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Politics & Society » Political Ideologies

Most Recommended Books

The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright

The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright

“Reading this one book gives you an excellent grasp of the human story and the context from which al-Qaeda emerged.”

Audrey Kurth Cronin, Political Scientist

Read more

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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Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

“Most fundamentally, Rand was a militant atheist and rejected conservatism’s attempt to ground free society in religious principles.”

Brink Lindsey, Political Commentator

Read more

On Liberty book cover

On Liberty by John Stuart Mill

“Mill points out that very often, throughout history, people have thought that they were certainly right, and then turned out to be quite wrong.”

Peter Singer, Philosopher

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Free to Choose by Milton Friedman

“I chose this book because it expressed best to me the moral underpinnings of free economics, if one starts from the premise that the highest value is the autonomy and dignity and freedom of the individual.”

Mitch Daniels, Politician

Read more

Browse book recommendations:

Politics & Society

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Ideology is a dirty word in some quarters, but politics would be unrecognisable (and probably undoable) without ideologies. We have experts recommending books on political ideology, covering Maoism, fascism, anarchism, communism and every other “ism”.

We cover what in the United States would be called “conservatism” and “liberal” or “progressive” politics extensively. E J Dionne, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, talks about the appeal of conservatism, Grover Norquist, founder of America for Tax Reform, chooses his best books on Tea Party conservatism. Anne Heller, biographer of Ayn Rand, talks about libertarianism and Mitch Daniels, former governor of Indiana, discusses how libertarians can govern. Journalist Sam Tanenhaus chooses his best books on conservatism and culture.

On the other side of the ledger, Matthew Taylor, former adviser to Tony Blair, talks about progress, Journalist Franklin Foer talks about the roots of liberalism and US Congressman Keith Ellison chooses his best books on progressivism. Former secretary of state John Kerry also talks about progressivism and former mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa chooses his best books on progressive America. Both Kerry and Villaraigosa choose The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck.

Beyond that, to mention only a handful, former UK Labour cabinet minister, James Purnell, chooses his best books on power and ideas, Professor Harvey Klehr chooses his best books on communism in America. Richard McGregor, former FT Beijing correspondent, looks at the Chinese Communist Party, Nick Thorpe, the BBC’s central Europe correspondent, talks about the fall of communism. Elsewhere, Iraqi poet Nabeel Yasin discusses democracy in Iraq, Professor Mary Habeck terrorism and Martin Sixsmith why Russia isn’t a democracy. Lastly, Professor Michael Kazin looks at the roots of the Occupy movement.

    The best books on The Far Right, recommended by Cas Mudde

  • Read
    The best books on The Far Right - Radical Right-Wing Populism in Western Europe by Hans-Georg Betz

    1

    Radical Right-Wing Populism in Western Europe
    by Hans-Georg Betz

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    The best books on The Far Right - Revolt on the Right: Explaining Support for the Radical Right in Britain by Matthew Goodwin & Robert Ford

    2

    Revolt on the Right: Explaining Support for the Radical Right in Britain
    by Matthew Goodwin & Robert Ford

  • Read
    The best books on The Far Right - The Politics of Fear: What Right-Wing Populist Discourses Mean by Ruth Wodak

    3

    The Politics of Fear: What Right-Wing Populist Discourses Mean
    by Ruth Wodak

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    The best books on The Far Right - The Extreme Gone Mainstream: Commercialization and Far Right Youth Culture in Germany by Cynthia Miller-Idriss

    4

    The Extreme Gone Mainstream: Commercialization and Far Right Youth Culture in Germany
    by Cynthia Miller-Idriss

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    The best books on The Far Right - Right-Wing Populism in America: Too Close for Comfort by Chip Berlet & Matthew N. Lyons

    5

    Right-Wing Populism in America: Too Close for Comfort
    by Chip Berlet & Matthew N. Lyons

The best books on The Far Right, recommended by Cas Mudde

There’s nothing new about the far right and the unpleasant views that its supporters espouse. What’s changed is that some of those views have been embraced by the political mainstream and are now viewed as normal. Political scientist Cas Mudde, Stanley Wade Shelton UGAF Professor at the University of Georgia, talks us through the best books on the far right.

    The best books on State, Power and Violence, recommended by Geoffroy de Lagasnerie

  • Read
    The best books on State - Violence and the Word by Robert Cover

    1

    Violence and the Word
    by Robert Cover

  • Read
    The best books on State - The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander

    2

    The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
    by Michelle Alexander

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    The best books on State - Black against Empire: The History and Politics of the Black Panther Party by Joshua Bloom & Waldo E. Martin Jr.

    3

    Black against Empire: The History and Politics of the Black Panther Party
    by Joshua Bloom & Waldo E. Martin Jr.

