Power and authority
Who rules, by what right, and at what cost.
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The PrinceNiccolò Machiavelli · 1513On 9 lists
Thomas Hobbes LeviathanLeviathanThomas Hobbes · 1651On 9 lists
Herodotus The HistoriesThe HistoriesHerodotus · c. 430 BCEOn 8 lists
ApologyPlato · c. 395 BCEOn 8 lists
Plato The RepublicThe RepublicPlato · c. 375 BCEOn 8 listsThe Great BooksDemocracy in AmericaAlexis de TocquevilleAlexis de Tocqueville Democracy in AmericaDemocracy in AmericaAlexis de Tocqueville · 1835-1840On 8 lists
AntigoneSophocles · c. 441 BCEOn 7 listsOedipus the KingSophocles · c. 429 BCEOn 7 listsThe Great BooksThe BacchaeEuripidesThe BacchaeEuripides · c. 405 BCEOn 7 lists
Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian WarHistory of the Peloponnesian WarThucydides · c. 431-400 BCEOn 7 listsThe Great BooksLives of the Noble Grecians and RomansPlutarchPlutarch Lives of the Noble Grecians and RomansLives of the Noble Grecians and RomansPlutarch · c. 100-120On 7 lists
Second Treatise of GovernmentJohn Locke · 1689On 7 listsThe Great BooksThe Constitution of the United StatesAnonymousThe Constitution of the United StatesAnonymous · 1787On 7 lists
The Communist ManifestoKarl Marx · 1848On 7 lists
Karl Marx CapitalCapitalKarl Marx · 1867On 7 listsThe Great BooksPoliticsAristotlePoliticsAristotle · c. 335 BCEOn 6 lists
Augustine The City of GodThe City of GodAugustine · 413-426On 6 lists
King LearWilliam Shakespeare · c. 1605-1606On 6 lists
The TempestWilliam Shakespeare · c. 1611On 6 lists
John Milton Paradise LostParadise LostJohn Milton · 1667On 6 listsThe Great BooksThe Social ContractJean-Jacques RousseauThe Social ContractJean-Jacques Rousseau · 1762On 6 listsThe Great BooksThe Declaration of IndependenceThomas JeffersonThe Declaration of IndependenceThomas Jefferson · 1776On 6 listsThe Great BooksAnnalsTacitusTacitus AnnalsAnnalsTacitus · c. 115-120On 5 listsThe Great BooksDiscourses on the First Ten Books of LivyNiccolò MachiavelliNiccolò Machiavelli Discourses on the First Ten Books of LivyDiscourses on the First Ten Books of LivyNiccolò Machiavelli · c. 1513On 5 lists
Gulliver's TravelsJonathan Swift · 1726On 5 lists
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay The Federalist PapersThe Federalist PapersAlexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay · 1787-1788On 5 listsThe Great BooksOn LibertyJohn Stuart MillOn LibertyJohn Stuart Mill · 1859On 5 lists
Beyond Good and EvilFriedrich Nietzsche · 1886On 5 listsThe Great BooksGospel of MatthewAnonymousGospel of MatthewAnonymous · c. 80-90 CEOn 4 listsThe Great BooksMacbethWilliam ShakespeareMacbethWilliam Shakespeare · c. 1606On 4 lists
Samson AgonistesJohn Milton · 1671On 4 lists
G. W. F. Hegel Phenomenology of SpiritPhenomenology of SpiritG. W. F. Hegel · 1807On 4 lists
On the Genealogy of MoralsFriedrich Nietzsche · 1887On 4 lists
ExodusThe Bible · c. 7th c. BCEOn 3 listsThe Great BooksThe BibleAnonymousAnonymous The BibleThe BibleAnonymous · c. 1000 BCEOn 3 lists
AgamemnonAeschylus · 458 BCEOn 3 listsThe EumenidesAeschylus · 458 BCEOn 3 listsThe Great BooksThe BirdsAristophanesThe BirdsAristophanes · 414 BCEOn 3 listsThe Great BooksGorgiasPlatoGorgiasPlato · c. 385 BCEOn 3 lists
