Power & Politics

Liberalism 《自由与繁荣的国度》 Ludwig von Mises Classical economics, and the case that central planning cannot work. Society & Civilization AZM's list

The Treason of the Intellectuals 《知识分子的背叛》 Julien Benda Intellectuals who abandon truth and surrender to political extremes. Society & Civilization AZM's list

The Dictator's Handbook 《独裁者手册》 Bruce Bueno de Mesquita How rulers stay in power by rewarding a winning coalition rather than the public. Society & Civilization AZM's list

The Right Nation 《右派国家》 John Micklethwait The conservative current running beneath American politics. Society & Civilization AZM's list

How Change Happens 《变革如何发生》 Duncan Green The mechanics of social change and the resistance of institutions. Society & Civilization AZM's list

Society & Civilization 2013 Against Elections David Van Reybrouck Against Elections 《反对选举》 David Van Reybrouck The flaws of representative elections and the crisis of faith in democracy. Society & Civilization AZM's list

Society & Civilization 1927 Propaganda Technique in the World War Harold D. Lasswell Propaganda Technique in the World War 《世界大战中的宣传技巧》 Harold D. Lasswell Wartime state propaganda and the psychological manipulation of the masses. Society & Civilization AZM's list

Literature & Fiction 1945 Animal Farm George Orwell Animal Farm 《动物农场》 George Orwell A political fable, and a critique of central planning. Literature & Fiction AZM's list

Literature & Fiction 1970 Accidental Death of an Anarchist Dario Fo Accidental Death of an Anarchist 《一个无政府主义者的意外死亡》 Dario Fo A political farce aimed at the machinery of the state and its power. Literature & Fiction AZM's list

Literature & Fiction 1892 Ward No. 6 Anton Chekhov Ward No. 6 《第六病室》 Anton Chekhov Intellectuals under despotism, caught between resistance and resignation. Literature & Fiction AZM's list

Literature & Fiction 2000 By Night in Chile Roberto Bolaño By Night in Chile 《智利之夜》 Roberto Bolaño An intellectual's cowardice, evasion, and complicity with a regime. Literature & Fiction AZM's list

Literature & Fiction c. 458 BC Oresteia Aeschylus Oresteia 《俄瑞斯忒亚三部曲》 Aeschylus A classic mythic tragedy of civic law and ethical conflict. Literature & Fiction AZM's list

World History 1919 Democratic Ideals and Reality Halford Mackinder Democratic Ideals and Reality 《陆权论》 Halford Mackinder Geopolitics and the contest between sea power and land power. World History AZM's list

World History 2023 zhao-lin 古罗马帝国的辉煌 《古罗马帝国的辉煌》 zhao-lin Rome's rise and fall and the expansion of an autocratic empire. World History AZM's list

World History 1974 Russia Under the Old Regime Richard Pipes Russia Under the Old Regime 《旧制度下的俄国》 Richard Pipes The history of tsarist rule and the making of totalitarian institutions. World History AZM's list

World History 2023 Uwe Neumahr 作家城堡 《作家城堡》 Uwe Neumahr The Nuremberg trials as seen by journalists from every side. World History AZM's list

World History 2018 Rise and Kill First Ronen Bergman Rise and Kill First 《先发制人》 Ronen Bergman The history of Mossad assassinations and the Middle East they shaped. World History AZM's list

World History 1944 Why Don't We Learn from History? B. H. Liddell Hart Why Don't We Learn from History? 《战争的底层逻辑》 B. H. Liddell Hart A strategist's last work on the folly of rulers and history's lessons. World History AZM's list

World History 2017 Leonhard Horowski 诸王的欧洲 《诸王的欧洲》 Leonhard Horowski Court politics and the collapse of the old order in 17th and 18th century Europe. World History AZM's list

World History 2003 The Coming of the Third Reich Richard J. Evans The Coming of the Third Reich 《第三帝国的到来》 Richard J. Evans The collapse of the Weimar Republic and the Nazi seizure of power. World History AZM's list

World History 2019 luo-xin 有所不为的反叛者 《有所不为的反叛者》 luo-xin Essays on history that question how we know the past. World History AZM's list

Philosophy 2007 The Stillborn God Mark Lilla The Stillborn God 《夭折的上帝》 Mark Lilla Political theology, the Enlightenment, and the modern West. Philosophy AZM's list

Philosophy c. 52 BC On the Laws Cicero On the Laws 《论法律》 Cicero Unjust law, natural law, and what justice actually is. Philosophy AZM's list

Society & Civilization 1997 The Gender Knot Allan G. Johnson The Gender Knot 《性别打结》 Allan G. Johnson A classic feminist introduction to how patriarchy actually works. Society & Civilization AZM's list

Society & Civilization 1990 Soulstealers Philip A. Kuhn Soulstealers 《叫魂》 Philip A. Kuhn A Qianlong-era sorcery panic reveals how autocratic power and bureaucracy work. Society & Civilization XMS's list

Society & Civilization The Book of Lord Shang Shang Yang The Book of Lord Shang 《商君书》 Shang Yang The Legalist art of weakening, impoverishing, and dulling the people to rule them. Society & Civilization XMS's list

Society & Civilization Allan G. Johnson 最小阻力路径相关社会学著作 《最小阻力路径相关社会学著作》 Allan G. Johnson How institutions pave a path of least resistance that makes conformity automatic. Society & Civilization XMS's list

The Human Condition 《人的境况》 Hannah Arendt Human beings build their world through labor, work, and action Philosophy Daily Pick

The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers 《大国的兴衰》 Paul Kennedy Where national power comes from and how it drains away: the long contest between economic base and strategic commitment across five centuries World History Daily Pick

The Sleepwalkers 《梦游者》 Christopher Clark No one truly wanted the war, yet Europe walked into it: Clark asks not who was guilty but how it happened World History Daily Pick