  • Read
    The best books on State - Critique of Violence by Walter Benjamin

    4

    Critique of Violence
    by Walter Benjamin

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    The best books on State - The Birth of Biopolitics: Lectures at the Collège de France, 1978–1979 by Michel Foucault

    5

    The Birth of Biopolitics: Lectures at the Collège de France, 1978–1979
    by Michel Foucault

The best books on State, Power and Violence, recommended by Geoffroy de Lagasnerie

French philosopher and sociologist Geoffroy de Lagasnerie argues for a more realist political theory, one that fully acknowledges that state violence is the one thing in your life that you can never escape. His selection includes works by Michel Foucault and Walter Benjamin, as well as a history of the Black Panther Party.

    The best books on Maoism, recommended by Julia Lovell

  • Read
    The best books on Maoism - Mao’s Last Revolution by Michael Schoenhals & Roderick MacFarquhar

    1

    Mao’s Last Revolution
    by Michael Schoenhals & Roderick MacFarquhar

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    The best books on Maoism - Maoism at the Grassroots edited by Jeremy Brown and Matthew D. Johnson

    2

    Maoism at the Grassroots
    edited by Jeremy Brown and Matthew D. Johnson

  • Read
    The best books on Maoism - Red Star over China by Edgar Snow

    3

    Red Star over China
    by Edgar Snow

  • Read
    The best books on Maoism - The Bullet and the Ballot Box: The Story of Nepal's Maoist Revolution by Aditya Adhikari

    4

    The Bullet and the Ballot Box: The Story of Nepal's Maoist Revolution
    by Aditya Adhikari

  • Read
    The best books on Maoism - A Critical Introduction to Mao by Timothy Creek

    5

    A Critical Introduction to Mao
    by Timothy Creek

The best books on Maoism, recommended by Julia Lovell

While researching Maoism, China expert Julia Lovell battled against two incorrect assumptions: “firstly that Maoism is a story of China; and secondly that Maoism is a story of the past.” Here she recommends five books for coming to grips with the global, still-relevant impact of Maoism.

    The best books on Fascism, recommended by Ruth Ben-Ghiat

  • Read
    The best books on Fascism - Anatomy of Fascism by Robert O. Paxton

    1

    Anatomy of Fascism
    by Robert O. Paxton

  • Read
    The best books on Fascism - Fascist Spectacle by Simonetta Falasca-Zamponi

    2

    Fascist Spectacle
    by Simonetta Falasca-Zamponi

  • Read
    The best books on Fascism - The Origins of Nazi Violence by Enzo Traverso & Janet Lloyd

    3

    The Origins of Nazi Violence
    by Enzo Traverso & Janet Lloyd

  • Read
    The best books on Fascism - The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt

    4

    The Origins of Totalitarianism
    by Hannah Arendt

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    The best books on Fascism - Family Lexicon by Natalia Ginzburg

    5

    Family Lexicon
    by Natalia Ginzburg

The best books on Fascism, recommended by Ruth Ben-Ghiat

In an era of Trumpism and fake news, the word ‘fascist’ is thrown around with increasing ease and little attention paid to its origins and history. Ruth Ben-Ghiat, political commentator and historian at New York University, recommends the best books for understanding fascism’s history and recognizing it today.

    The best books on Anarchism, recommended by Ruth Kinna

  • Read
    The best books on Anarchism - 'Anarchism', in the Encyclopaedia Britannica by Peter Kropotkin

    1

    'Anarchism', in the Encyclopaedia Britannica
    by Peter Kropotkin

  • Read
    The best books on Anarchism - Gates of Freedom: Voltairine de Cleyre and the Revolution of the Mind by Eugenia C. DeLamotte

    2

    Gates of Freedom: Voltairine de Cleyre and the Revolution of the Mind
    by Eugenia C. DeLamotte

  • Read
    The best books on Anarchism - The Slavery of Our Times by Leo Tolstoy

    3

    The Slavery of Our Times
    by Leo Tolstoy

  • Read
    The best books on Anarchism - Autonomy, Solidarity, Possibility: The Colin Ward Reader by Chris Wilbert, Colin Ward & Damian F. White

    4

    Autonomy, Solidarity, Possibility: The Colin Ward Reader
    by Chris Wilbert, Colin Ward & Damian F. White

  • Read
    The best books on Anarchism - Anarchism and Syndicalism in the Colonial and Postcolonial World, 1870-1940 by Lucien van der Walt & Steven Hirsch

    5

    Anarchism and Syndicalism in the Colonial and Postcolonial World, 1870-1940
    by Lucien van der Walt & Steven Hirsch

The best books on Anarchism, recommended by Ruth Kinna

Sometimes vilified, often misunderstood, rarely taught in universities, anarchism is a political philosophy and social movement that’s far removed from today’s mainstream politics. But it was and remains a powerful motivator. Political theorist Ruth Kinna talks us through the best books to read to get a better understanding of anarchism.

