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Demopolis
by Josiah Ober • 2019
180 years of democracy without liberalism: what Athens reveals about the fundamentals of self-rule.
3.40
25
Demopolis Summary
Demopolis 97%
180 years of democracy without liberalism: what Athens reveals about the fundamentals of self-rule.
by Josiah Ober 2019
3.40
25 ratings
Aristotle's "Best Regime"
by Clifford Angell Bates Jr. • 2002
Aristotle's buried argument: democracy beats kingship when collective wisdom meets law's restraint.
4.80
5
Aristotle's "Best Regime" Summary
Aristotle's "Best Regime" 94%
Aristotle's buried argument: democracy beats kingship when collective wisdom meets law's restraint.
by Clifford Angell Bates Jr. 2002
4.80
5 ratings
A History of Ancient Greece in Fifty Lives
by David Stuttard • 2014
From Homer to Plutarch, fifty Greek lives reveal a civilization built on myth, war, and reinvention.
3.82
233
A History of Ancient Greece in Fifty Lives Summary
A History of Ancient Greece in Fifty Lives 94%
From Homer to Plutarch, fifty Greek lives reveal a civilization built on myth, war, and reinvention.
by David Stuttard 2014
3.82
233 ratings
Creators, Conquerors, and Citizens
by Robin Waterfield • 2018
One culture, a thousand warring city-states: the split that built ancient Greece and doomed it.
3.92
436
Creators, Conquerors, and Citizens Summary
Creators, Conquerors, and Citizens 94%
One culture, a thousand warring city-states: the split that built ancient Greece and doomed it.
by Robin Waterfield 2018
3.92
436 ratings
Plato at the Googleplex
by Rebecca Goldstein • 2014
Plato, alive today, would walk into Google and ask questions Silicon Valley still cannot answer.
3.85
2k+
Plato at the Googleplex Summary
Plato at the Googleplex 93%
Plato, alive today, would walk into Google and ask questions Silicon Valley still cannot answer.
by Rebecca Goldstein 2014
3.85
2k+ ratings
The Lost History of Liberalism
by Helena Rosenblatt • 2018
Liberalism was born as duty and generosity. The individual-rights version is only seventy years old.
4.04
448
The Lost History of Liberalism Summary
The Lost History of Liberalism 93%
Liberalism was born as duty and generosity. The individual-rights version is only seventy years old.
by Helena Rosenblatt 2018
4.04
448 ratings
History of the Peloponnesian War
by Thucydides
Athens rose, Sparta panicked, and a 27-year catastrophe was the only outcome.
3.95
41k+
History of the Peloponnesian War Summary
History of the Peloponnesian War 93%
Athens rose, Sparta panicked, and a 27-year catastrophe was the only outcome.
by Thucydides
3.95
41k+ ratings
Democracy Rules
by Jan-Werner Müller • 2021
Losing is the skill democracy forgot, and without institutions to structure conflict, it unravels.
3.46
168
Democracy Rules Summary
Democracy Rules 92%
Losing is the skill democracy forgot, and without institutions to structure conflict, it unravels.
by Jan-Werner Müller 2021
3.46
168 ratings
The Good State
by A.C. Grayling • 2020
Most democracies fail their own test: the government reflects a minority, not the people.
3.81
130
The Good State Summary
The Good State 92%
Most democracies fail their own test: the government reflects a minority, not the people.
by A.C. Grayling 2020
3.81
130 ratings
Democracy May Not Exist, but We'll Miss It When It's Gone
by Astra Taylor • 2019
Democracy is not broken. It is eight unresolvable tensions; the work is holding them together.
4.20
731
Democracy May Not Exist, but We'll Miss It When It's Gone Summary
Democracy May Not Exist, but We'll Miss It When It's Gone 92%
Democracy is not broken. It is eight unresolvable tensions; the work is holding them together.
by Astra Taylor 2019
4.20
731 ratings
Persian Fire
by Tom Holland • 2005
An ancient clash of civilizations: how a tiny Greece stopped a superpower, and invented the West.
4.17
12k+
Persian Fire Summary
Persian Fire 92%
An ancient clash of civilizations: how a tiny Greece stopped a superpower, and invented the West.
by Tom Holland 2005
4.17
12k+ ratings
The Future of Freedom
by Fareed Zakaria • 2003
Democracy without courts, rights, and restraints is just a machine for producing elected strongmen.