On DutiesCicero · 44 BCEOn 3 lists
Livy History of RomeHistory of RomeLivy · 20 BCEOn 3 lists
Ovid MetamorphosesMetamorphosesOvid · 8 CEOn 3 listsThe Great BooksInfernoDante AlighieriInfernoDante Alighieri · c. 1308-1314On 3 listsThe Great BooksConcerning Governmental AuthorityMartin LutherConcerning Governmental AuthorityMartin Luther · 1523On 3 lists
John Calvin Institutes of the Christian ReligionInstitutes of the Christian ReligionJohn Calvin · 1536On 3 listsThe Great BooksRichard IIWilliam ShakespeareRichard IIWilliam Shakespeare · c. 1595On 3 listsThe Great BooksHenry IV, Part 1William ShakespeareHenry IV, Part 1William Shakespeare · c. 1596-1597On 3 listsAreopagiticaJohn Milton · 1644On 3 listsThe Great BooksTartuffeMolièreTartuffeMolière · 1664On 3 lists
Edward Gibbon The Decline and Fall of the Roman EmpireThe Decline and Fall of the Roman EmpireEdward Gibbon · 1776-1789On 3 listsThe Great BooksLectures on the Philosophy of HistoryG. W. F. HegelG. W. F. Hegel Lectures on the Philosophy of HistoryLectures on the Philosophy of HistoryG. W. F. Hegel · 1822On 3 lists
Herman Melville Moby-DickMoby-DickHerman Melville · 1851On 3 lists
Heart of DarknessJoseph Conrad · 1899On 3 listsDeuteronomyThe Bible · c. 7th c. BCEOn 2 listsThe Great BooksPrometheus BoundAeschylusPrometheus BoundAeschylus · c. 430 BCEOn 2 lists
LysistrataAristophanes · 411 BCEOn 2 lists
The Sayings of ConfuciusConfucius · c. 5th c. BCEOn 2 listsThe Great BooksThe Acts of the ApostlesAnonymousThe Acts of the ApostlesAnonymous · c. 80-100 CEOn 2 listsThe Great BooksDiscoursesEpictetusEpictetus DiscoursesDiscoursesEpictetus · c. 108 CEOn 2 listsThe Great BooksHistoriesTacitusHistoriesTacitus · c. 105-110On 2 listsThe Great BooksThe Song of RolandAnonymousThe Song of RolandAnonymous · c. 1100On 2 listsThe Great BooksThe Faerie QueeneEdmund SpenserEdmund Spenser The Faerie QueeneThe Faerie QueeneEdmund Spenser · 1590-1596On 2 lists
Julius CaesarWilliam Shakespeare · 1599On 2 listsThe Great BooksAntony and CleopatraWilliam ShakespeareAntony and CleopatraWilliam Shakespeare · c. 1606-1607On 2 listsThe Great BooksEssaysFrancis BaconEssaysFrancis Bacon · 1597-1625On 2 listsThe Great BooksThe Provincial LettersBlaise PascalThe Provincial LettersBlaise Pascal · 1656-1657On 2 listsThe Great BooksThe School for WivesMolièreThe School for WivesMolière · 1662On 2 listsThe Great BooksA Letter Concerning TolerationJohn LockeA Letter Concerning TolerationJohn Locke · 1689On 2 lists
Montesquieu The Spirit of the LawsThe Spirit of the LawsMontesquieu · 1748On 2 listsThe Great BooksDiscourse on Political EconomyJean-Jacques RousseauDiscourse on Political EconomyJean-Jacques Rousseau · 1755On 2 listsThe Great BooksArticles of ConfederationContinental CongressArticles of ConfederationContinental Congress · 1777On 2 listsThe Great BooksDon GiovanniWolfgang Amadeus MozartDon GiovanniWolfgang Amadeus Mozart · 1787On 2 listsThe Great BooksDeclaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (1789)French National AssemblyDeclaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (1789)French National Assembly · 1789On 2 lists
Reflections on the Revolution in FranceEdmund Burke · 1790On 2 lists
