caro

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    The best books on Change in America - In Struggle by Clayborne Carson

    3

    In Struggle
    by Clayborne Carson

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    The best books on Change in America - A Poetics of Resistance by Jeff Conant

    4

    A Poetics of Resistance
    by Jeff Conant

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    The best books on Change in America - Natural Capitalism by Amory Lovins, L. Hunter Lovins & Paul Hawken

    5

    Natural Capitalism
    by Amory Lovins, L. Hunter Lovins & Paul Hawken

The best books on Change in America, recommended by Van Jones

In the latest instalment of our series on American progressivism, the environmental advocate and human rights activist tells us why the age of Obama will really only begin after the president has left office

    The best books on Freedom, recommended by John Kampfner

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    The best books on Freedom - Smoke and Mirrors by Pallavi Aiyar

    1

    Smoke and Mirrors
    by Pallavi Aiyar

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    The best books on Freedom - Yeltsin by Timothy J Colton

    2

    Yeltsin
    by Timothy J Colton

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    The best books on Freedom - Russia, Lost in Transition by Lilia Shevtsova

    3

    Russia, Lost in Transition
    by Lilia Shevtsova

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    The best books on Freedom - Freedom for the Thought That We Hate by Anthony Lewis

    4

    Freedom for the Thought That We Hate
    by Anthony Lewis

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    The best books on Freedom - The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

    5

    The Thing Around Your Neck
    by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

The best books on Freedom, recommended by John Kampfner

The veteran British journalist and chief executive of Index on Censorship  discusses five books that address concepts of democracy and freedom

    The best books on Toleration, recommended by Timothy Stanton

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    The best books on Toleration - A Letter Concerning Toleration by John Locke

    1

    A Letter Concerning Toleration
    by John Locke

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    The best books on Toleration - On Liberty by John Stuart Mill

    2

    On Liberty
    by John Stuart Mill

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    The best books on Toleration - Justifying Toleration by Susan Mendus

    3

    Justifying Toleration
    by Susan Mendus

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    The best books on Toleration - Toleranz im Konflikt by Rainer Forst

    4

    Toleranz im Konflikt
    by Rainer Forst

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    The best books on Toleration - Regulating Aversion by Wendy Brown

    5

    Regulating Aversion
    by Wendy Brown

The best books on Toleration, recommended by Timothy Stanton

Toleration is an ideal of conduct which involves putting up with something you find objectionable, says Professor Timothy Stanton. He chooses the best five books on toleration, from John Locke to more recent works.

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We ask experts to recommend the five best books in their subject and explain their selection in an interview.

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