Alexis de Tocqueville





Alexis de Tocqueville

Author profile


born
July 29, 1805 in Cannes, France

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 the...more


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Average rating: 3.84 · 4,543 ratings · 339 reviews · 73 distinct works
Democracy in America
3.84 of 5 stars 3.84 avg rating — 4,052 ratings — published 199 — 131 editions
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The Old Regime and the French...
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3.73 of 5 stars 3.73 avg rating — 198 ratings — published 1856 — 17 editions
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Democracy in America, Volume 2
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4.05 of 5 stars 4.05 avg rating — 113 ratings — published 1840 — 35 editions
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Democracy in America, Volume 1
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4.09 of 5 stars 4.09 avg rating — 97 ratings — published 1835 — 36 editions
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Memoir on Pauperism: Does Publ...
4.12 of 5 stars 4.12 avg rating — 17 ratings — published 1990 — 5 editions
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Recollections
3.73 of 5 stars 3.73 avg rating — 11 ratings — published 1954 — 14 editions
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Letters From America
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4.12 of 5 stars 4.12 avg rating — 8 ratings — published 2010 — 2 editions
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Alexis de Tocqueville on Democ...
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4.0 of 5 stars 4.00 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 1971 — 3 editions
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Democracy In America
3.0 of 5 stars 3.00 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 2009
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A Fortnight in the Wilderness
4.0 of 5 stars 4.00 avg rating — 4 ratings — published 2003 — 3 editions
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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, Democracy in America

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

“A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been 200 years.”
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 LifeStacy SchiffStacy Schiff

Cleopatra: A Life
 
  18 votes, 9.7%

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
 
  14 votes, 7.6%

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, 7.0%

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

Hero: The Life and Legend of Lawrence of Arabia
 
  13 votes, 7.0%

Alexander the Great by Philip Freeman

Alexander the Great
 
  13 votes, 7.0%

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, 6.5%

 
  11 votes, 5.9%

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, 4.3%

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, 3.2%

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

A History of God: The 4,000 Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
 
  6 votes, 3.2%

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, 2.7%

The Ascent of Money  A Financial History of the WorldNiall 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 StatesGordon 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, 1.6%

Decision Points by George W. BushGeorge W. Bush

Decision Points
 
  3 votes, 1.6%

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

Winston's War: Churchill, 1940-1945
 
  3 votes, 1.6%

A History of the American People by Paul  JohnsonPaul Johnson

A History of the American People
 
  3 votes, 1.6%

U. S. Grant  American Hero, American MythJoan WaughJoan Waugh

U. S. Grant: American Hero, American Myth
 
  3 votes, 1.6%

Churchill by Paul  JohnsonPaul Johnson

Churchill
 
  3 votes, 1.6%

Civilization  The West and the Rest by Niall FergusonNiall Ferguson

Civilization: The West and the Rest
 
  3 votes, 1.6%

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

Modern Times: The World from the 20s to the 90s
 
  3 votes, 1.6%

Letters from AmericaAlexis de TocquevilleAlexis de Tocqueville

Letters from America
 
  3 votes, 1.6%

Pericles of Athens and the Birth of Democracy by Donald Kagan

Pericles of Athens and the Birth of Democracy
 
  3 votes, 1.6%

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%

The Union War by Gary W. Gallagher

The Union War
 
  2 votes, 1.1%

Living HistoryHillary Rodham ClintonHillary Rodham Clinton

Living History
 
  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 Wealth of NationsAdam SmithAdam Smith

The Wealth of Nations
 
  2 votes, 1.1%

The JourneyTony BlairTony Blair

The Journey
 
  2 votes, 1.1%

God's Battalions  The Case for the CrusadesRodney StarkRodney Stark

God's Battalions: The Case for the Crusades
 
  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, 0.5%

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, 0.5%

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

A History of the Jews
 
  1 vote, 0.5%

Madam Secretary  A MemoirMadeleine AlbrightMadeleine Albright

Madam Secretary: A Memoir
 
  1 vote, 0.5%

The Theory of Moral Sentiments  by Adam SmithAdam Smith

The Theory of Moral Sentiments
 
  0 votes, 0.0%

Merchant KingsStephen R. BownStephen R. Bown

Merchant Kings
 
  0 votes, 0.0%

A History of ChristianityPaul  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%

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