    The best books on The French Revolution, recommended by Lynn Hunt

  • Read
    The best books on The French Revolution - The Ancien Régime and the Revolution by Alexis de Tocqueville

    1

    The Ancien Régime and the Revolution
    by Alexis de Tocqueville

  • Read
    The best books on The French Revolution - Interpreting the French Revolution by François Furet

    2

    Interpreting the French Revolution
    by François Furet

  • Read
    The best books on The French Revolution - Citizens: A Chronicle of the French Revolution by Simon Schama

    3

    Citizens: A Chronicle of the French Revolution
    by Simon Schama

  • Read
    The best books on The French Revolution - Twelve Who Ruled by RR Palmer

    4

    Twelve Who Ruled
    by RR Palmer

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    The best books on The French Revolution - The New Regime by Isser Woloch

    5

    The New Regime
    by Isser Woloch

The best books on The French Revolution, recommended by Lynn Hunt

It’s a revolution that still resonates and yet it resists easy interpretation. Lynn Hunt, a leading historian of the French Revolution, tells us what the events of 1789 and later years really meant, and what relevance they have for us today.

    The best books on British Conservatism, recommended by Daniel Finkelstein

  • Read
    The best books on British Conservatism - An Appetite for Power by John Ramsden

    1

    An Appetite for Power
    by John Ramsden

  • Read
    The best books on British Conservatism - The Great Melody by Conor Cruise O’Brien

    2

    The Great Melody
    by Conor Cruise O’Brien

  • Read
    The best books on British Conservatism - Reggie by Lewis Baston

    3

    Reggie
    by Lewis Baston

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    The best books on British Conservatism - The Pinch by David Willetts

    4

    The Pinch
    by David Willetts

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    The best books on British Conservatism - Tory Radical by Cecil Herbert Driver

    5

    Tory Radical
    by Cecil Herbert Driver

The best books on British Conservatism, recommended by Daniel Finkelstein

Conservatism is different around the world because what it’s trying to preserve, the ‘essence of a nation,’ inevitably varies by country, says British journalist and politician Daniel Finkelstein. And yet, the UK’s Tory party has always been quick to adapt to whatever would get it into power.

    The best books on Terrorism, recommended by Audrey Kurth Cronin

  • Read
    The best books on Terrorism - Every War Must End by Fred Charles Iklé

    1

    Every War Must End
    by Fred Charles Iklé

  • Read
    The best books on Terrorism - A Savage War of Peace by Alistair Horne

    2

    A Savage War of Peace
    by Alistair Horne

  • 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 ISIS Apocalypse: The History, Strategy, and Doomsday Vision of the Islamic State by William McCants

    4

    The ISIS Apocalypse: The History, Strategy, and Doomsday Vision of the Islamic State
    by William McCants

  • Read
    The best books on Terrorism - Deciphering Sun Tzu: How to Read The Art of War by Derek M. C. Yuen

    5

    Deciphering Sun Tzu: How to Read The Art of War
    by Derek M. C. Yuen

The best books on Terrorism, recommended by Audrey Kurth Cronin

It’s hard to remember when in the midst of one, but terrorism campaigns do always end. Audrey Kurth Cronin, author of How Terrorism Ends, recommends the best books on terrorism.

    The best books on Progressivism, recommended by Keith Ellison

  • Read
    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

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

    2

    The Autobiography of Malcolm X
    by Malcolm X

  • Read
    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

  • Read
    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

  • Read
    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 Compassionate Conservatism, recommended by Karl Rove

  • Read
    The best books on Compassionate Conservatism - The Federalist Papers by Alexander Hamilton & John Jay and James Madison

    1

    The Federalist Papers
    by Alexander Hamilton & John Jay and James Madison

  • Read
    The best books on Compassionate Conservatism - Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville

    2

    Democracy in America
    by Alexis de Tocqueville

  • Read
    The best books on Compassionate Conservatism - The Conscience of a Conservative by Barry Goldwater

    3

    The Conscience of a Conservative
    by Barry Goldwater

  • Read
    The best books on Compassionate Conservatism - Capitalism and Freedom by Milton Friedman

    4

    Capitalism and Freedom
    by Milton Friedman

  • Read
    The best books on Compassionate Conservatism - The Theory of Moral Sentiments by Adam Smith

    5

    The Theory of Moral Sentiments
    by Adam Smith

The best books on Compassionate Conservatism, recommended by Karl Rove

Karl Rove recommends five historical works that define, for him, the essence of American Conservatism.

    The best books on Utopia, recommended by John Quiggin

  • Read
    The best books on Utopia - Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

    1

    Brave New World
    by Aldous Huxley

  • Read
    The best books on Utopia - Consider Phlebas by Iain M Banks

    2

    Consider Phlebas
    by Iain M Banks

  • Read
    The best books on Utopia - The Affluent Society by John Kenneth Galbraith

    3

    The Affluent Society
    by John Kenneth Galbraith

  • Read
    The best books on Utopia - Envisioning Real Utopias by Erik Olin Wright

    4

    Envisioning Real Utopias
    by Erik Olin Wright

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

    5

    Essays in Persuasion
    by John Maynard Keynes

The best books on Utopia, recommended by John Quiggin

The Australian economist and author of Zombie Economics says we need to inspire people with a view of a better society. In short, we need a new utopia.

