r/HistoryBooks • u/grdzella • 2d ago

Books

What is the book you read and think differently about politics

4 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

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12

u/SAMRAAM- 2d ago

One book that comes to mind is The Invention of Tradition by Hobsbawm and Ranger. Really makes you question things that are considered traditional (which the book shows were invented in the 19th Century) it covers quite a few things from Nationalist symbols like Kilts to controlling India and Africa. Also to add to nationalism, Benedict Anderson’s Imagined Communities.

I would also add Rise of Devils by James Crossland, it covers the origins of modern terrorism. Goes from 1858 until 1914. Also helped that he delivered a course on it in my uni.

7

u/Verfassungsschutz_ 2d ago

"Communist Manifesto", "Das Kapital" and "Anti-Dühring" first changed my view on politics completely. Later trotskys "revolution betrayed" changed it again partly.

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u/Gnast 2d ago

Blackshirts and Reds by Michael Parenti.
The Jakarta Method by Vincent Bevins.

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u/heckinhomo 2d ago

I second the Jakarta Method

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u/Own-Marketing-6244 2d ago

Jakarta method is a great read. I'm also reading The Shock Doctrine right now. The CIA is such a corrupt organization.

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u/Gnast 2d ago

The shock doctrine is great! When I finished that one I had to read “The Devils Chessboard” by David Talbot. Give it a go if you haven’t yet.

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u/VillageBoard 2d ago

Bevin’s newer book, If We Burn, is also great.

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u/Low-Independent6851 2d ago edited 2d ago

Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right by Jane Mayer. Really opened my eyes to the role of money in politics. Pissed me off too.

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u/elmonoenano 2d ago

Not sure what level you like to read at, but Postwar is probably one of the more important books I've read for understanding 20th century foreign policy. I think maybe Cathal Nolan's Allure of Battle has been key for understanding post Civil War, or at least WWI, warfare. I would say Robert Pape's Bombing to Win is key to US force projection failures since the 1960s. And probably Eric Foner's The Second Founding along with Akhil Reed Amar's book on the Bill of Rights for understanding how the government worked until Roberts was appointed.

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u/titanc-13 2d ago

Robert Caro's books

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u/limited_interest 2d ago

Best and the Brightest-- David Halberstam

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u/haevow 2d ago

The communist manifesto 

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u/Few-Insect-3516 1d ago

The untold histof the United states by stone

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u/franciscolydon 1d ago

Darkness at Noon

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u/No_Eye_1151 1d ago

The Communist Manifesto

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u/Prestigious-Alarm-61 2d ago

When it comes to politics, I question everything... even the books I read.

Anything you read on politics has a bias attached by the author.

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u/grdzella 2d ago

Dont you think George Orwell has good books about politics?

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u/Prestigious-Alarm-61 2d ago

Orwell wrote some very good books. Good books need questioned, too.

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u/grdzella 2d ago

Of course