Alexis de Tocqueville





Alexis de Tocqueville

Author profile


born
in Cannes, France
July 29, 1805

died
April 16, 1859

gender
male

genre

influences
Voluntary association


About this author

Alexis-Charles-Henri Clérel de Tocqueville (July 29, 1805 – April 16, 1859) was a French political thinker and historian best known for his Democracy in America (appearing in two volumes: 1835 and 1840) and The Old Regime and the Revolution (1856). In both of these works, he explored the effects of the rising equality of social conditions on the individual and the state in western societies.

Democracy in America (1835), his major work, published after his travels in the United States, is today considered an early work of sociology and political science. An eminent representative of the classical liberal political tradition, Tocqueville was an active participant in French politics, first under the July Monarchy (1830–1848) and then during the...more


Average rating: 3.92 · 9,350 ratings · 448 reviews · 77 distinct works · Similar authors
Democracy in America
by
3.91 of 5 stars 3.91 avg rating — 8,370 ratings — published 1836 — 130 editions
The Old Regime and the Fren...
by
3.92 of 5 stars 3.92 avg rating — 400 ratings — published 1856 — 22 editions
Democracy in America Volume 1
by
4.08 of 5 stars 4.08 avg rating — 193 ratings — published 1835 — 36 editions
Democracy in America Volume 2
by
4.04 of 5 stars 4.04 avg rating — 179 ratings — published 1840 — 31 editions
Democracy in America (Libra...
by
4.37 of 5 stars 4.37 avg rating — 59 ratings
Recollections on the French...
4.12 of 5 stars 4.12 avg rating — 32 ratings — published 1893 — 11 editions
Letters from America
by
4.07 of 5 stars 4.07 avg rating — 27 ratings — published 2010 — 4 editions
Memoir on Pauperism: Does P...
4.27 of 5 stars 4.27 avg rating — 26 ratings — published 1990 — 7 editions
Alexis de Tocqueville on De...
by
4.08 of 5 stars 4.08 avg rating — 13 ratings — published 1971 — 3 editions
A Fortnight in the Wilderness
4.33 of 5 stars 4.33 avg rating — 12 ratings — published 1998 — 4 editions
More books by Alexis de Tocqueville…
“The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public's money.”
Alexis de Tocqueville

“America is great because she is good. If America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.”
Alexis de Tocqueville

“Democracy extends the sphere of individual freedom, socialism restricts it. Democracy attaches all possible value to each man; socialism makes each man a mere agent, a mere number. Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word: equality. But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude.”
Alexis de Tocqueville

Polls

55838
Spotlighted Book Discussion Poll I - October 26, 2011

This is a poll that adds other books to our listing of potential non fiction books to discuss and also helps the moderators determine which one or ones are the most popular. Since we have many more group members than when we first started; voting in the polls is very important. There will be a series of polls. Many of these books have been recommended by group members but were either not selected before nor voted upon before.

Vote for the book that you would most like to read and/or is the book that you believe that would appeal to the most group members.

Note:

We have added some of the books nominated thus far but we have more to add to other polls. However, this poll was getting quite large.

However, if you do not see your favorite book on this list; then just comment or pop me a note and I will immediately add it to this poll.

You can always change your vote at any time; so nothing is lost. There are some books which have been nominated by the same author; however, skip over those if the particular author does not suit you and vote for your favorite or for one you or others might want to read.

Before making your selection, please try to look up your choice and make sure it really is a book you are interested in or you think others would be; do not be lured in by the title. Also, check out the author and what others have said about the book before you (reviewers who you trust). Then of course, make your selection.

And if you do not see your favorite, just contact me and I will add it to the poll.

Cleopatra  A Life Stacy SchiffStacy Schiff

Cleopatra: A Life
 
  18 votes, 9.9%

A Country of Vast Designs  James K. Polk, the Mexican War and the Conquest of the American Continent by Robert W. Merry

A Country of Vast Designs: James K. Polk, the Mexican War and the Conquest of the American Continent
 
  13 votes, 7.2%

Hero  The Life and Legend of Lawrence of Arabia by Michael Korda

Hero: The Life and Legend of Lawrence of Arabia
 
  13 votes, 7.2%

Alexander the Great by Philip Freeman

Alexander the Great
 
  13 votes, 7.2%

The Storm of War  A New History of the Second World War by Andrew Roberts

The Storm of War: A New History of the Second World War
 
  12 votes, 6.6%

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much  The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession by Allison Hoover BartlettAllison Hoover Bartlett

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession
 
  12 votes, 6.6%

 
  10 votes, 5.5%

Horse Soldiers  The Extraordinary Story of a Band of US Soldiers Who Rode to Victory in Afghanistan by Doug Stanton

Horse Soldiers: The Extraordinary Story of a Band of US Soldiers
 
  8 votes, 4.4%

The Clockwork Universe  Isaac Newton, the Royal Society, and the Birth of the Modern Worldby Edward Dolnick

The Clockwork Universe: Isaac Newton, the Royal Society and the Birth of the Modern World
 
  6 votes, 3.3%

A History of God  The 4,000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Karen ArmstrongKaren Armstrong

A History of God: The 4,000 Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
 
  6 votes, 3.3%

Newton and the Counterfeiter  The Unknown Detective Career of the World's Greatest Scientistby Thomas Levenson