    The best books on The Russian Revolution, recommended by Roland Chambers

  • Read
    The best books on The Russian Revolution - Six Weeks in Russia in 1919 by Arthur Ransome

    1

    Six Weeks in Russia in 1919
    by Arthur Ransome

  • Read
    The best books on The Russian Revolution - A People’s Tragedy: The Russian Revolution by Orlando Figes

    2

    A People’s Tragedy: The Russian Revolution
    by Orlando Figes

  • Read
    The best books on The Russian Revolution - The Debate on Soviet Power by John LH Keep (editor and translator)

    3

    The Debate on Soviet Power
    by John LH Keep (editor and translator)

  • Read
    The best books on The Russian Revolution - Lenin in Zurich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

    4

    Lenin in Zurich
    by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

  • Read
    The best books on The Russian Revolution - History of the Russian Revolution by Leon Trotsky

    5

    History of the Russian Revolution
    by Leon Trotsky

The best books on The Russian Revolution, recommended by Roland Chambers

The Russian revolution was the beginning of the modern age, says award-winning author Roland Chambers. He tells us what Solzhenitsyn imagined Lenin was like, and about the children’s author who led a double life as a spy in Bolshevik Russia.

    The best books on Memoirs of Communism, recommended by Anne Applebaum

  • Read
    The best books on Memoirs of Communism - The Captive Mind by Czeslaw Milosz

    1

    The Captive Mind
    by Czeslaw Milosz

  • Read
    The best books on Memoirs of Communism - A World Apart by Gustaw Herling-Grudziński

    2

    A World Apart
    by Gustaw Herling-Grudziński

  • Read
    The best books on Memoirs of Communism - Memoir of Hungary by Sándor Márai

    3

    Memoir of Hungary
    by Sándor Márai

  • Read
    The best books on Memoirs of Communism - The Snows of Yesteryear by Gregor von Rezzori

    4

    The Snows of Yesteryear
    by Gregor von Rezzori

  • Read
    The best books on Memoirs of Communism - Speak, Memory by Vladimir Nabokov

    5

    Speak, Memory
    by Vladimir Nabokov

The best books on Memoirs of Communism, recommended by Anne Applebaum

The traumas of the 20th century hit Eastern Europe hard – a region of changing borders, uncertain identity, and shattering of moral norms. The journalist and communism expert selects books that capture the spirit of the age.

    The best books on The Roots of Radicalism, recommended by Michael Kazin

  • Read
    The best books on The Roots of Radicalism - The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels

    1

    The Communist Manifesto
    by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels

  • Read
    The best books on The Roots of Radicalism - A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn

    2

    A People’s History of the United States
    by Howard Zinn

  • Read
    The best books on The Roots of Radicalism - Democracy Is in the Streets by James Miller

    3

    Democracy Is in the Streets
    by James Miller

  • Read
    The best books on The Roots of Radicalism - Winner-Take-All Politics by Jacob S Hacker and Paul Pierson

    4

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

  • Read
    The best books on The Roots of Radicalism - Waging Nonviolent Struggle by Gene Sharp

    5

    Waging Nonviolent Struggle
    by Gene Sharp

The best books on The Roots of Radicalism, recommended by Michael Kazin

History professor and co-editor of Dissent magazine, Michael Kazin, looks back at US leftist movements from abolitionism to Vietnam to see where OWS came from and what it can learn from the past.

    The best books on The Leaderless Revolution, recommended by Carne Ross

  • Read
    The best books on The Leaderless Revolution - Common Sense by Thomas Paine

    1

    Common Sense
    by Thomas Paine

  • Read
    The best books on The Leaderless Revolution - The Proper Study of Mankind by Isaiah Berlin

    2

    The Proper Study of Mankind
    by Isaiah Berlin

  • Read
    The best books on The Leaderless Revolution - Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus by Ludwig Wittgenstein

    3

    Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus
    by Ludwig Wittgenstein

  • Read
    The best books on The Leaderless Revolution - Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell

    4

    Homage to Catalonia
    by George Orwell

  • Read
    The best books on The Leaderless Revolution - Letters to a Young Contrarian by Christopher Hitchens

    5

    Letters to a Young Contrarian
    by Christopher Hitchens

The best books on The Leaderless Revolution, recommended by Carne Ross

Our political and economic systems are inadequate and failing. But what can we do? The author of a new book on the subject tells us what inspired his involvement in the Occupy movement and how a leaderless revolution could work

    The best books on Progressive America, recommended by Antonio Villaraigosa

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

    1

    The Grapes of Wrath
    by John Steinbeck

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

    2

    A Tale of Two Cities
    by Charles Dickens

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

    3

    To Kill a Mockingbird
    by Harper Lee

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

    4

    Team of Rivals
    by Doris Kearns Goodwin

  • Read
    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

  • Read
    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

  • 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

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 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

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

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

    1

    The Bridge
    by David Remnick

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

    2

    Means of Ascent
    by Robert A Caro

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

    3

    In Struggle
    by Clayborne Carson

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

    4

    A Poetics of Resistance
    by Jeff Conant

  • Read
    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 Communism, recommended by Robert Conquest

  • Read
    The best books on Communism - One Day In The Life Of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

    1

    One Day In The Life Of Ivan Denisovich
    by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

  • Read
    The best books on Communism - Galina by Galina Vishnevskaya

    2

    Galina
    by Galina Vishnevskaya

  • Read
    The best books on Communism - The New Class by Milovan Djilas

    3

    The New Class
    by Milovan Djilas

  • Read
    The best books on Communism - Between East And West by Anne Applebaum

    4

    Between East And West
    by Anne Applebaum

  • Read
    The best books on Communism - The Russian Mind by Ronald Hingley

    5

    The Russian Mind
    by Ronald Hingley

The best books on Communism, recommended by Robert Conquest

Esteemed historian of the Soviet Union recommends five books on Communism, from novels and personal narratives to theoretical works.

