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Politics & Society » Page 27

Politics Books

recommended by political scientists and historians

Last updated: March 13, 2026

    The best books on Terrorism, recommended by Mary Habeck

  • Read
    The best books on Terrorism - Inside Terrorism by Bruce Hoffman

    1

    Inside Terrorism
    by Bruce Hoffman

  • Read
    The best books on Terrorism - Understanding Terror Networks by Marc Sageman

    2

    Understanding Terror Networks
    by Marc Sageman

  • Read
    The best books on Terrorism - The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright

    3

    The Looming Tower
    by Lawrence Wright

  • Read
    The best books on Terrorism - The Accidental Guerrilla: Fighting Small Wars in the Midst of a Big One by David Kilcullen

    4

    The Accidental Guerrilla: Fighting Small Wars in the Midst of a Big One
    by David Kilcullen

  • Read
    The best books on Terrorism - The Great Theft by Khaled Abou El Fadl

    5

    The Great Theft
    by Khaled Abou El Fadl

  • The Professor of Strategic Studies at Johns Hopkins University picks five books you must read to understand the War on Terror, starting with one that tries to define what terrorism is.

  • The best books on Terrorism - Inside Terrorism by Bruce Hoffman
  • The best books on Terrorism - Understanding Terror Networks by Marc Sageman
  • The best books on Terrorism - The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright
  • The best books on Terrorism - The Accidental Guerrilla: Fighting Small Wars in the Midst of a Big One by David Kilcullen
  • The best books on Terrorism - The Great Theft by Khaled Abou El Fadl

The best books on Terrorism, recommended by Mary Habeck

The Professor of Strategic Studies at Johns Hopkins University picks five books you must read to understand the War on Terror, starting with one that tries to define what terrorism is.

The best books on Terrorism, recommended by Mary Habeck

    The best books on Power and Ideas, recommended by James Purnell

  • Read
    The best books on Power and Ideas - The Idea of Justice by Amartya Sen

    1

    The Idea of Justice
    by Amartya Sen

  • Read
    The best books on Power and Ideas - Unnecessary Suffering by Maurice Glasman

    2

    Unnecessary Suffering
    by Maurice Glasman

  • Read
    The best books on Power and Ideas - Peacemakers: Six Months That Changed the World by Margaret MacMillan

    3

    Peacemakers: Six Months That Changed the World
    by Margaret MacMillan

  • Read
    The best books on Power and Ideas - The Attack and Other Papers by R H Tawney

    4

    The Attack and Other Papers
    by R H Tawney

  • Read
    The best books on Power and Ideas - The Years of Lyndon Johnson: Master of the Senate by Robert Caro

    5

    The Years of Lyndon Johnson: Master of the Senate
    by Robert Caro

  • Labour politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Stalybridge and Hyde from 2001 to 2010, says power with no ideas is hollow and chooses his five books on political ideology

  • The best books on Power and Ideas - The Idea of Justice by Amartya Sen
  • The best books on Power and Ideas - Unnecessary Suffering by Maurice Glasman
  • The best books on Power and Ideas - Peacemakers: Six Months That Changed the World by Margaret MacMillan
  • The best books on Power and Ideas - The Attack and Other Papers by R H Tawney
  • The best books on Power and Ideas - The Years of Lyndon Johnson: Master of the Senate by Robert Caro

The best books on Power and Ideas, recommended by James Purnell

Labour politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Stalybridge and Hyde from 2001 to 2010, says power with no ideas is hollow and chooses his five books on political ideology

The best books on Power and Ideas, recommended by James Purnell

    The best books on American Foreign Reporting, recommended by John M Hamilton

  • Read
    The best books on American Foreign Reporting - Personal History by Vincent Sheean

    1

    Personal History
    by Vincent Sheean

  • Read
    The best books on American Foreign Reporting - Red Star over China by Edgar Snow

    2

    Red Star over China
    by Edgar Snow

  • Read
    The best books on American Foreign Reporting - Our Foreign Affairs by Paul Scott Mowrer

