The 10 Best Books on Politics

Here’s my curated list of the 10 best books in politics, in no particular order.

• The Republic by Plato — The origination of political science and a brilliant critique of government that is still important today.
• Beyond Good & Evil: Prelude to a Philosophy of the Future by Friedrich Nietzsche — Probably Nietzsche’s most cogent statement of his views: that traditional morality is subjective and that people must evolve to a higher understanding of what’s valuable and what is not.
• The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir — A foundational text in feminist philosophy that examines the construction of women's roles in society.
• The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt — A profound analysis of the origins of totalitarian regimes, focusing on Nazism and Stalinism.
• On Liberty by John Stuart Mill — An essential work on individual freedom, exploring the limits of authority and the importance of personal autonomy.
• The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli — A seminal work on political power and strategy, exploring the often harsh realities of ruling and governance.
• The Social Contract: Principles of Political Right by Jean-Jacques Rousseau — A foundational text in political philosophy that presents the idea of a legitimate political order based on a contract among citizens.
• Das Kapital: Critique of Political Economy by Karl Marx — An extensive critique of political economy, exploring the relationships between labor, value, and capitalism.
• Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison by Michel Foucault — An insightful analysis of the evolution of penal systems and how power is exercised in society.
• The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream by Barack Obama — A personal narrative by the former president reflecting on American values, politics, and his vision for the future.

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