    The best books on Progress, recommended by Matthew Taylor

  • Read
    The best books on Progress - The Progressive Dilemma by David Marquand

    1

    The Progressive Dilemma
    by David Marquand

  • Read
    The best books on Progress - Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert

    2

    Stumbling on Happiness
    by Daniel Gilbert

  • Read
    The best books on Progress - The Hidden Wealth of Nations by David Halpern

    3

    The Hidden Wealth of Nations
    by David Halpern

  • Read
    The best books on Progress - Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

    4

    Oryx and Crake
    by Margaret Atwood

  • Read
    The best books on Progress - Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

    5

    Great Expectations
    by Charles Dickens

The best books on Progress, recommended by Matthew Taylor

What makes the most successful societies tick? The RSA’s Matthew Taylor says we should recognise that relationships and values are more important than scientific or economic advances

    The best books on Who Terrorists Are, recommended by Jessica Stern

  • Read
    The best books on Who Terrorists Are - War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning by Chris Hedges

    1

    War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning
    by Chris Hedges

  • Read
    The best books on Who Terrorists Are - The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad

    2

    The Secret Agent
    by Joseph Conrad

  • Read
    The best books on Who Terrorists Are - What Terrorists Want by Louise Richardson

    3

    What Terrorists Want
    by Louise Richardson

  • Read
    The best books on Who Terrorists Are - A Human Being Died That Night by Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela

    4

    A Human Being Died That Night
    by Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela

  • Read
    The best books on Who Terrorists Are - The True Believer by Eric Hoffer

    5

    The True Believer
    by Eric Hoffer

The best books on Who Terrorists Are, recommended by Jessica Stern

International terror expert Jessica Stern takes a close look at the mind of the terrorist. She explores why people are drawn to extreme violence and how, in many cases, terrorists can build their identities around ideologies that they hold in an ultimately shallow way

    The Best Anti-Communist Thrillers, recommended by Peter Hitchens

  • Read
    The Best Anti-Communist Thrillers - Judgment on Deltchev by Eric Ambler

    1

    Judgment on Deltchev
    by Eric Ambler

  • Read
    The Best Anti-Communist Thrillers - The Night of Wenceslas by Lionel Davidson

    2

    The Night of Wenceslas
    by Lionel Davidson

  • Read
    The Best Anti-Communist Thrillers - In the Wet by Nevil Shute

    3

    In the Wet
    by Nevil Shute

  • Read
    The Best Anti-Communist Thrillers - Advise and Consent by Allen Drury

    4

    Advise and Consent
    by Allen Drury

  • Read
    The Best Anti-Communist Thrillers - When the Kissing Had to Stop by Constantine FitzGibbon

    5

    When the Kissing Had to Stop
    by Constantine FitzGibbon

The Best Anti-Communist Thrillers, recommended by Peter Hitchens

Right-wing journalist and political commentator Peter Hitchens says the Left has been liberated by the fall of the Berlin Wall and that speech is probably freer in modern Russia than it is in Britain. He recommends some great anti-Communist thrillers.

    The best books on Why Russia isn’t a Democracy, recommended by Martin Sixsmith

  • Read
    The best books on Why Russia isn’t a Democracy - The Russian Tradition by Tibor Szamuely

    1

    The Russian Tradition
    by Tibor Szamuely

  • Read
    The best books on Why Russia isn’t a Democracy - War and Peace (Book) by Leo Tolstoy

    2

    War and Peace (Book)
    by Leo Tolstoy

  • Read
    The best books on Why Russia isn’t a Democracy - August 1914 by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

    3

    August 1914
    by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

  • Read
    The best books on Why Russia isn’t a Democracy - Ten Days that Shook the World by John Reed

    4

    Ten Days that Shook the World
    by John Reed

  • Read
    The best books on Why Russia isn’t a Democracy - V D Nabokov and the Russian Provisional Government, 1917 by V D Nabokov

    5

    V D Nabokov and the Russian Provisional Government, 1917
    by V D Nabokov

The best books on Why Russia isn’t a Democracy, recommended by Martin Sixsmith

Former BBC Moscow correspondent Martin Sixsmith chooses five great works on Russia’s doomed democracies

    The best books on The Appeal of Conservatism, recommended by E J Dionne

  • Read
    The best books on The Appeal of Conservatism - The Conservative Intellectual Movement in America since 1945 by George H Nash

    1

    The Conservative Intellectual Movement in America since 1945
    by George H Nash