G. W. F. Hegel Philosophy of RightPhilosophy of RightG. W. F. Hegel · 1821On 2 listsThe Great BooksNarrative of the Life of Frederick DouglassFrederick DouglassNarrative of the Life of Frederick DouglassFrederick Douglass · 1845On 2 listsThe Great BooksSelected SpeechesFrederick DouglassFrederick Douglass Selected SpeechesSelected SpeechesFrederick Douglass · 1841-1894On 2 listsThe Great BooksThe Lincoln-Douglas DebatesAbraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln The Lincoln-Douglas DebatesThe Lincoln-Douglas DebatesAbraham Lincoln · 1858On 2 listsThe Great BooksHedda GablerHenrik IbsenHedda GablerHenrik Ibsen · 1890On 2 listsThe Great BooksSaint JoanGeorge Bernard ShawSaint JoanGeorge Bernard Shaw · 1923On 2 listsThe Great BooksThe Exaltation of InannaEnheduannaThe Exaltation of InannaEnheduanna · c. 2300 BCEOn 1 listThe Great BooksFablesAesopFablesAesop · c. 6th c. BCEOn 1 list
SamuelThe Bible · c. 7th c. BCEOn 1 list
Tao Te ChingLaozi · c. 4th c. BCEOn 1 listThe Great BooksLawsPlatoPlato LawsLawsPlato · c. 350 BCEOn 1 listThe Great BooksThe Athenian ConstitutionAristotleThe Athenian ConstitutionAristotle · c. 330 BCEOn 1 list
Polybius The HistoriesThe HistoriesPolybius · c. 150-118 BCEOn 1 listThe Great BooksLettersCiceroCicero LettersLettersCicero · 68-43 BCEOn 1 listThe Great BooksOdes and EpodesHoraceOdes and EpodesHorace · 30-13 BCEOn 1 listThe Great BooksMoral and Political EssaysSenecaMoral and Political EssaysSeneca · c. 41-62 CEOn 1 listThe Great BooksThe Second Epistle of Paul to the CorinthiansPaul the ApostleThe Second Epistle of Paul to the CorinthiansPaul the Apostle · c. 55-56 CEOn 1 listThe Great BooksLettersPliny the YoungerLettersPliny the Younger · c. 97-112 CEOn 1 listThe Great BooksChristian CreedsAnonymousChristian CreedsAnonymous · c. 150-451On 1 listThe Great BooksThe Destruction of Dá Derga's HostelAnonymousThe Destruction of Dá Derga's HostelAnonymous · c. 8th c.On 1 list
Doubts About GalenAl-Razi · c. 900-925On 1 listThe Great BooksThe Political RegimeAl-FarabiThe Political RegimeAl-Farabi · c. 940On 1 list
Anonymous The NibelungenliedThe NibelungenliedAnonymous · c. 1200On 1 listThe Great BooksOn KingshipThomas AquinasOn KingshipThomas Aquinas · c. 1267On 1 listThe Great BooksOn MonarchyDante AlighieriOn MonarchyDante Alighieri · c. 1312-1318On 1 listThe Great BooksThe Thousand and One NightsAnonymousAnonymous The Thousand and One NightsThe Thousand and One NightsAnonymous · c. 9th c.On 1 listThe Great BooksThe MuqaddimahIbn KhaldunIbn Khaldun The MuqaddimahThe MuqaddimahIbn Khaldun · 1377On 1 listThe Great BooksChroniclesJean FroissartJean Froissart ChroniclesChroniclesJean Froissart · c. 1370-1400On 1 list
The Book of the City of LadiesChristine de Pizan · 1405On 1 listThe Great BooksLe Morte d'ArthurThomas MaloryThomas Malory Le Morte d'ArthurLe Morte d'ArthurThomas Malory · 1469On 1 listThe Great BooksEl RequerimientoCouncil of CastileEl RequerimientoCouncil of Castile · 1513On 1 listThe Great BooksThe Ninety-Five ThesesMartin LutherThe Ninety-Five ThesesMartin Luther · 1517On 1 listThe Great BooksThree TreatisesMartin LutherThree TreatisesMartin Luther · 1520On 1 listThe Great BooksTo the Christian Nobility of the German NationMartin LutherTo the Christian Nobility of the German NationMartin Luther · 1520On 1 listThe Great BooksFriendly Admonition to Peace Concerning the Twelve Articles of the Swabian PeasantsMartin LutherFriendly Admonition to Peace Concerning the Twelve Articles of the Swabian PeasantsMartin Luther · 1525On 1 list