4.02
4k+
The Future of Freedom Summary
The Future of Freedom 92%
Democracy without courts, rights, and restraints is just a machine for producing elected strongmen.
by Fareed Zakaria 2003
4.02
4k+ ratings
Democracy in America
by Alexis de Tocqueville • 1835
Equality built American democracy—and made majority rule the new despotism.
4.05
27k+
Democracy in America Summary
Democracy in America 92%
Equality built American democracy—and made majority rule the new despotism.
by Alexis de Tocqueville 1835
4.05
27k+ ratings
First Principles
by Thomas E. Ricks • 2020
Locke and Montesquieu get the credit. America's founders were actually reading Cicero and Cato.
4.06
4k+
First Principles Summary
First Principles 92%
Locke and Montesquieu get the credit. America's founders were actually reading Cicero and Cato.
by Thomas E. Ricks 2020
4.06
4k+ ratings
Ancient Philosophy
by Anthony Kenny • 2004
The questions the ancient Greeks asked still define philosophy, and still resist easy answers.
3.95
580
Ancient Philosophy Summary
Ancient Philosophy 92%
The questions the ancient Greeks asked still define philosophy, and still resist easy answers.
by Anthony Kenny 2004
3.95
580 ratings
The People vs. Democracy
by Yascha Mounk • 2018
Populists dismantle institutions; unelected courts rule from above; split tearing democracy apart.
4.05
2k+
The People vs. Democracy Summary
The People vs. Democracy 92%
Populists dismantle institutions; unelected courts rule from above; split tearing democracy apart.
by Yascha Mounk 2018
4.05
2k+ ratings
The Myth of the State
by Ernst Cassirer • 1946
The Greeks fought myth with reason. The modern state perfected it as a weapon.
3.90
209
The Myth of the State Summary
The Myth of the State 92%
The Greeks fought myth with reason. The modern state perfected it as a weapon.
by Ernst Cassirer 1946
3.90
209 ratings
Hatred of Democracy
by Jacques Rancière • 2005
Democracy is not about elections. It is the scandal that no one is born to rule.
3.72
970
Hatred of Democracy Summary
Hatred of Democracy 92%
Democracy is not about elections. It is the scandal that no one is born to rule.
by Jacques Rancière 2005
3.72
970 ratings
Against Democracy
by Jason Brennan • 2016
Voters are ignorant and participation corrupts them. The competent should rule instead.
3.68
1k+
Against Democracy Summary
Against Democracy 91%
Voters are ignorant and participation corrupts them. The competent should rule instead.
by Jason Brennan 2016
3.68
1k+ ratings
On Sparta
by Plutarch
Lycurgus designed a state that produced fearless soldiers. Wealth broke it faster than any enemy.
4.12
2k+
On Sparta Summary
On Sparta 91%
Lycurgus designed a state that produced fearless soldiers. Wealth broke it faster than any enemy.
by Plutarch
4.12
2k+ ratings
Aristotle
by John Sellars • 2023
An ancient toolkit for thought: why Aristotle's logic, ethics, and politics never went out of style.
3.95
232
Aristotle Summary
Aristotle 91%
An ancient toolkit for thought: why Aristotle's logic, ethics, and politics never went out of style.
by John Sellars 2023
3.95
232 ratings
The Death of Socrates and the Life of Philosophy
by Peter J. Ahrensdorf • 1995
Plato's Phaedo rigs its own arguments to fail, forcing readers to reason without a teacher.
3.63
16
The Death of Socrates and the Life of Philosophy Summary
The Death of Socrates and the Life of Philosophy 91%
Plato's Phaedo rigs its own arguments to fail, forcing readers to reason without a teacher.
by Peter J. Ahrensdorf 1995
3.63
16 ratings
Jag är Zlatan
by Zlatan Ibrahimović • 2011
How the West thought: ten ideas from Plato to Rawls that still shape everything we believe.
3.86
19k+
Jag är Zlatan Summary
Jag är Zlatan 91%
How the West thought: ten ideas from Plato to Rawls that still shape everything we believe.
by Zlatan Ibrahimović 2011
3.86
19k+ ratings
Buddhism
by Damien Keown • 1996
Buddhism has no god, no bible, no pope. What holds its many traditions together?
3.74
3k+
Buddhism Summary
Buddhism 91%
Buddhism has no god, no bible, no pope. What holds its many traditions together?
by Damien Keown 1996
3.74
3k+ ratings
The Social Contract
by Jean-Jacques Rousseau • 1762
Freedom through total surrender: the paradox that built modern democracy and still threatens it.
