Point Books To Democracy in America
| Original Title: | De la démocratie en Amérique |
| ISBN: | 0140447601 (ISBN13: 9780140447606) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Literary Awards: | French-American Foundation Translation Prize for Non-fiction (2004) |
Alexis de Tocqueville
Paperback | Pages: 983 pages Rating: 4.02 | 21565 Users | 755 Reviews
Describe Epithetical Books Democracy in America
| Title | : | Democracy in America |
| Author | : | Alexis de Tocqueville |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | First Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 983 pages |
| Published | : | April 24th 2003 by Penguin Classics (first published 1835) |
| Categories | : | History. Politics. Nonfiction. Philosophy. Classics. North American Hi.... American History. Political Science |
Representaion In Pursuance Of Books Democracy in America
Democracy in America has had the singular honor of being even to this day the work that political commentators of every stripe refer to when they seek to draw large conclusions about the society of the USA. Alexis de Tocqueville, a young French aristocrat, came to the young nation to investigate the functioning of American democracy & the social, political & economic life of its citizens, publishing his observations in 1835 & 1840. Brilliantly written, vividly illustrated with vignettes & portraits, Democracy in America is far more than a trenchant analysis of one society at a particular point in time. What will most intrigue modern readers is how many of the observations still hold true: on the mixed advantages of a free press, the strained relations among the races & the threats posed to democracies by consumerism & corruption. So uncanny is Tocqueville’s insight & so accurate are his predictions, that it seems as tho he were not merely describing the American identity but actually helping to create it.Rating Epithetical Books Democracy in America
Ratings: 4.02 From 21565 Users | 755 ReviewsDiscuss Epithetical Books Democracy in America
No getting away from the fact that this is a loooong book and it's always a challenge when you are reading a book in translation. Tocqueville is a Frenchman who toured America in the 1820s-30s and then wrote the book about the United States for his audience in France. His observations are relevant both in an outsiders view on the constitutional government and as compared to the aristocratic governments of Europe. More importantly are Tocqueville's observations on the American characterCaveat: I read the 320 page abridged version, so some of my complaints may be simple misunderstandings.I'll start by saying that I'm not sure what gives a 25 year-old rich French kid on a pleasure cruise through the New World the credibility to make completely unsupported assertions on the political and social climate of early America and have them accepted as gospel. After slogging through 300 or so pages, I'm exceedingly grateful that this abridged version exists, because I can't imagine ever
Update: My brother just told me that Kurt Vonnegut says that anyone who hasn't read Democracy in America is a wimp. So I guess that makes me almost not a wimp. Well! Post from a few weeks ago: I've been wanting to read de Toqueville's, Democracy in America for some time, and I've finally bit the bullet. The translation is beautifully done. De Toqueville's sentiments are eloquent and thought provoking. Wonderful. How's that for summer reading! Part of me wishes we still talked like pilgrims.
My husband and I have listened to the audio version of Alexis de Tocquevilles Democracy in America for the past few months. We have paused many times to discuss interesting passages and have thoroughly enjoyed this courteous visitors (de Tocqueville was French) perspective on the early years of our nation. The first Volume was written in 1835 and the second in 1840.To fully appreciate this monumental socio-economic classic of colonial and antebellum political life, one would need to devote many
Have to eventually read this, of course.Just a note, for now. I was reading about some essay on The Economist, and one of the comments quoted from de Tocqueville. The comment, below, reminded me of one of the reasons Im somewhat pessimistic about Americas future as Aquinas city on a hill.The foundation of New England was a novel spectacle, and all the circumstances attending it were singular and original. [] The settlers who established themselves on the shores of New England all belonged to
Justly a classic. I learned a great deal, including about myself.
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