On the American IndiansFrancisco de Vitoria · 1539On 1 listThe Great BooksThe Life of Sir Thomas MoreWilliam RoperThe Life of Sir Thomas MoreWilliam Roper · c. 1556On 1 listThe Great BooksThe Autobiography of Benvenuto CelliniBenvenuto CelliniBenvenuto Cellini The Autobiography of Benvenuto CelliniThe Autobiography of Benvenuto CelliniBenvenuto Cellini · 1558On 1 listThe Great BooksSir Francis Drake's Famous Voyage Round the WorldFrancis PrettySir Francis Drake's Famous Voyage Round the WorldFrancis Pretty · 1577On 1 listThe Great BooksDoctor FaustusChristopher MarloweDoctor FaustusChristopher Marlowe · c. 1592On 1 listThe Great BooksEdward the SecondChristopher MarloweEdward the SecondChristopher Marlowe · c. 1592On 1 list
The Taming of the ShrewWilliam Shakespeare · c. 1590-1592On 1 listThe Great BooksRichard IIIWilliam ShakespeareRichard IIIWilliam Shakespeare · c. 1592-1593On 1 listThe Great BooksThe Discovery of GuianaWalter RaleighThe Discovery of GuianaWalter Raleigh · 1596On 1 listThe Great BooksHenry IV, Part 2William ShakespeareHenry IV, Part 2William Shakespeare · c. 1597-1598On 1 listThe Great BooksHenry VWilliam ShakespeareHenry VWilliam Shakespeare · 1599On 1 listThe Great BooksMeasure for MeasureWilliam ShakespeareMeasure for MeasureWilliam Shakespeare · c. 1603-1604On 1 listThe Great BooksCoriolanusWilliam ShakespeareCoriolanusWilliam Shakespeare · c. 1608On 1 listThe Great BooksPhilasterFrancis Beaumont and John FletcherPhilasterFrancis Beaumont and John Fletcher · c. 1609On 1 listThe Great BooksThe Duchess of MalfiJohn WebsterThe Duchess of MalfiJohn Webster · c. 1613On 1 listThe Great BooksAppeal Concerning the PriestsFelipe Guamán Poma de AyalaAppeal Concerning the PriestsFelipe Guamán Poma de Ayala · c. 1615On 1 listThe Great BooksThe Mayflower CompactAnonymousThe Mayflower CompactAnonymous · 1620On 1 listThe Great BooksSir Francis Drake RevivedPhilip NicholsSir Francis Drake RevivedPhilip Nichols · c. 1593On 1 listThe Great BooksLife Is a DreamPedro Calderón de la BarcaLife Is a DreamPedro Calderón de la Barca · 1635On 1 listThe Great BooksPolyeuctePierre CorneillePolyeuctePierre Corneille · 1642-1643On 1 listThe Great BooksAndromacheJean RacineAndromacheJean Racine · 1667On 1 listThe Great BooksBéréniceJean RacineBéréniceJean Racine · 1670On 1 listThe Great BooksTheologico-Political TreatiseBaruch SpinozaTheologico-Political TreatiseBaruch Spinoza · 1670On 1 listParadise RegainedJohn Milton · 1671On 1 listThe Great BooksAll for LoveJohn DrydenAll for LoveJohn Dryden · 1677On 1 listThe Great BooksJournal to StellaJonathan SwiftJonathan Swift Journal to StellaJournal to StellaJonathan Swift · 1710On 1 listThe Great BooksPersian LettersMontesquieuPersian LettersMontesquieu · 1721On 1 listThe Great BooksEssays, Moral and PoliticalDavid HumeEssays, Moral and PoliticalDavid Hume · 1741-1742On 1 listThe Great BooksThe Vanity of Human WishesSamuel JohnsonThe Vanity of Human WishesSamuel Johnson · 1749On 1 listThe Great BooksEgmontJohann Wolfgang von GoetheEgmontJohann Wolfgang von Goethe · 1788On 1 list