  • Read
    The best books on The Appeal of Conservatism - American Conservatism in the Age of Enterprise 1865-1910 by Robert Green McCloskey

    2

    American Conservatism in the Age of Enterprise 1865-1910
    by Robert Green McCloskey

  • Read
    The best books on The Appeal of Conservatism - Invisible Hands by Kim Phillips-Fein

    3

    Invisible Hands
    by Kim Phillips-Fein

  • Read
    The best books on The Appeal of Conservatism - The Neoconservatives by Peter Steinfels

    4

    The Neoconservatives
    by Peter Steinfels

  • Read
    The best books on The Appeal of Conservatism - The Redhunter by William F Buckley Jr

    5

    The Redhunter
    by William F Buckley Jr

The best books on The Appeal of Conservatism, recommended by E J Dionne

From immediate post-war battles against the New Deal to the rise of the neoconservative movement, Washington Post columnist and Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, E J Dionne traces the growth of conservatism in America

    The best books on Traditional and Liberal Conservatism, recommended by Brink Lindsey

  • Read
    The best books on Traditional and Liberal Conservatism - On Liberty by John Stuart Mill

    1

    On Liberty
    by John Stuart Mill

  • Read
    The best books on Traditional and Liberal Conservatism - Planet of the Durkheimians by Jonathan Haidt and Jesse Graham

    2

    Planet of the Durkheimians
    by Jonathan Haidt and Jesse Graham

  • Read
    The best books on Traditional and Liberal Conservatism - Modernization and Postmodernization by Ronald Inglehart

    3

    Modernization and Postmodernization
    by Ronald Inglehart

  • Read
    The best books on Traditional and Liberal Conservatism - The Constitution of Liberty by Friedrich A von Hayek

    4

    The Constitution of Liberty
    by Friedrich A von Hayek

  • Read
    The best books on Traditional and Liberal Conservatism - Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

    5

    Atlas Shrugged
    by Ayn Rand

The best books on Traditional and Liberal Conservatism, recommended by Brink Lindsey

Modern conservatism is being driven by an historically unlikely coalition of libertarians and traditionalists, says the vice-president for research at the Cato Institute.

    David Frum recommends five Pioneering Conservative Books

  • Read
    David Frum recommends five Pioneering Conservative Books - A Monetary History of the United States, 1867-1960 by Milton Friedman and Anna Schwartz

    1

    A Monetary History of the United States, 1867-1960
    by Milton Friedman and Anna Schwartz

  • Read
    David Frum recommends five Pioneering Conservative Books - Thinking About Crime by James Q Wilson

    2

    Thinking About Crime
    by James Q Wilson

  • Read
    David Frum recommends five Pioneering Conservative Books - The State of Humanity by Julian L Simon

    3

    The State of Humanity
    by Julian L Simon

  • Read
    David Frum recommends five Pioneering Conservative Books - Losing Ground by Charles Murray

    4

    Losing Ground
    by Charles Murray

  • Read
    David Frum recommends five Pioneering Conservative Books - The Other Path by Hernando De Soto

    5

    The Other Path
    by Hernando De Soto

David Frum recommends five Pioneering Conservative Books

The CNN columnist and former speechwriter for George W Bush, David Frum, recommends five conservative books that transformed the way we think about fundamental problems.

    The best books on Tea Party Conservatism, recommended by Grover Norquist

  • Read
    The best books on Tea Party Conservatism - The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A Heinlein

    1

    The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
    by Robert A Heinlein

  • Read
    The best books on Tea Party Conservatism - Witness by Whittaker Chambers

    2

    Witness
    by Whittaker Chambers

  • Read
    The best books on Tea Party Conservatism - I Led 3 Lives by Herbert A Philbrick

    3

    I Led 3 Lives
    by Herbert A Philbrick

  • Read
    The best books on Tea Party Conservatism - Free to Choose by Milton Friedman

    4

    Free to Choose
    by Milton Friedman

  • Read
    The best books on Tea Party Conservatism - The Way the World Works by Jude Wanniski

    5

    The Way the World Works
    by Jude Wanniski

The best books on Tea Party Conservatism, recommended by Grover Norquist

The leading Conservative strategist and Head of Americans for Tax Reform argues that liberals actively undermine what makes America great. He chooses five books to better understand conservative America

    The best books on Libertarianism, recommended by Anne Heller

  • Read
    The best books on Libertarianism - Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

    1

    Atlas Shrugged
    by Ayn Rand

  • Read
    The best books on Libertarianism - On Liberty by John Stuart Mill

    2

    On Liberty
    by John Stuart Mill

  • Read
    The best books on Libertarianism - Our Enemy the State by Albert Jay Nock

    3

    Our Enemy the State
    by Albert Jay Nock

  • Read
    The best books on Libertarianism - The Conservative Intellectual Movement in America since 1945 by George H Nash

    4

    The Conservative Intellectual Movement in America since 1945
    by George H Nash

  • Read
    The best books on Libertarianism - Radicals for Capitalism by Brian Doherty

    5

    Radicals for Capitalism
    by Brian Doherty

The best books on Libertarianism, recommended by Anne Heller

The magazine editor, journalist and biographer of Ayn Rand selects five books that define the essence of libertarianism. Atlas Shrugged is first on her list.

