#291

Mentioned in 58 episodes

Democracy in America

Book • 1835

Alexis de Tocqueville

Written after his travels in the United States, 'Democracy in America' is a comprehensive study of American society and government.

Tocqueville examines the democratic revolution and its impact on American life, discussing topics such as the sovereignty of the people, the role of civil society, the dangers of the tyranny of the majority, and the influence of religion and individualism.

The book is a philosophical and political analysis that aims to understand why republican representative democracy succeeded in the United States while failing in other places, and it offers insights into the future of democracy both in America and globally.

Mentioned by

Harvey Mansfield

Auron Macintyre

Gabriel Custodiet

Mentioned in 58 episodes

Recommended by

Ben Shapiro

, stating it's still the best description of what America is and ought to be.

We Are Going to Have to Live Here With Each Other

Mentioned when Deneen recalls reading it in college and recognizing its praise of township democracy.

644. Has America Lost Its Appetite for the Common Good?

Mentioned by

Jeff Sandefer

as a book read by students in Acton Academy.

336. How to Educate Your Children | Jeff Sandefer

Mentioned by

Brett McKay

in relation to American community spirit.

Building Tribe — How to Create and Sustain Communities of Men

Mentioned by

Jonathan Haidt

as a book offering insights into American society and its democratic character.

The Anxious Generation with Jonathan Haidt

Mentioned by

Melissa Lane

in relation to Hayek's concept of the 'road to serfdom'.

Hayek's The Road to Serfdom

Referenced by Michael Knowles as the best study of America ever written.

Michael Knowles: Attacks on Christians, Norm McDonald, and Leaving Atheism for Catholicism

Mentioned by

Peter Turchin

in the context of Tsar Alexander II's decision-making process regarding reforms in Russia.

The ‘Decline’ of Nations: How Elite Surplus and Inequality Lead to Societal Upheaval with Peter Turchin

Mentioned by

Harvey Mansfield

when referring to Tocqueville's ideas about spirituality in America.

Harvard Professor’s Masterclass on Machiavelli | Harvey Mansfield

Mentioned by

Maxwell Meyer

as the first and greatest description of American democracy by a foreign observer.

28: Maxwell Meyer - Starships & Road Trips

Mentioned by

Tyler Cowen

in the context of discussing Shakespeare's precursors according to Girard's work.

Tyler Cowen: Trump's DOGE team should read Shakespeare.

Mentioned by

Ben Shapiro

in the context of class mobility in the United States compared to Britain.

Ben Shapiro’s Book Club | 1984

Mentioned by

Gregory Sadler

while discussing American history and its shortcomings.

Peter Thiel Unmasked: From Lapsed Libertarian to Architect of the New Right

Mentioned by

David Runciman

while discussing Tocqueville's observations on American steamboat technology and the assumption of inevitable technological progress.

The History of Revolutionary Ideas: The Industrial Revolution

Mentioned by Michael Moss when Heather Cox Richardson referred to it as an example of early American writing.

August 13, 2025

Mentioned by

Auron Macintyre

in relation to voluntary associations and American identity.

The National Question and the Destruction of Identity | 5/12/25

Mentioned by

Gabriel Custodiet

in the context of discussing different perspectives on the American Civil War.

Tom DiLorenzo: Lincoln Unmasked

Recommended by

Auron Macintyre

as a classic political text for understanding early American government.

Top Reads of 2024 | 1/6/25

Mentioned by

Bret Stephens

in relation to countervailing institutions.

Has Freedom Failed Us? A Debate

Mentioned by

Rudyard Lynch

as an author who spoke about trans European social issues.

Explaining the Napoleonic Wars

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