Political Book List, 9-16-2010 (Part Four)

 [Continued from Political Book List, 9-16-2010 (Part Three). sch 4/5/23.]

10. Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan and John Locke's Two Treatises on Government. Locke inspired our Declaration of Independence, and he wrote to follow up on Hobbes. English, therefore, American political theory starts here.

11. John Stuart Mill's On Liberty. I was about not to include this as I put on the list under Habit and Morality, but it is the classic on the subject.

12. Michael Harrington's Socialism: Past and Future. So you will know what you are talking about when you call something socialist.

I passed over Albert Camus' The Rebel, even though I think it is a hugely important book. I passed over anything by Karl Marx or Adam Smith because I never finished reading a book by either. For the same reason, Aristotle's Politics is not on the list.  Also, I passed over Machiavelli's Discourses because while it teaches a lot about what can go wrong in democratic governments and there are plenty of tales of murderous conspiracies, it felt a little narrow. 

Anyone, upset at my omitting anyone, could try writing their own list. Or start reading and make up your own minds!

sch