Democracy in America (Paperback)

~ (Author), J. P. Mayer (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

As Alexis de Tocqueville traveled through the young United States, he wrote in his introduction to the first volume of Democracy in America, "the more clearly I saw equality of conditions as the creative element from which each particular fact derived, and all my observations constantly returned to this nodal point." And there is an abundance of observations to be found here, with chapters that consider everything from "judicial power in the United States and its effect on political society" to "why the Americans erect some pretty monuments and others that are very grand."

Why does Tocqueville remain one of the most insightful analysts of American society? Certainly there is the comprehensive nature of his project, but one must also take into account the brilliance of his prose, with just the right balance of elegance and clarity. Democracy in America is as accessible to the modern reader as the work of any contemporary journalist, political scientist, or sociologist--and in many cases more so. It is an essential volume for anybody concerned with American history.

Product Description

Endlessly quoted and referred to, Tocqueville's great history is as relevant now as when it was first published in the mid-19th century, and it remains the most penetrating and astute picture of American life ever written.

Product Details

• Paperback: 792 pages
• Publisher: Harper Perennial (September 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060915226
• ISBN-13: 978-0060915223
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #760,521 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Terrific Analysis!!!!, December 30, 1998

By A Customer

I took a class on Sociology and Law in college and my professor kept on referring to this book. I decided to see what he was talking about first hand and am glad I did! This book is expertly written and thought provoking. This is kind of book that you take out and reference every once in a while. Yes, it does get boring in some parts but I think that if you are in the legal profession or you just like history this is a book for you!!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book., December 23, 1998

By A Customer

This is probably the best book on the history of American Government. I loved it. I highly recommend it.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A classic, but don't hold that against it., February 26, 2000

By	Oscar Bartles (Why, I'm right here. Where are you?) - See all my reviews

what's amazing to me is how much and how little American culture has changed in almost three centuries.

If you want to understand where America is going, then it's essential to understand where America has been, and this book, even more than the Federalist papers, will show you that.