Whether you already have a keen interest in politics or are looking for a good starting point to broaden your knowledge, there are plenty of insightful books out there to help you better understand politics as a whole.
Choosing just 14 of these titles is no easy task. I tried to include a good selection of classic political theory books along with contemporary titles that review political history, analyze current concepts, and discuss what the future might hold for nations around the world.at a glance: our top selections for the best political books
You are reading: Best books to read to understand politics
- the shock doctrine: the rise of disaster capitalism by naomi klein
- politics is for power by eitan hersh
- the republic by plato
- 1984 by george orwell
- fascism and democracy by george orwell
- why we are polarized by ezra klein
- the communist manifesto by karl marx and friedrich engels
- nelson mandela’s long walk to freedom
- jean-jacque rosseau’s social contract
- we corporations: how corporate America won their rights civilians by adam winkler
- dissuading democracy by noam chomsky
- how to spot a fascist by umberto eco
- the straight mind: why good people are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt
- On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy D. snyder
1. the shock doctrine: the rise of disaster capitalism by naomi klein
Canadian author, social activist, and political analyst Naomi Klein examines Milton Friedman’s free-market economic revolution in fascinating detail.
friedman’s principle of monetarism defended by government control of the circulation of money. But, while many have hailed his economic theories as victorious, Naomi Klein exposes the darker side of his political agenda. In what she calls “disaster capitalism,” she shows how governments around the world have exploited catastrophic events to further their own economic agendas.
These oppressive tactics have been carried out time and time again in the four corners of the world in places like Russia, Iraq, Latin America, Eastern Europe and South Africa. From Klein’s perspective, the business of capitalizing on events like war and natural disasters is now a “rising new economy” used to exploit populations by nefarious leaders around the world.
2. politics is for power by eitan hersh
Published in 2020, eitan hersh’s best-selling book is an in-depth look at fandom politics, the idea that politics is a spectator sport rather than something we can all play a tangible role in.
lifts the lid on the psychology behind most people’s political approach. We regularly watch the news, share articles with our friends and family, and routinely rage from our couches, but rarely do we stand up and take any political action on our own.
Hersh’s book reads like a call to arms to move beyond this political pastime and create real change in the world. Instead of complaining, arguing, and signing the odd online petition, this book will teach you how to directly influence the political landscape. By using tools like lobbying, advocacy, coalitions, and community mobilization, we all have the power to help change government policies and advance the causes we’re passionate about.
3. plato’s republic
Politics and philosophy are deeply intertwined, and to truly understand the nature of politics today, we must go back to the time of Plato, 375 BC. This quintessential classic plays out as a conversation about the notions of a perfect utopia and a perfect citizen between Socrates and three other individuals.
his back-and-forth dialogue also addresses fundamental philosophical questions that have been at the root of politics since ancient times. questions like what is reality? what is kindness? and what is knowledge? Throughout the text, Plato develops his own description of utopia, a state ruled by philosophers built on the principle of harmony.
Although Plato’s concept of the perfect state is not exactly replicated in today’s world, it was considered a seminal political text throughout the history of Western civilization. Often referred to as “benevolent tyranny,” Plato was not the only philosopher to view the notion of a perfect state in the same way. and while it is not a framework for a society we are fighting for today, examining and explaining why we are not is critical to future progress.
4. 1984 by george orwell
The vast majority of political books fall into the non-fiction category, but George Orwell’s fictional novel 1984 ranks high on this list. published in 1949, the political satirist took a nightmarish look at what the world would be like in an imagined dystopian future.
The book describes a totalitarian regime where society is constantly under surveillance. even at home, people are watched 24 hours a day on their televisions. lies, propaganda and the eradication of real facts are used to control and manipulate the population. And for anyone who expresses freedom of thought, the consequences are deadly.
orwell based his fictional authoritarian regime on stalin’s soviet union, although recent political events around the world have led to a resurgence in sales of this classic novel. In the age of “fake news,” scientific censorship, and “alternative facts,” this book is eerily relevant and acts as a stark warning to nations around the world.
5. fascism and democracy of george orwell
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This lesser-known nonfiction publication is a collection of five essays written by George Orwell during the darkest days of World War II. Published in 2020 on the 70th anniversary of his death, this book delves into the fundamental principles of democracy, freedom of expression and objective truth at a time when tyranny was dividing the world’s civilizations in two.
Suddenly finding himself in a world where the lines between fact and fiction are blurred, he paints a terrifying picture of how low society had fallen during those dark times. but not everything is pessimism; she also explores the potential for reform and examines how we can move toward a better world. In the post-truth era we find ourselves living in today, Orwell’s essays serve as an important reminder of the preciousness of freedom and democracy and how easily they can be taken away.
6. why we are polarized by ezra klein
This groundbreaking 2020 book looks at the rapid rise in identity politics and political polarization we see in America today. klein believes that our social division has become increasingly defined due to the echo chambers in which we live. Media feedback loops, be it television, newspapers, the internet and social media, are fueling the fire that divides us and leaving us more entrenched than ever in our political camps.
argues that trump’s victory in the 2016 election was a revealing example of the severity of polarization in the united states. Despite being a highly unusual candidate by any measure, politics still played out predictably along party lines, just as he always has.
7. the communist manifesto of karl marx and friedrich engels
in 1848, on the eve of the spring of nations, karl marx and friedrich engels unveiled their collaborative worldview in the form of a communist manifesto.
