Description

‘A splendid book: economical, invigorating and surprising’ The Times

‘He has that gift, both as a podcaster and as a writer, to illuminate abstruse and abstract ideas with human charm’ Observer

In this bold new follow-up to Confronting Leviathan, David Runciman unmasks modern politics and reveals the great men and women of ideas behind it.

What can Samuel Butler’s ideas teach us about the oddity of how we choose to organise our societies? How did Frederick Douglass not only expose the horrors of slavery, but champion a new approach to abolishing it? Why should we tolerate snobbery, betrayal and hypocrisy, as Judith Shklar suggested? And what does Friedrich Nietzsche predict for our future?

From Rousseau to Rawls, fascism to feminism and pleasure to anarchy, this is a mind-bending tour through the history of ideas which will forever change your view of politics today.

Publisher Review

Praise for Confronting Leviathan and David Runciman: ‘Bracingly intelligent … a wonderful read — Mark Mazower * Guardian * Incredibly timely … wonderful elegance and clarity through which complex ideas are presented … That the book helps make thinking about the state enjoyable is just the least of its many exceptional qualities — Pascal Donohue * Irish Times * A brilliant introduction for anyone looking to engage with political debates beyond the headlines … Excellent — Joshua Pugh Ginn * Herald * One of the great modern writers of democracy — Anne Applebaum