An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and LegislationJeremy Bentham · 1789On 1 listThe Great BooksDeclaration of the Rights of WomanOlympe de GougesDeclaration of the Rights of WomanOlympe de Gouges · 1791On 1 listThe Great BooksThe Debate between Sieyès and PaineEmmanuel Joseph Sieyès and Thomas PaineThe Debate between Sieyès and PaineEmmanuel Joseph Sieyès and Thomas Paine · 1791On 1 listThe Great BooksA Letter to a Noble LordEdmund BurkeA Letter to a Noble LordEdmund Burke · 1796On 1 listThe Great BooksWashington's Farewell AddressGeorge WashingtonWashington's Farewell AddressGeorge Washington · 1796On 1 listThe Great BooksThe Metaphysics of MoralsImmanuel KantThe Metaphysics of MoralsImmanuel Kant · 1797On 1 listThe Great BooksHaitian Constitution of 1801Toussaint LouvertureHaitian Constitution of 1801Toussaint Louverture · 1801On 1 listThe Great BooksSupreme Court OpinionsUnited States Supreme CourtSupreme Court OpinionsUnited States Supreme Court · 1803-1857On 1 listThe Great BooksWilliam TellFriedrich SchillerWilliam TellFriedrich Schiller · 1804On 1 listThe Great BooksThe 1805 Constitution of HaitiJean-Jacques DessalinesThe 1805 Constitution of HaitiJean-Jacques Dessalines · 1805On 1 listThe Great BooksManfredLord ByronManfredLord Byron · 1817On 1 listThe Great BooksThe CenciPercy Bysshe ShelleyThe CenciPercy Bysshe Shelley · 1819On 1 listThe Great BooksCromwellVictor HugoVictor Hugo CromwellCromwellVictor Hugo · 1827On 1 listThe Great BooksMachiavelliThomas Babington MacaulayMachiavelliThomas Babington Macaulay · 1827On 1 listThe Great BooksThe BetrothedAlessandro ManzoniAlessandro Manzoni The BetrothedThe BetrothedAlessandro Manzoni · 1827On 1 listThe Great BooksAppeal to the Colored Citizens of the WorldDavid WalkerAppeal to the Colored Citizens of the WorldDavid Walker · 1829On 1 listThe Great BooksThe Red and the BlackStendhalStendhal The Red and the BlackThe Red and the BlackStendhal · 1830On 1 list
Carl von Clausewitz On WarOn WarCarl von Clausewitz · 1832On 1 listThe Great BooksThe Charterhouse of ParmaStendhalStendhal The Charterhouse of ParmaThe Charterhouse of ParmaStendhal · 1839On 1 listThe Great BooksEssay on AlgeriaAlexis de TocquevilleEssay on AlgeriaAlexis de Tocqueville · 1841On 1 listThe Great BooksAn Essay on the Development of Christian DoctrineJohn Henry NewmanJohn Henry Newman An Essay on the Development of Christian DoctrineAn Essay on the Development of Christian DoctrineJohn Henry Newman · 1845On 1 listThe Great BooksPoemsRobert BrowningPoemsRobert Browning · 1842-1864On 1 list
Civil DisobedienceHenry David Thoreau · 1849On 1 listThe Great BooksWhat to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?Frederick DouglassWhat to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?Frederick Douglass · 1852On 1 listThe Great BooksThe Old Regime and the RevolutionAlexis de TocquevilleThe Old Regime and the RevolutionAlexis de Tocqueville · 1856On 1 listThe Great BooksSelected SpeechesAbraham LincolnSelected SpeechesAbraham Lincoln · 1838-1865On 1 listThe Great BooksConsiderations on Representative GovernmentJohn Stuart MillConsiderations on Representative GovernmentJohn Stuart Mill · 1861On 1 