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Politics & Society » Page 18

Politics Books

recommended by political scientists and historians

Last updated: May 06, 2025

    The best books on The Iraq War, recommended by Patrick Cockburn

  • Read
    The best books on The Iraq War - The Occupation of Iraq by Ali A Allawi

    1

    The Occupation of Iraq
    by Ali A Allawi

  • Read
    The best books on The Iraq War - Fiasco by Thomas E Ricks

    2

    Fiasco
    by Thomas E Ricks

  • Read
    The best books on The Iraq War - The Old Social Classes and the Revolutionary Movement in Iraq by Hanna Batatu

    3

    The Old Social Classes and the Revolutionary Movement in Iraq
    by Hanna Batatu

  • Read
    The best books on The Iraq War - Aftermath by Nir Rosen

    4

    Aftermath
    by Nir Rosen

  • Read
    The best books on The Iraq War - After Such Knowledge, What Forgiveness? by Jonathan Randal

    5

    After Such Knowledge, What Forgiveness?
    by Jonathan Randal

  • The veteran Middle East correspondent gives us his tips for the best reading about the US-led invasion and occupation, and explains why the West shouldn’t have intervened in Iraq in the first place

  • The best books on The Iraq War - The Occupation of Iraq by Ali A Allawi
  • The best books on The Iraq War - Fiasco by Thomas E Ricks
  • The best books on The Iraq War - The Old Social Classes and the Revolutionary Movement in Iraq by Hanna Batatu
  • The best books on The Iraq War - Aftermath by Nir Rosen
  • The best books on The Iraq War - After Such Knowledge, What Forgiveness? by Jonathan Randal

The best books on The Iraq War, recommended by Patrick Cockburn

The veteran Middle East correspondent gives us his tips for the best reading about the US-led invasion and occupation, and explains why the West shouldn’t have intervened in Iraq in the first place

The best books on The Iraq War, recommended by Patrick Cockburn

    The best books on Progressivism, recommended by John Kerry

  • Read
    The best books on Progressivism - Silent Spring by Rachel Carson

    1

    Silent Spring
    by Rachel Carson

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

    2

    The Grapes of Wrath
    by John Steinbeck

  • Read
    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

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

    4

    The Conscience of a Liberal
    by Paul Wellstone

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

    5

    The Other America
    by Michael Harrington

  • 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

  • The best books on Progressivism - Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
  • The best books on Progressivism - The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
  • The best books on Progressivism - Letter from the Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr
  • The best books on Progressivism - The Conscience of a Liberal by Paul Wellstone
  • The best books on Progressivism - 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

The best books on Progressivism, recommended by John Kerry

    The best books on Origins of the Arab Uprising, recommended by Marc Lynch

  • Read
    The best books on Origins of the Arab Uprising - Life as Politics by Asef Bayat

    1

    Life as Politics
    by Asef Bayat

  • Read
    The best books on Origins of the Arab Uprising - Algeria by Martin Evans and John Phillips

    2

    Algeria
    by Martin Evans and John Phillips

  • Read
    The best books on Origins of the Arab Uprising - Rethinking Islamist Politics by Salwa Ismail

    3

    Rethinking Islamist Politics
    by Salwa Ismail

  • Read
    The best books on Origins of the Arab Uprising - The Struggle for Syria by Patrick Seale

    4

    The Struggle for Syria
    by Patrick Seale

  • Read
    The best books on Origins of the Arab Uprising - Ambiguities of Domination by Lisa Wedeen

    5

    Ambiguities of Domination
    by Lisa Wedeen

  • The Middle East scholar tells us what to read if we’re to understand where upheaval in the Arab world came from, and where it’s going.

  • The best books on Origins of the Arab Uprising - Life as Politics by Asef Bayat
  • The best books on Origins of the Arab Uprising - Algeria by Martin Evans and John Phillips
  • The best books on Origins of the Arab Uprising - Rethinking Islamist Politics by Salwa Ismail
  • The best books on Origins of the Arab Uprising - The Struggle for Syria by Patrick Seale
  • The best books on Origins of the Arab Uprising - Ambiguities of Domination by Lisa Wedeen

The best books on Origins of the Arab Uprising, recommended by Marc Lynch

The Middle East scholar tells us what to read if we’re to understand where upheaval in the Arab world came from, and where it’s going.

