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On Tocqueville
Democracy and America
Series: Liveright Classics
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Format: Hardback
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See moreTocqueville's gifts as an observer and commentator on American life and democracy are brought to vivid life in this splendid volume.
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
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Description
In On Tocqueville, Alan Ryan brilliantly illuminates the observations of the French sociologist Alexis de Tocqueville, who first journeyed to the United States in 1831 and went on to catalogue the unique features of the American social contract in his two-volume masterpiece, Democracy in America.
Often thought of as the father of "American Exceptionalism," Tocqueville sought to observe the social conditions of emerging political equality in America, "a river that may be channelled but cannot be stopped in its course." In choosing America, he posed a central question of how a moderate, stable, and constitutional government is to be maintained in the wake of a revolution. As a dispassionate visitor, Tocqueville wanted to discover the social, moral, and economic arrangements that made liberty and self-government possible.
In doing so, Tocqueville made a number of prescient observations about American lifeβwhether it be the contrast between equality and liberty, or Americans' belief that they all belong to the middle classβthat remain as relevant today as when they were first written. While Tocqueville is often praised by both conservatives and liberals, either for his distrust of big government and fondness for decentralised power or for his concern with association and community, both tend to overlook his contempt for the "coarse appearance" of the individual members of Congress as well as his enthusiasm for the brutal nature of our prison system.
Alan Ryan examines the often complicated and elusive Democracy in America, tracing the influence of writers such as Rousseau, Montesquieu, and Guizot, and explaining Tocqueville's original conceptions of equality and individualism within their historical context. In Ryan's hands, On Tocqueville becomes the perfect introduction and guide to Democracy in America.
On Tocqueville: Democracy and America features:
- A chronology of Alexis de Tocqueville's life
- An introduction and text by Alan Ryan that provides crucial context and cogent analysis
- Key excerpts from Democracy in America
Series: Liveright Classics
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On Tocqueville
In On Tocqueville, Alan Ryan brilliantly illuminates the observations of the French sociologist Alexis de Tocqueville, who first journeyed to the United States in 1831 and went on to catalogue the unique features of the American social contract in his two-volume masterpiece, Democracy in America. Often thought of as the father of "American Exceptionalism," Tocqueville sought to observe the social...HardbackSold Out
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
On Tocqueville by Alan Ryan presents a compelling introduction that effectively links Tocqueville's insights and concerns with the issues facing modern audiences.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780871407047
Publisher: WW Norton & Co
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 12 September 2014
Country: United States
Imprint: Liveright Publishing Corporation
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 23.0mm
Width: 124.0mm
Height: 193.0mm
Weight: 307g
Pages: 272
About the Author
Alan Ryan, after decades at Princeton University, was warden of New College, University of Oxford, where he was a professor of political theory. He is the author of John Dewey and the High Tide of American Liberalism and Bertrand Russell: A Political Life, among other works.
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