    3

    Our Foreign Affairs
    by Paul Scott Mowrer

  • Read
    The best books on American Foreign Reporting - On the Great Highway by James Creelman

    4

    On the Great Highway
    by James Creelman

  • Read
    The best books on American Foreign Reporting - I Saw Hitler by Dorothy Thompson

    5

    I Saw Hitler
    by Dorothy Thompson

  • The Professor of Mass Communication at Louisiana State University discusses American foreign correspondents. Laments the lack of swashbuckling approach amongst current crop of journalists

  • The best books on American Foreign Reporting - Personal History by Vincent Sheean
  • The best books on American Foreign Reporting - Red Star over China by Edgar Snow
  • The best books on American Foreign Reporting - Our Foreign Affairs by Paul Scott Mowrer
  • The best books on American Foreign Reporting - On the Great Highway by James Creelman
  • The best books on American Foreign Reporting - I Saw Hitler by Dorothy Thompson

The best books on American Foreign Reporting, recommended by John M Hamilton

The Professor of Mass Communication at Louisiana State University discusses American foreign correspondents. Laments the lack of swashbuckling approach amongst current crop of journalists

The best books on American Foreign Reporting, recommended by John M Hamilton

    The best books on Policing, recommended by John Timoney

  • Read
    The best books on Policing - Behind the Shield by Arthur Niederhoffer

    1

    Behind the Shield
    by Arthur Niederhoffer

  • Read
    The best books on Policing - Street Corner Society by William Foote Whyte

    2

    Street Corner Society
    by William Foote Whyte

  • Read
    The best books on Policing - Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

    3

    Crime and Punishment
    by Fyodor Dostoevsky

  • Read
    The best books on Policing - The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe

    4

    The Bonfire of the Vanities
    by Tom Wolfe

  • Read
    The best books on Policing - The Crime Fighter by Jack Maple

    5

    The Crime Fighter
    by Jack Maple

  • The youngest four-star chief in the history of the NYPD, and a Medal of Valor laureate, chooses books that address the topic of policing from many angles - from the practical to the poetic

  • The best books on Policing - Behind the Shield by Arthur Niederhoffer
  • The best books on Policing - Street Corner Society by William Foote Whyte
  • The best books on Policing - Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
  • The best books on Policing - The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe
  • The best books on Policing - The Crime Fighter by Jack Maple

The best books on Policing, recommended by John Timoney

The youngest four-star chief in the history of the NYPD, and a Medal of Valor laureate, chooses books that address the topic of policing from many angles – from the practical to the poetic

The best books on Policing, recommended by John Timoney

    The best books on British Democracy, recommended by Peter Kellner

  • Read
    The best books on British Democracy - The Penguin Essays of George Orwell by George Orwell

    1

    The Penguin Essays of George Orwell
    by George Orwell

  • Read
    The best books on British Democracy - The British General Election of. . .(Nuffield Series) by Various authors

    2

    The British General Election of. . .(Nuffield Series)
    by Various authors

  • Read
    The best books on British Democracy - Essays in Persuasion by John Maynard Keynes

    3

    Essays in Persuasion
    by John Maynard Keynes

  • Read
    The best books on British Democracy - Microcosmographia Academica by F M Cornford

    4

    Microcosmographia Academica
    by F M Cornford

  • Read
    The best books on British Democracy - Our Nation’s Archive by Edited by Erik Bruun and Jay Crosby

    5

    Our Nation’s Archive
    by Edited by Erik Bruun and Jay Crosby

  • Political commentator and President of YouGov.com chooses older books from both sides of the Atlantic to show what really matters in politics.

  • The best books on British Democracy - The Penguin Essays of George Orwell by George Orwell
  • The best books on British Democracy - The British General Election of. . .(Nuffield Series) by Various authors
  • The best books on British Democracy - Essays in Persuasion by John Maynard Keynes
  • The best books on British Democracy - Microcosmographia Academica by F M Cornford
  • The best books on British Democracy - Our Nation’s Archive by Edited by Erik Bruun and Jay Crosby

The best books on British Democracy, recommended by Peter Kellner

Political commentator and President of YouGov.com chooses older books from both sides of the Atlantic to show what really matters in politics.