The best books on Origins of the Arab Uprising, recommended by Marc Lynch

    Influences of a Progressive Blogger, recommended by Matthew Yglesias

  • Read
    Influences of a Progressive Blogger - Sovereign Virtue by Ronald Dworkin

    1

    Sovereign Virtue
    by Ronald Dworkin

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

    2

    Justice, Gender, and the Family
    by Susan Moller Okin

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

    3

    The American Political Tradition
    by Richard Hofstadter

  • Read
    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

  • Read
    Influences of a Progressive Blogger - Collapse by Jared Diamond

    5

    Collapse
    by Jared Diamond

  • 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

  • Influences of a Progressive Blogger - Sovereign Virtue by Ronald Dworkin
  • Influences of a Progressive Blogger - Justice, Gender, and the Family by Susan Moller Okin
  • Influences of a Progressive Blogger - The American Political Tradition by Richard Hofstadter
  • Influences of a Progressive Blogger - Winner-Take-All Politics by Jacob S Hacker and Paul Pierson
  • Influences of a Progressive Blogger - 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

Influences of a Progressive Blogger, recommended by Matthew Yglesias

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

  • Read
    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

  • Read
    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

  • Read
    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

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

    4

    Rain of Gold
    by Víctor Villaseñor

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

    5

    Mountains Beyond Mountains
    by Tracy Kidder

  • 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 How Progressives Can Make a Difference - A Hope in the Unseen by Ron Suskind
  • The best books on How Progressives Can Make a Difference - How the Pro-Choice Movement Saved America by Cristina Page
  • The best books on How Progressives Can Make a Difference - Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton
  • The best books on How Progressives Can Make a Difference - Rain of Gold by Víctor Villaseñor
  • The best books on How Progressives Can Make a Difference - 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 How Progressives Can Make a Difference, recommended by Cecile Richards

    The best books on Journalism in the Internet Age, recommended by Jay Rosen

  • Read
    The best books on Journalism in the Internet Age - Edit This Page by Dave Winer

    1

    Edit This Page
    by Dave Winer

  • Read
    The best books on Journalism in the Internet Age - Open-source journalism by Andrew Leonard

    2

    Open-source journalism
    by Andrew Leonard

  • Read
    The best books on Journalism in the Internet Age - Online News Association Conference Keynote Address, November 12th, 2004 by Tom Curley

    3

    Online News Association Conference Keynote Address, November 12th, 2004
    by Tom Curley

  • Read
    The best books on Journalism in the Internet Age - What is the 1% Rule? by Charles Arthur

    4

    What is the 1% Rule?
    by Charles Arthur

  • Read
    The best books on Journalism in the Internet Age - Newspapers and Thinking the Unthinkable by Clay Shirky

    5

    Newspapers and Thinking the Unthinkable
    by Clay Shirky

  • In a break from our usual practice of focusing on books, we asked the journalism analyst and veteran blogger Jay Rosen to recommend five articles illustrating the upheavals of the news business

  • The best books on Journalism in the Internet Age - Edit This Page by Dave Winer
  • The best books on Journalism in the Internet Age - Open-source journalism by Andrew Leonard
  • The best books on Journalism in the Internet Age - Online News Association Conference Keynote Address, November 12th, 2004 by Tom Curley
  • The best books on Journalism in the Internet Age - What is the 1% Rule? by Charles Arthur
  • The best books on Journalism in the Internet Age - Newspapers and Thinking the Unthinkable by Clay Shirky

The best books on Journalism in the Internet Age, recommended by Jay Rosen

In a break from our usual practice of focusing on books, we asked the journalism analyst and veteran blogger Jay Rosen to recommend five articles illustrating the upheavals of the news business

The best books on Journalism in the Internet Age, recommended by Jay Rosen

    The best books on Dutch Women (and Happiness), recommended by Ellen de Bruin

  • Read
    The best books on Dutch Women (and Happiness) - French Women Don’t Get Fat by Mireille Guiliano

    1

    French Women Don’t Get Fat
    by Mireille Guiliano

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    The best books on Dutch Women (and Happiness) - Women and the Birth of Capitalism in Western Europe by Jan Luiten van Zanden & Tine de Moor

    2

    Women and the Birth of Capitalism in Western Europe
    by Jan Luiten van Zanden & Tine de Moor

  • Read
    The best books on Dutch Women (and Happiness) - On Blondes by Joanna Pitman

    3

    On Blondes
    by Joanna Pitman

  • Read
    The best books on Dutch Women (and Happiness) - The Encyclopedia of Stupidity by Matthijs van Boxsel

    4

    The Encyclopedia of Stupidity
    by Matthijs van Boxsel

  • Read
    The best books on Dutch Women (and Happiness) - Freedom by Jonathan Franzen

    5

    Freedom
    by Jonathan Franzen

  • The Dutch science journalist takes a light-hearted look at national stereotypes: why Dutch women are happy, and what it means to be blonde. She picks the best books on Dutch women.