3.78
58k+
The Social Contract Summary
The Social Contract 91%
Freedom through total surrender: the paradox that built modern democracy and still threatens it.
by Jean-Jacques Rousseau 1762
3.78
58k+ ratings
The Republic
by Plato
Why be just when no one is watching? A 2,500-year-old Socratic answer that built Western philosophy.
3.97
228k+
The Republic Summary
The Republic 91%
Why be just when no one is watching? A 2,500-year-old Socratic answer that built Western philosophy.
by Plato
3.97
228k+ ratings
The Great Divergence
by Kenneth Pomeranz • 2000
Europe's industrial breakthrough wasn't its own genius. It took colonial land and underground coal.
3.68
1k+
The Great Divergence Summary
The Great Divergence 91%
Europe's industrial breakthrough wasn't its own genius. It took colonial land and underground coal.
by Kenneth Pomeranz 2000
3.68
1k+ ratings
In the Long Run
by Jonathan White • 2024
The future made democracy possible. Calculated, secret, and algorithmic futures are dismantling it.
3.78
85
In the Long Run Summary
In the Long Run 91%
The future made democracy possible. Calculated, secret, and algorithmic futures are dismantling it.
by Jonathan White 2024
3.78
85 ratings
Political Philosophy
by Adam Swift • 2001
Democracy's trick: we accept losing because the game was fair, even if the result is wrong.
3.91
432
Political Philosophy Summary
Political Philosophy 91%
Democracy's trick: we accept losing because the game was fair, even if the result is wrong.
by Adam Swift 2001
3.91
432 ratings
Liberalism and Its Discontents
by Francis Fukuyama • 2022
Liberalism's enemies on left and right agree on one thing. Neither has a workable replacement.
3.90
3k+
Liberalism and Its Discontents Summary
Liberalism and Its Discontents 91%
Liberalism's enemies on left and right agree on one thing. Neither has a workable replacement.
by Francis Fukuyama 2022
3.90
3k+ ratings
What Is Populism?
by Jan-Werner Müller • 2014
Forget anti-elite anger. Populism's core is the claim that opponents are not the real people.
3.82
3k+
What Is Populism? Summary
What Is Populism? 91%
Forget anti-elite anger. Populism's core is the claim that opponents are not the real people.
by Jan-Werner Müller 2014
3.82
3k+ ratings
Our Declaration
by Danielle S. Allen • 2014
The Declaration's forgotten argument: equality is the only real shield against domination.
3.83
888
Our Declaration Summary
Our Declaration 91%
The Declaration's forgotten argument: equality is the only real shield against domination.
by Danielle S. Allen 2014
3.83
888 ratings
The Trial and Death of Socrates
by Plato
Athens tried its greatest thinker. He turned a death sentence into philosophy's founding argument.
4.12
46k+
The Trial and Death of Socrates Summary
The Trial and Death of Socrates 91%
Athens tried its greatest thinker. He turned a death sentence into philosophy's founding argument.
by Plato
4.12
46k+ ratings
Conversations of Socrates
by Xenophon
The Socrates who masters desire, runs a household, and believes the gods care about virtue
4.04
3k+
Conversations of Socrates Summary
Conversations of Socrates 91%
The Socrates who masters desire, runs a household, and believes the gods care about virtue
by Xenophon
4.04
3k+ ratings
The Storm Before the Calm
by George Friedman • 2020
Every eighty years America's government breaks; every fifty, its economy. Now both arrive at once.
4.05
3k+
The Storm Before the Calm Summary
The Storm Before the Calm 91%
Every eighty years America's government breaks; every fifty, its economy. Now both arrive at once.
by George Friedman 2020
4.05
3k+ ratings
The Rhetoric & The Poetics of Aristotle
by Aristotle
Persuasion is a system, not a gift: the rules for character, emotion, and logical proof.
4.00
2k+
The Rhetoric & The Poetics of Aristotle Summary
The Rhetoric & The Poetics of Aristotle 91%
Persuasion is a system, not a gift: the rules for character, emotion, and logical proof.
by Aristotle
4.00
2k+ ratings
The Art of Rhetoric
by Aristotle
Persuasion isn't one thing. It's three, and mixing them up loses the audience every time.
3.87
7k+
The Art of Rhetoric Summary
The Art of Rhetoric 91%
Persuasion isn't one thing. It's three, and mixing them up loses the audience every time.
by Aristotle
3.87
7k+ ratings
Cynicism
by Ansgar Allen • 2014
Cynicism once meant tearing everything down. Now it just means giving up.