listThe Great BooksThe Will to PowerFriedrich NietzscheFriedrich Nietzsche The Will to PowerThe Will to PowerFriedrich Nietzsche · 1883On 1 listThe Great BooksThe Golden BoughJames George FrazerJames George Frazer The Golden BoughThe Golden BoughJames George Frazer · 1890On 1 listThe Great BooksBilly BuddHerman MelvilleBilly BuddHerman Melville · 1886On 1 listThe Great BooksHadji MuratLeo TolstoyHadji MuratLeo Tolstoy · 1896On 1 listThe Great BooksMajor BarbaraGeorge Bernard ShawMajor BarbaraGeorge Bernard Shaw · 1905On 1 listThe Great BooksPascendi Dominici GregisPope Pius XPascendi Dominici GregisPope Pius X · 1907On 1 listThe Great BooksHind Swaraj, or Indian Home RuleMohandas K. GandhiHind Swaraj, or Indian Home RuleMohandas K. Gandhi · 1909On 1 listThe Great BooksThe Prussian OfficerD. H. LawrenceThe Prussian OfficerD. H. Lawrence · 1914On 1 listThe Great BooksThe State and RevolutionVladimir LeninThe State and RevolutionVladimir Lenin · 1917On 1 listThe Great BooksThe Souls of White FolkW. E. B. Du BoisThe Souls of White FolkW. E. B. Du Bois · 1910On 1 listThe Great BooksGroup Psychology and the Analysis of the EgoSigmund FreudGroup Psychology and the Analysis of the EgoSigmund Freud · 1921On 1 list
The TrialFranz Kafka · 1925On 1 list
The CastleFranz Kafka · 1926On 1 list
Arnold J. Toynbee A Study of HistoryA Study of HistoryArnold J. Toynbee · 1934-1961On 1 listThe Great BooksThe General Theory of Employment, Interest and MoneyJohn Maynard KeynesJohn Maynard Keynes The General Theory of Employment, Interest and MoneyThe General Theory of Employment, Interest and MoneyJohn Maynard Keynes · 1936On 1 listThe Great BooksThe Rights of Man and Natural LawJacques MaritainThe Rights of Man and Natural LawJacques Maritain · 1942On 1 listThe Great BooksAnimal FarmGeorge OrwellAnimal FarmGeorge Orwell · 1945On 1 list
Max Weber Essays in SociologyEssays in SociologyMax Weber · 1906On 1 list
Hannah Arendt The Origins of TotalitarianismThe Origins of TotalitarianismHannah Arendt · 1951On 1 list
Ralph Ellison Invisible ManInvisible ManRalph Ellison · 1952On 1 list
The Broken Spears: The Aztec Account of the Conquest of MexicoMiguel León-Portilla (ed.) · 1959On 1 list
The Wretched of the EarthFrantz Fanon · 1961On 1 listThe Great BooksLetter from Birmingham JailMartin Luther King Jr.Letter from Birmingham JailMartin Luther King Jr. · 1963On 1 list
Personal Responsibility Under DictatorshipHannah Arendt · 1964On 1 listThe Great BooksCancer WardAleksandr SolzhenitsynAleksandr Solzhenitsyn Cancer WardCancer WardAleksandr Solzhenitsyn · 1968On 1 listThe Great BooksThe First CircleAleksandr SolzhenitsynAleksandr Solzhenitsyn The First CircleThe First CircleAleksandr Solzhenitsyn · 1968On 1 listThe Great BooksCrises of the RepublicHannah ArendtCrises of the RepublicHannah Arendt · 1972On 1 list
Discipline and PunishMichel Foucault · 1975On 1 listThe Great BooksSlavery, Race, and Ideology in the United States of AmericaBarbara J. FieldsSlavery, Race, and Ideology in the United States of AmericaBarbara J. Fields · 1990On 1 listThe Great BooksIs It Colonial Déjà Vu? Indigenous Peoples and Climate InjusticeKyle Powys WhyteIs It Colonial Déjà Vu? Indigenous Peoples and Climate InjusticeKyle Powys Whyte · 2017On 1 list