    The best books on Conservatism and Culture, recommended by Sam Tanenhaus

  • Read
    The best books on Conservatism and Culture - God and Man at Yale by William F Buckley Jr

    1

    God and Man at Yale
    by William F Buckley Jr

  • Read
    The best books on Conservatism and Culture - Mr Sammler’s Planet by Saul Bellow

    2

    Mr Sammler’s Planet
    by Saul Bellow

  • Read
    The best books on Conservatism and Culture - Rabbit Redux by John Updike

    3

    Rabbit Redux
    by John Updike

  • Read
    The best books on Conservatism and Culture - Nixon Agonistes by Garry Wills

    4

    Nixon Agonistes
    by Garry Wills

  • Read
    The best books on Conservatism and Culture - Confessions of a Conservative by Garry Wills

    5

    Confessions of a Conservative
    by Garry Wills

The best books on Conservatism and Culture, recommended by Sam Tanenhaus

Sam Tanenhaus, editor of The New York Times Book Review from 2004 to 2013, explains how the American right reinvented itself as a cultural counter-revolution and selects five books as backgrounders to conservatism.

    The best books on How Libertarians Can Govern, recommended by Mitch Daniels

  • Read
    The best books on How Libertarians Can Govern - The Road to Serfdom by Friedrich A Hayek

    1

    The Road to Serfdom
    by Friedrich A Hayek

  • Read
    The best books on How Libertarians Can Govern - Free to Choose by Milton Friedman

    2

    Free to Choose
    by Milton Friedman

  • Read
    The best books on How Libertarians Can Govern - What It Means to Be a Libertarian by Charles Murray

    3

    What It Means to Be a Libertarian
    by Charles Murray

  • Read
    The best books on How Libertarians Can Govern - The Rise and Decline of Nations by Mancur Olson

    4

    The Rise and Decline of Nations
    by Mancur Olson

  • Read
    The best books on How Libertarians Can Govern - The Future and Its Enemies by Virginia Postrel

    5

    The Future and Its Enemies
    by Virginia Postrel

The best books on How Libertarians Can Govern, recommended by Mitch Daniels

The Governor of Indiana promotes a new philosophy of libertarianism and selects the books that have influenced him most.

    The best books on The Chinese Communist Party, recommended by Richard McGregor

  • Read
    The best books on The Chinese Communist Party - Chinese Shadows by Simon Leys

    1

    Chinese Shadows
    by Simon Leys

  • Read
    The best books on The Chinese Communist Party - Chinese Lessons by John Pomfret

    2

    Chinese Lessons
    by John Pomfret

  • Read
    The best books on The Chinese Communist Party - Operation Yao Ming by Brook Larmer

    3

    Operation Yao Ming
    by Brook Larmer

  • Read
    The best books on The Chinese Communist Party - The Enigma of Japanese Power by Karel van Wolferen

    4

    The Enigma of Japanese Power
    by Karel van Wolferen

  • Read
    The best books on The Chinese Communist Party - A Case of Two Cities by Qiu Xiaolong

    5

    A Case of Two Cities
    by Qiu Xiaolong

The best books on The Chinese Communist Party, recommended by Richard McGregor

Former Beijing bureau chief of the Financial Times shares his insights on the Chinese Communist Party – from the absolute horror at the destruction of Maoist times, to Yao Ming, to political power structures and more

    The best books on Crime and Terror, recommended by Simon Conway

  • Read
    The best books on Crime and Terror - Reaping the Whirlwind by Michael Griffin

    1

    Reaping the Whirlwind
    by Michael Griffin

  • Read
    The best books on Crime and Terror - Blood Diamonds by Greg Campbell

    2

    Blood Diamonds
    by Greg Campbell

  • Read
    The best books on Crime and Terror - The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright

    3

    The Looming Tower
    by Lawrence Wright

  • Read
    The best books on Crime and Terror - McMafia by Misha Glenny

    4

    McMafia
    by Misha Glenny

  • Read
    The best books on Crime and Terror - Brave New War by John Robb

    5

    Brave New War
    by John Robb

The best books on Crime and Terror, recommended by Simon Conway

Director of Landmine Action who served in British army with the Black Watch, talks crime and terror and explores the extent to which al Qaeda is the creation of the Pakistani Intelligence Services backed by Saudi money

    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 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 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 by Margaret Macmillan

    3

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

    5

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

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 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

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 Democracy in Iraq, recommended by Nabeel Yasin

  • Read
    The best books on Democracy in Iraq - The Civic Culture by Gabriel A Almond and Sidney Verba

    1

    The Civic Culture
    by Gabriel A Almond and Sidney Verba

  • Read
    The best books on Democracy in Iraq - Inventing Human Rights by Lynn Hunt

    2

    Inventing Human Rights
    by Lynn Hunt

  • Read
    The best books on Democracy in Iraq - A Brief History of Citizenship by Derek Heater