The best books on British Democracy, recommended by Peter Kellner

    The best books on Israel and Palestine in Art, recommended by Alon Hilu

  • Read
    The best books on Israel and Palestine in Art - Only Yesterday by S Y Agnon

    1

    Only Yesterday
    by S Y Agnon

  • Read
    The best books on Israel and Palestine in Art - Righteous Victims by Benny Morris

    2

    Righteous Victims
    by Benny Morris

  • Read
    The best books on Israel and Palestine in Art - Palestine by Karl Sabbagh

    3

    Palestine
    by Karl Sabbagh

  • Read
    The best books on Israel and Palestine in Art - The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe

    4

    The Mysteries of Udolpho
    by Ann Radcliffe

  • Read
    The best books on Israel and Palestine in Art - The Last Barrier by Reshad Feild

    5

    The Last Barrier
    by Reshad Feild

  • Award-winning novelist and playwright positions himself among a new breed of Israeli historians: "I think I am part of a new trend in Israel to be critical of the way we tell our history"

  • The best books on Israel and Palestine in Art - Only Yesterday by S Y Agnon
  • The best books on Israel and Palestine in Art - Righteous Victims by Benny Morris
  • The best books on Israel and Palestine in Art - Palestine by Karl Sabbagh
  • The best books on Israel and Palestine in Art - The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe
  • The best books on Israel and Palestine in Art - The Last Barrier by Reshad Feild

The best books on Israel and Palestine in Art, recommended by Alon Hilu

Award-winning novelist and playwright positions himself among a new breed of Israeli historians: “I think I am part of a new trend in Israel to be critical of the way we tell our history”

The best books on Israel and Palestine in Art, recommended by Alon Hilu

    The best books on Communism in America, recommended by Harvey Klehr

  • Read
    The best books on Communism in America - American Communism and Soviet Russia by Theodore Draper

    1

    American Communism and Soviet Russia
    by Theodore Draper

  • Read
    The best books on Communism in America - The Rosenberg File by Harvey Klehr & Ronald Radosh and Joyce Milton

    2

    The Rosenberg File
    by Harvey Klehr & Ronald Radosh and Joyce Milton

  • Read
    The best books on Communism in America - Whittaker Chambers by Sam Tanenhaus

    3

    Whittaker Chambers
    by Sam Tanenhaus

  • Read
    The best books on Communism in America - The Forsaken by Tim Tzouliadis

    4

    The Forsaken
    by Tim Tzouliadis

  • Read
    The best books on Communism in America - Engineering Communism by Steven T Usdin

    5

    Engineering Communism
    by Steven T Usdin

  • Professor of politics and history at Emory University chooses five books on the American Communist movement and Soviet espionage in America—and argues that American spies did pose a genuine threat to national security

  • The best books on Communism in America - American Communism and Soviet Russia by Theodore Draper
  • The best books on Communism in America - The Rosenberg File by Harvey Klehr & Ronald Radosh and Joyce Milton
  • The best books on Communism in America - Whittaker Chambers by Sam Tanenhaus
  • The best books on Communism in America - The Forsaken by Tim Tzouliadis
  • The best books on Communism in America - Engineering Communism by Steven T Usdin

The best books on Communism in America, recommended by Harvey Klehr

Professor of politics and history at Emory University chooses five books on the American Communist movement and Soviet espionage in America—and argues that American spies did pose a genuine threat to national security

The best books on Communism in America, recommended by Harvey Klehr

    The best books on Equality, recommended by Trevor Phillips

  • Read
    The best books on Equality - Bleak House by Charles Dickens

    1

    Bleak House
    by Charles Dickens

  • Read
    The best books on Equality - The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

    2

    The Wind in the Willows
    by Kenneth Grahame

  • Read
    The best books on Equality - The Black Jacobins by C.L.R James

    3

    The Black Jacobins
    by C.L.R James

  • Read
    The best books on Equality - Bowling Alone by Robert D Putnam

    4

    Bowling Alone
    by Robert D Putnam

  • Read
    The best books on Equality - Identity Economics by George A Akerlof and Rachel E Kranton

