The best political philosophy books, according to hackers
7 political philosophy books recommended in Hacker News comments over the past year, ranked by how many separate people recommend each one.
- Most recommendedLeviathan by Thomas Hobbes11 people recommend it
- Free and lovedThe Federalist Papers by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay4 people recommend it
All political philosophy books
- Leviathan by Thomas HobbesRecommended as a foundational text on how political power and society are organized, still relevant and clearly argued. No critic-agreed caveat.11recommend
- Capitalist Realism by Mark FisherPeople recommend it as a critical read on what is wrong with modern capitalism and why it feels impossible to imagine alternatives.7recommend
- The Prince by Niccolò MachiavelliRecommended by a few readers, including one who returned to it after about 25 years and found it remarkably modern. One critic finds the phrasing dated and hard to read.5recommend
- The Federalist Papers by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John JayPraised as timeless political wisdom and worth reading today. One critic says it is not a reliable guide to motives behind the constitution's provisions.4recommend
- Politics by AristotlePeople recommend it as an overview of the strengths and weaknesses of different government types, and its problems are still relevant after 2,400 years. One critic calls one of its arguments his weakest.3recommend
- The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich EngelsRecommended as a short, seminal classic worth reading to know what you argue against. Critics call it too simple and more political ad than analysis.3recommend
- The Conquest of Bread by Peter KropotkinPeople recommend it as an easier read than Das Kapital and a broad speculative look at alternative economic systems.2recommend