3.71
146
Cynicism Summary
Cynicism 91%
Cynicism once meant tearing everything down. Now it just means giving up.
by Ansgar Allen 2014
3.71
146 ratings
How to Win an Election
by Quintus Tullius Cicero
Cicero's brother wrote the campaign playbook: flatter, promise, know your enemy's secrets.
3.78
1k+
How to Win an Election Summary
How to Win an Election 91%
Cicero's brother wrote the campaign playbook: flatter, promise, know your enemy's secrets.
by Quintus Tullius Cicero
3.78
1k+ ratings
End Times
by Peter Turchin • 2023
Ten millennia of data point to two conditions for state collapse. America now meets both.
4.06
3k+
End Times Summary
End Times 91%
Ten millennia of data point to two conditions for state collapse. America now meets both.
by Peter Turchin 2023
4.06
3k+ ratings
The Anatomy of Fascism
by Robert O. Paxton • 2004
A historian maps the path to fascist power: the deals, the power split, and the warning signs.
4.22
6k+
The Anatomy of Fascism Summary
The Anatomy of Fascism 91%
A historian maps the path to fascist power: the deals, the power split, and the warning signs.
by Robert O. Paxton 2004
4.22
6k+ ratings
The Logic of Political Survival
by Bruce Bueno de Mesquita • 2003
Why democracies build roads and dictatorships build patronage: the math of political survival.
3.98
162
The Logic of Political Survival Summary
The Logic of Political Survival 91%
Why democracies build roads and dictatorships build patronage: the math of political survival.
by Bruce Bueno de Mesquita 2003
3.98
162 ratings
Free Speech
by Jacob Mchangama • 2022
Free speech has a 2,500-year losing streak, and the playbook for silencing it hasn't changed.
4.18
500
Free Speech Summary
Free Speech 90%
Free speech has a 2,500-year losing streak, and the playbook for silencing it hasn't changed.
by Jacob Mchangama 2022
4.18
500 ratings
Contesting Democracy
by Jan-Werner Müller • 2006
It wasn't democracy versus its enemies. It was a fight over what 'democracy' actually meant.
4.00
159
Contesting Democracy Summary
Contesting Democracy 90%
It wasn't democracy versus its enemies. It was a fight over what 'democracy' actually meant.
by Jan-Werner Müller 2006
4.00
159 ratings
How Democracies Die
by Steven Levitsky • 2018
Coups are relics. The new authoritarian wins the election first, then slowly silences the referees.
4.16
33k+
How Democracies Die Summary
How Democracies Die 90%
Coups are relics. The new authoritarian wins the election first, then slowly silences the referees.
by Steven Levitsky 2018
4.16
33k+ ratings
Two Cheers for Anarchism
by James C. Scott • 2012
The anarchist's case: local know-how, small defiance, and messy disorder beat grand plans.
3.96
2k+
Two Cheers for Anarchism Summary
Two Cheers for Anarchism 90%
The anarchist's case: local know-how, small defiance, and messy disorder beat grand plans.
by James C. Scott 2012
3.96
2k+ ratings
Socrates
by Paul Johnson • 2011
The original rulebreaker's guide to a meaningful life, from the man who died asking questions.
3.73
2k+
Socrates Summary
Socrates 90%
The original rulebreaker's guide to a meaningful life, from the man who died asking questions.
by Paul Johnson 2011
3.73
2k+ ratings
No Democracy Lasts Forever
by Erwin Chemerinsky • 2024
The document Americans revere was built to thwart popular rule. Now it is breaking the country.
3.93
337
No Democracy Lasts Forever Summary
No Democracy Lasts Forever 90%
The document Americans revere was built to thwart popular rule. Now it is breaking the country.
by Erwin Chemerinsky 2024
3.93
337 ratings
⿻ 數位 Plurality
by E. Glen Weyl • 2024
Tech promised liberation but delivered surveillance and polarization. Taiwan found the off-ramp.
3.51
47
⿻ 數位 Plurality Summary
⿻ 數位 Plurality 90%
Tech promised liberation but delivered surveillance and polarization. Taiwan found the off-ramp.
by E. Glen Weyl 2024
3.51
47 ratings
Fascism
by Madeleine K. Albright • 2018
Democracies are dismantled one law at a time. The 1930s playbook is back.
4.25
21k+
Fascism Summary
Fascism 90%
Democracies are dismantled one law at a time. The 1930s playbook is back.
by Madeleine K. Albright 2018
4.25
21k+ ratings
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