    5

    Identity Economics
    by George A Akerlof and Rachel E Kranton

  • The chairman of the Equalities & Human Rights Commission says discrimination and social injustice won't be changed by what happens in courtrooms or parliament but by how we all behave

  • The best books on Equality - Bleak House by Charles Dickens
  • The best books on Equality - The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
  • The best books on Equality - The Black Jacobins by C.L.R James
  • The best books on Equality - Bowling Alone by Robert D Putnam
  • The best books on Equality - Identity Economics by George A Akerlof and Rachel E Kranton

The best books on Equality, recommended by Trevor Phillips

The chairman of the Equalities & Human Rights Commission says discrimination and social injustice won’t be changed by what happens in courtrooms or parliament but by how we all behave

The best books on Equality, recommended by Trevor Phillips

    The best books on Forgiveness, recommended by Simon Mawer

  • Read
    The best books on Forgiveness - The Blind Side of the Heart by Julia Franck

    1

    The Blind Side of the Heart
    by Julia Franck

  • Read
    The best books on Forgiveness - The Game of Opposites by Norman Lebrecht

    2

    The Game of Opposites
    by Norman Lebrecht

  • Read
    The best books on Forgiveness - The Garden of the Finzi-Continis by Giorgio Bassani & Jamie McKendrick (translator)

    3

    The Garden of the Finzi-Continis
    by Giorgio Bassani & Jamie McKendrick (translator)

  • Read
    The best books on Forgiveness - If This Is a Man by Primo Levi

    4

    If This Is a Man
    by Primo Levi

  • Read
    The best books on Forgiveness - Love and War in the Apennines by Eric Newby

    5

    Love and War in the Apennines
    by Eric Newby

  • Novelist Simon Mawer picks his favourite books on forgiveness.

  • The best books on Forgiveness - The Blind Side of the Heart by Julia Franck
  • The best books on Forgiveness - The Game of Opposites by Norman Lebrecht
  • The best books on Forgiveness - The Garden of the Finzi-Continis by Giorgio Bassani & Jamie McKendrick (translator)
  • The best books on Forgiveness - If This Is a Man by Primo Levi
  • The best books on Forgiveness - Love and War in the Apennines by Eric Newby

The best books on Forgiveness, recommended by Simon Mawer

Novelist Simon Mawer picks his favourite books on forgiveness.

The best books on Forgiveness, recommended by Simon Mawer

    The best books on Education and Society, recommended by Alison Wolf

  • Read
    The best books on Education and Society - The Rise of the Meritocracy by Michael Young

    1

    The Rise of the Meritocracy
    by Michael Young

  • Read
    The best books on Education and Society - The Harpole Report by James Lloyd Carr

    2

    The Harpole Report
    by James Lloyd Carr

  • Read
    The best books on Education and Society - The Economy of Cities by Jane Jacobs

    3

    The Economy of Cities
    by Jane Jacobs

  • Read
    The best books on Education and Society - Education and the Working Class by Brian Jackson and Dennis Marsden

    4

    Education and the Working Class
    by Brian Jackson and Dennis Marsden

  • Read
    The best books on Education and Society - Independent People by Halldor Laxness

    5

    Independent People
    by Halldor Laxness

  • KCL Professor Alison Wolf is an authority on education and the labour market. She recommends books on education and society, highlighting Icelandic pastoral neo-myth Independent People

  • The best books on Education and Society - The Rise of the Meritocracy by Michael Young
  • The best books on Education and Society - The Harpole Report by James Lloyd Carr
  • The best books on Education and Society - The Economy of Cities by Jane Jacobs
  • The best books on Education and Society - Education and the Working Class by Brian Jackson and Dennis Marsden
  • The best books on Education and Society - Independent People by Halldor Laxness

The best books on Education and Society, recommended by Alison Wolf

KCL Professor Alison Wolf is an authority on education and the labour market. She recommends books on education and society, highlighting Icelandic pastoral neo-myth Independent People

The best books on Education and Society, recommended by Alison Wolf
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