Newton and the Counterfeiter: The Unknown Detective Career of the World's Greatest Scientist
 
  5 votes, 2.8%

The Ascent of Money  A Financial History of the World Niall FergusonNiall Ferguson

The Ascent of Money: A Financial History of the World
 
  4 votes, 2.2%

Destiny Disrupted  A History of the World Through Islamic Eyes by Tamim Ansary

Destiny Disrupted: A History of the World Through Islamic Eyes
 
  4 votes, 2.2%

The Painter's Chair  George Washington and the Making of American Art by Hugh Howard

The Painter's Chair: George Washington and the Making of American Art
 
  4 votes, 2.2%

The Idea of America  Reflections on the Birth of the United States Gordon S. WoodGordon S. Wood

The Idea of America: Reflections on the Birth of the United States
 
  4 votes, 2.2%

The Birth of Modern Politics  Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, and the Election of 1828 (Pivotal Moments in American History) by Lynn Hudson Parsons

The Birth of Modern Politics: Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams and the Election of 1828
 
  3 votes, 1.7%

Decision Points by George W. BushGeorge W. Bush

Decision Points
 
  3 votes, 1.7%

Winston's War  Churchill, 1940-1945 by Max HastingsMax Hastings

Winston's War: Churchill, 1940-1945
 
  3 votes, 1.7%

A History of the American People by Paul  JohnsonPaul Johnson

A History of the American People
 
  3 votes, 1.7%

U. S. Grant  American Hero, American Myth Joan WaughJoan Waugh

U. S. Grant: American Hero, American Myth
 
  3 votes, 1.7%

Churchill by Paul  JohnsonPaul Johnson

Churchill
 
  3 votes, 1.7%

Civilization  The West and the Rest by Niall FergusonNiall Ferguson

Civilization: The West and the Rest
 
  3 votes, 1.7%

Letters from America Alexis de TocquevilleAlexis de Tocqueville

Letters from America
 
  3 votes, 1.7%

Pericles of Athens and the Birth of Democracy by Donald Kagan

Pericles of Athens and the Birth of Democracy
 
  3 votes, 1.7%

The Ten Most Beautiful Experiments by George B. Johnson

The Ten Most Beautiful Experiments
 
  2 votes, 1.1%

Thucydides  The Reinvention of HistoryDonald Kagan

Thucydides: The Reinvention of History
 
  2 votes, 1.1%

 
  2 votes, 1.1%

The Union War by Gary W. Gallagher

The Union War
 
  2 votes, 1.1%

Modern Times  The World from the 20s to the 90s by Paul  JohnsonPaul Johnson

Modern Times: The World from the 20s to the 90s
 
  2 votes, 1.1%

The Age of Wonder  How the Romantic Generation Discovered the Beauty and Terror of Science by Richard HolmesRichard Holmes

The Age of Wonder
 
  2 votes, 1.1%

The Journey Tony BlairTony Blair

The Journey
 
  2 votes, 1.1%

God's Battalions  The Case for the Crusades Rodney StarkRodney Stark

God's Battalions: The Case for the Crusades
 
  2 votes, 1.1%

The Wealth of Nations Adam SmithAdam Smith

The Wealth of Nations
 
  2 votes, 1.1%

Courage and Consequence  My Life as a Conservative in the Fight by Karl RoveKarl Rove

Courage and Consequence: My Life as a Conservative in the Fight
 
  1 vote, 0.6%

Party over Section  The Rough and Ready Presidential Election of 1848 (American Presidential Elections) by Joel H. Silbey

Party Over Section: The Rough and Ready Presidential Election of 1848
 
  1 vote, 0.6%

A History of the Jews (Perennial Library) Paul  JohnsonPaul Johnson

A History of the Jews
 
  1 vote, 0.6%

Madam Secretary  A Memoir Madeleine AlbrightMadeleine Albright

Madam Secretary: A Memoir
 
  1 vote, 0.6%

The Theory of Moral Sentiments  by Adam SmithAdam Smith

The Theory of Moral Sentiments
 
  0 votes, 0.0%

Merchant Kings Stephen R. BownStephen R. Bown

Merchant Kings
 
  0 votes, 0.0%

A History of Christianity Paul  JohnsonPaul Johnson

A History of Christianity
 
  0 votes, 0.0%

Jesus  A Biography, from a Believerby Paul  JohnsonPaul Johnson


Jesus: A Biography from a Believer
 
  0 votes, 0.0%

16 comments
More...

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics posts views last activity  
Fantasy Romance: Any body read any good books lately? 52 127 Mar 05, 2009 04:14pm  
100+ Books in 2013: Christina's 2009 100+ Books 110 638 Dec 31, 2009 09:46pm  
Readers and Reading: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY...... 43 50 Aug 03, 2010 09:00am  
Pick-a-Shelf: Give me a quote, or give me death! (Not really) 12 32 Jun 02, 2011 04:07am  
21st Century Lite...: * Parrot and Olivier - Completed Book (Contains Spoilers!!) Now Open! 52 39 Aug 29, 2012 10:15am  
The History Book ...: FRENCH REVOLUTION 25 138 Apr 08, 2013 11:01am  
Gigi's Company: Author - Title Game 2071 720 17 hours, 45 min ago  
The History Book ...: * I AM LOOKING FOR A BOOK ON.........? 555 687 1 hour, 41 min ago