  • The best books on Dutch Women (and Happiness) - French Women Don’t Get Fat by Mireille Guiliano
  • The best books on Dutch Women (and Happiness) - Women and the Birth of Capitalism in Western Europe by Jan Luiten van Zanden & Tine de Moor
  • The best books on Dutch Women (and Happiness) - On Blondes by Joanna Pitman
  • The best books on Dutch Women (and Happiness) - The Encyclopedia of Stupidity by Matthijs van Boxsel
  • The best books on Dutch Women (and Happiness) - Freedom by Jonathan Franzen

The best books on Dutch Women (and Happiness), recommended by Ellen de Bruin

The Dutch science journalist takes a light-hearted look at national stereotypes: why Dutch women are happy, and what it means to be blonde. She picks the best books on Dutch women.

The best books on Dutch Women (and Happiness), recommended by Ellen de Bruin

    The best books on Bringing Change to America, recommended by Andy Stern

  • Read
    The best books on Bringing Change to America - A Country That Works by Andy Stern

    1

    A Country That Works
    by Andy Stern

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    The best books on Bringing Change to America - Future Shock by Alvin Toffler

    2

    Future Shock
    by Alvin Toffler

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    The best books on Bringing Change to America - Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut

    3

    Cat’s Cradle
    by Kurt Vonnegut

  • Read
    The best books on Bringing Change to America - Taking Charge by Byrd Baggett

    4

    Taking Charge
    by Byrd Baggett

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    The best books on Bringing Change to America - The Tipping Point by Malcom Gladwell

    5

    The Tipping Point
    by Malcom Gladwell

  • The former union boss shares his reading list for American progressives, and tells us what makes a good leader and how it takes only a few committed people to bring change

  • The best books on Bringing Change to America - A Country That Works by Andy Stern
  • The best books on Bringing Change to America - Future Shock by Alvin Toffler
  • The best books on Bringing Change to America - Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut
  • The best books on Bringing Change to America - Taking Charge by Byrd Baggett
  • The best books on Bringing Change to America - The Tipping Point by Malcom Gladwell

The best books on Bringing Change to America, recommended by Andy Stern

The former union boss shares his reading list for American progressives, and tells us what makes a good leader and how it takes only a few committed people to bring change

The best books on Bringing Change to America, recommended by Andy Stern

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

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

    1

    The State
    by Woodrow Wilson

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

    2

    The Metaphysical Club
    by Louis Menand

  • Read
    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

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

    4

    The Age of Reform
    by Richard Hofstadter

  • Read
    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

  • As part of our series on American progressivism, journalist and author Franklin Foer discusses the genesis of liberalism and how the American Civil War remade politics.

  • The best books on The Roots of Liberalism - The State by Woodrow Wilson
  • The best books on The Roots of Liberalism - The Metaphysical Club by Louis Menand
  • The best books on The Roots of Liberalism - The Promise of American Life by Herbert Croly
  • The best books on The Roots of Liberalism - The Age of Reform by Richard Hofstadter
  • The best books on The Roots of Liberalism - The Paradox of American Democracy by John Judis

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

As part of our series on American progressivism, journalist and author Franklin Foer discusses the genesis of liberalism and how the American Civil War remade politics.

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

    The best books on Latin American Politics, recommended by Patricio Navia

  • Read
    The best books on Latin American Politics - The Contemporary History of Latin America by Tulio Halperín Donghi

    1

    The Contemporary History of Latin America
    by Tulio Halperín Donghi

  • Read
    The best books on Latin American Politics - Forgotten Continent by Michael Reid

    2

    Forgotten Continent
    by Michael Reid

  • Read
    The best books on Latin American Politics - Left Behind by Sebastian Edwards

    3

    Left Behind
    by Sebastian Edwards

  • Read
    The best books on Latin American Politics - The Economic History of Latin America since Independence by Victor Bulmer-Thomas

    4

    The Economic History of Latin America since Independence
    by Victor Bulmer-Thomas

  • Read
    The best books on Latin American Politics - Leftovers by Jorge G Castañeda and Marco A Morales

    5

    Leftovers
    by Jorge G Castañeda and Marco A Morales

  • Political scientist Patricio Navia discusses how the identity of Latin America is inextricably bound up with its colonial history, why Latin American voters elect left-wing leaders, and how social inclusion is necessary for Latin America to realise its full potential

  • The best books on Latin American Politics - The Contemporary History of Latin America by Tulio Halperín Donghi
  • The best books on Latin American Politics - Forgotten Continent by Michael Reid
  • The best books on Latin American Politics - Left Behind by Sebastian Edwards
  • The best books on Latin American Politics - The Economic History of Latin America since Independence by Victor Bulmer-Thomas
  • The best books on Latin American Politics - Leftovers by Jorge G Castañeda and Marco A Morales

The best books on Latin American Politics, recommended by Patricio Navia

Political scientist Patricio Navia discusses how the identity of Latin America is inextricably bound up with its colonial history, why Latin American voters elect left-wing leaders, and how social inclusion is necessary for Latin America to realise its full potential

The best books on Latin American Politics, recommended by Patricio Navia
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