    3

    A Brief History of Citizenship
    by Derek Heater

  • Read
    The best books on Democracy in Iraq - The Garden of Eden and Its Restoration by Sir William Wilcocks

    4

    The Garden of Eden and Its Restoration
    by Sir William Wilcocks

  • Read
    The best books on Democracy in Iraq - Towards the Light by A C Grayling

    5

    Towards the Light
    by A C Grayling

The best books on Democracy in Iraq, recommended by Nabeel Yasin

The Iraqi poet chooses books on civil and human rights. “I want to spread the word. I want people to get more involved in the political process here in Iraq”

    The best books on Maverick Political Thought, recommended by Chibli Mallat

  • Read
    The best books on Maverick Political Thought - Le Monde au 21ème siècle by Robert Fossaert

    1

    Le Monde au 21ème siècle
    by Robert Fossaert

  • Read
    The best books on Maverick Political Thought - A Thousand Plateaus by Gilles Deleuze, Félix Guattari

    2

    A Thousand Plateaus
    by Gilles Deleuze, Félix Guattari

  • Read
    The best books on Maverick Political Thought - I Speak for Lebanon by Kamal Joumblatt

    3

    I Speak for Lebanon
    by Kamal Joumblatt

  • Read
    The best books on Maverick Political Thought - Democracy and Distrust by John Hart Ely

    4

    Democracy and Distrust
    by John Hart Ely

  • Read
    The best books on Maverick Political Thought - Iqtisaduna by Muhammad Baqir Sadr

    5

    Iqtisaduna
    by Muhammad Baqir Sadr

The best books on Maverick Political Thought, recommended by Chibli Mallat

The lawyer who prosecuted Ariel Sharon discusses the brilliance of maverick political thinkers and says: “It takes at least a generation to establish democracy.” Highlights work of philosopher Gilles Deleuze above all

    The best books on The Fall of Communism, recommended by Nick Thorpe

  • Read
    The best books on The Fall of Communism - The Patriots’ Revolution by Mark Frankland

    1

    The Patriots’ Revolution
    by Mark Frankland

  • Read
    The best books on The Fall of Communism - With God for the People by David Porter

    2

    With God for the People
    by David Porter

  • Read
    The best books on The Fall of Communism - Dostoevsky by Nicholas Berdyaev

    3

    Dostoevsky
    by Nicholas Berdyaev

  • Read
    The best books on The Fall of Communism - Disturbing the Peace by Vaclav Havel

    4

    Disturbing the Peace
    by Vaclav Havel

  • Read
    The best books on The Fall of Communism - Birth Your Way by Sheila Kitzinger

    5

    Birth Your Way
    by Sheila Kitzinger

The best books on The Fall of Communism, recommended by Nick Thorpe

Five recommendations from the BBC’s Central Europe correspondent, who witnessed the collapse of Yugoslavia, popular uprisings in Bulgaria and Serbia, and the transformation of non-violent to violent resistance in Kosovo

    The best books on China’s Darker Side, recommended by Harry Wu

  • Read
    The best books on China’s Darker Side - Hungry Ghosts by Jasper Becker

    1

    Hungry Ghosts
    by Jasper Becker

  • Read
    The best books on China’s Darker Side - Mao by Jung Chang, Jon Halliday

    2

    Mao
    by Jung Chang, Jon Halliday

  • Read
    The best books on China’s Darker Side - Wild Swans by Jung Chang

    3

    Wild Swans
    by Jung Chang

  • Read
    The best books on China’s Darker Side - War Trash by Ha Jin

    4

    War Trash
    by Ha Jin

  • Read
    The best books on China’s Darker Side - China after Deng Xiaoping by Willy Wo-Lap Lam

    5

    China after Deng Xiaoping
    by Willy Wo-Lap Lam

The best books on China’s Darker Side, recommended by Harry Wu

Activist Harry Wu spent 19 years in Mao’s labour camps and devoted years to uncovering what goes on in China’s ‘laogai’ or ‘reform-through-labour’ camps. He picks five books showing China’s darker side.

    The best books on The French Revolution, recommended by Peregrine Worsthorne

  • Read
    The best books on The French Revolution - History of the French Revolution by Jules Michelet

    1

    History of the French Revolution
    by Jules Michelet

  • Read
    The best books on The French Revolution - The French Revolution by Hippolyte Taine

    2

    The French Revolution
    by Hippolyte Taine

  • Read
    The best books on The French Revolution - Christianity and American Democracy by Hugh Heclo

    3

    Christianity and American Democracy
    by Hugh Heclo

  • Read
    The best books on The French Revolution - Edmund Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France by Edmund Burke

    4

    Edmund Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France
    by Edmund Burke

  • Read
    The best books on The French Revolution - The Complete Essays by Michel de Montaigne

    5

    The Complete Essays
    by Michel de Montaigne

  • Read
    The best books on The French Revolution - The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli

    6

    The Prince
    by Niccolo Machiavelli

The best books on The French Revolution, recommended by Peregrine Worsthorne

The author and broadcaster says that for anybody wanting to go into politics a mastery of the French revolution is an enormous help, and will deepen their understanding of what they ought to be doing today

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