This is heavy but essential reading for anyone fascinated with global politics. The book delves into the tenets of dialectical materialism, which holds that the perceivable material world has an objective reality separate from that of the mind, spirit, or soul. they believed that capitalism was the antithesis of freedom and that since work creates wealth, the system is set up to exploit the masses.
Instead, they call for a “forceful overthrow of all existing social conditions”, which acted as a major catalyst for communist revolutions not only in Europe but throughout the world.
8. long walk to freedom by nelson mandela
Nelson Mandela’s 1994 biography takes us back to the beginning of his presidential years during apartheid South Africa. the revered social activist details racial oppression in the country at the time and examines the anti-apartheid strategy that ultimately led to his serving a 27-year prison sentence.
This revealing collection of memoirs documents the incredible events and experiences of his political career up to that point. The revered leader describes his latest vision for South Africa’s future and how, through thick and thin, through the strength of resilience, he brought about lasting change.
9. the social contract of jean-jacque rosseau
French philosopher Jean-Jacque Rosseau’s classic 1762 essay details his basic tenets of a “social contract” between governments and citizens. he argues that the consensus of the people overrides the authority of any government and that the law of any country can only be binding when backed by the will of its citizens.
When Rosseau’s ideas were first published, they were considered radical. This was a time when the government of France was anything but dictated by the will of the masses. instead, the French monarchy had ultimate but unelected power over its citizens. Laws were made to serve the elite rather than society as a whole, and anyone who dared defy the king’s decision was punished by death.
jean-jacque rosseau’s progressive manifesto set in motion the subsequent french revolution and inspired many of the dramatic political changes that followed.
10. We the Corporations: How Corporate America Won Their Civil Rights by Adam Winkler
Since the first corporate rights case reached the Supreme Court in 1809, corporations in the United States have been pressing for the same human rights as individual citizens under constitutional law. using tactics such as lobbying, loopholes, and even civil resistance. , have been incredibly successful in their own corporate “civil rights movement.” however, until winkler’s book was published in 2018, the story remained relatively untold.
Using his extensive background in constitutional law, the author delves into the highly controversial case of Burwell v. Supreme Court Fan Lobby. the court ultimately ruled in favor of exempting corporations from regulations that go against the religious beliefs of their owners.
The sweeping decision prompted the fan lobby to deny its employees access to contraception, even though their rights were enshrined in the Affordable Care Act. Unfortunately, even today, this ruling and others like it continue to shape the way America operates, and all too often, business comes before people and money comes before ethics.
11. deter democracy by noam chomsky
American philosopher, scientist, and political activist Noam Chomsky takes a deep dive into the rapidly changing powers around the world. From the start of World War II until the mid-1980s, the United States was the undisputed leader of the world, both in terms of military might and economic success.
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But in recent decades, despite remaining the world’s most dominant military force, the US economy has been in drastic decline, challenged by prosperous nations around the world.
As the United States continues its quest to remain the most powerful country in the world, its tactics only serve to destroy weaker nations in the process. Chomsky argues that the United States has become the world’s bully. it is no longer the propagator of democracy, but a selfish superpower clinging to the dwindling straws of power and control.
12. how to spot a fascist by umberto eco
This selection of three insightful essays by Italian philosopher, social commentator, and political analyst Umberto Eco was published in 2020. But the book also includes his 1995 essay “Ur-Fascism,” which dominates the time of the author who grew up in the mussolini’s time italy after the second world war.
Based on his country’s first-hand experiences under dictatorial power, he examines the fine line between freedom and fascism and lists a set of 14 defining characteristics of a fascist regime. These characteristics include eerily familiar traits such as nationalism, military supremacy, populism, media control and censorship, and protection from corporate powers, just to name a few.
his historical reflections are an important warning of the potential for abuse of power in our current and future governments. issues a clear reminder that “freedom and liberation are endless tasks. let this be our motto: ‘don’t forget’.
13. the straight mind: why good people are divided by politics and religion by jonathan haidt
jonathan haidt examines political divisions from a psychologist’s point of view and explores what needs to happen to create a more united and understanding society.
starts by analyzing our perceptions of other people. the things others do and how they behave have a direct correlation to how we feel about ourselves and serve to increase our own self-righteousness. As a result, we become even more assertive in our views and assume that other people’s motives are wrong.
By combining his own research and the work of some of the world’s best psychologists, anthropologists, sociologists, and historians, he reveals the fundamental views of political cultures of the left and right. This book invites the reader to question their own preconceived bias, take a fresh look at the morality that drives our political views, and recognize our tribalist nature at the root of it all.
14. On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy D. snyder
The 2016 US presidential election shocked not only the nation but the entire world. Few predicted the outcome would be what it was, and people watched in awe as one of the most controversial and hated figures in the history of American politics was elevated to the pinnacle of power.
Across the pond, in the UK, a different but eerily similar series of events were taking place in the form of the Brexit referendum, and comparable right-leaning populist movements were gaining ground around the world.
Famous historian Timothy Snyder uses his extensive knowledge of 20th-century European history to break down the events that led to the rise of leaders like Hitler and Stalin. he notes that “Americans are no wiser than the Europeans who saw democracy give way to fascism, Nazism, and communism. our only advantage is that we can learn from their experience.”
Its twenty lessons reflect on the mistakes of those dark times during the 20th century and provide a roadmap to ensure we never let it happen again.
conclusion
These 14 political books will broaden your knowledge and change the way you view politics both at home and abroad.
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