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كيف تفكر سياسيا: مدخل إلى 30 حكيما وباحثا وسياسيا شكلت أفكارهم العالم
بالنسبة للسياسة، ما أكثر القضايا إلحاحاً اليوم؟ ليس أقل من الطريقة التي يجب أن نعيش بها، كأفراد ومجتمعات. يتجاوزُ هذا الكتاب العناوينَ السطحيّة، والأخبار المزيفة، وجنون الميديا لاستكشاف الأسئلة الأساسيّة المطروحة، والإجابات التي تقدّمها مجموعة من أعظم 30 مفكراً سياسيّاً في التاريخ.هل نحن كائنات سياسيّة أم اقتصاديّة أم دينية؟ هل ينبغي لنا العيش في مدن صغيرة، أم في دول، أم إمبراطوريات متعدّدة الجنسيات؟ ما هي القيم التي ينبغي للسياسة تعزيزها؟ هل يجب أن تكون الثروة ملكيّة خاصّة أم مشتركة؟ هل للحيوانات حقوق؟! لا توجد فكرة قريبة أو بعيدة، متسامحة أو متطرفة بالنسبة لهذه المجموعة العالميّة من المفكرين، والتي تشمل: كونفوشيوس، أفلاطون، أوغسطين، مكيافيلي، بيرك، ولستونكرافت، ماركس، نيتشه، غاندي، قطب، أرندت، نوسباوم، وراولز.في فصول مكثّفة، يرسّم المؤلفون صورةً حيّةً لهؤلاء المفكرين السياسيين ذوي البصيرة الحادّة، المقنعين دائماً، موضحينَ كيف نشأت أفكارهم من اللحظات الدراميّة في حيواتهم وتطورت إلى ما هو أبعد من ذلك. نحن بحاجة الآن -أكثر من أي وقتٍ مضى- إلى التذكير بأن السياسة يمكن أن تكون فناً نبيلاً وملهماً وحضارياً. وإذا أردنا فهمَ العالم السياسي اليوم، فيتعين علينا فهم أسس السياسة على يد مهندسيها. وهذا الكتاب هو الدليل المثالي لذلك.
296 pages, Paperback
Published February 1, 2025
131 people are currently reading
1241 people want to read
About the author
Graeme Garrard
6 books10 followersGraeme Garrard is a writer and academic at Cardiff University (UK) where he teaches political philosophy and intellectual history. He is the author of Rousseau's Counter-Enlightenment (2003), Counter-Enlightenments: From the Eighteenth Century to the Present (2006), (with co-author James Murphy) How to Think Politically: Sages, Sceptics and Statesmen Whose Ideas Have Shaped the World (2019) and The Return of the State: And Why It Is Essential For Our Health, Wealth and Happiness (2022). He also writes for newspapers and magazines, such as History Today and Philosophy Now. He is on Twitter as @GarrardGraeme. On Facebook as Graeme Garrard.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
May 29, 2020
When I started reading this book, I did not expect I would be giving it five stars, but it deserves that rating. I was skeptical as the book goes over the history of political thought through 30 important authors, whose ideas are described on a few pages each. I expected these discussions of the authors to be overly simplistic and shallow, but I was wrong. Even though the ideas of each author are only described over 7-10 pages, this is done thoughtfully and the authors tend to focus on the actual ideas that are key for the understanding of the political theory of that specific author.
I would highly recommend this book to those who have not read much political theory but would like to start and get a good short overview of some of the most important thinkers in this field, from antiquity to the late 20th century. For those that have actually read the original works talked about in this book, this will be an interesting experience of reminding yourself of the gist of those works and the most important principles of the authors' political views.
I would highly recommend this book to those who have not read much political theory but would like to start and get a good short overview of some of the most important thinkers in this field, from antiquity to the late 20th century. For those that have actually read the original works talked about in this book, this will be an interesting experience of reminding yourself of the gist of those works and the most important principles of the authors' political views.
October 1, 2020
How to Think Politically is a great introduction to a wide variety of influential political and philosophical ideas. From Plato to Kant, the book introduces dozens of pertinent ideologies and their accompanying historical backgrounds and anecdotes.
The book is great for an introduction to these ideas. Certainly further reading is required for a deep mastery of each concept.
The book is great for an introduction to these ideas. Certainly further reading is required for a deep mastery of each concept.
April 23, 2022
I think this is an amazing introductory book on some of the most important political thinkers in history.
Each thinker is devoted around seven pages. This may seem quite short for some people, however, I think its a brilliant way to see which ideas and thinkers interest you most without having to delve into their major works; which may be struggling for some people and ultimately push them away from their interest in politics and philosophy.
I have come out of this reading experience with refreshed ideas about thinkers whose material I have previously explored and eager about new thinkers whose works I am hoping to read.
The writing style is understandable for the layman, albeit formal, thus surpassing other introductory books which try to be more 'readable' by making jokes or including trivial details about a thinker.
Standing ovation to the authors.
Each thinker is devoted around seven pages. This may seem quite short for some people, however, I think its a brilliant way to see which ideas and thinkers interest you most without having to delve into their major works; which may be struggling for some people and ultimately push them away from their interest in politics and philosophy.
I have come out of this reading experience with refreshed ideas about thinkers whose material I have previously explored and eager about new thinkers whose works I am hoping to read.
The writing style is understandable for the layman, albeit formal, thus surpassing other introductory books which try to be more 'readable' by making jokes or including trivial details about a thinker.
Standing ovation to the authors.
August 31, 2022
Tbh this is for my GOVT 6 class in the fall. I felt like reading it now to save myself time for later bc the Professor (who co-wrote this book!) opened the canvas page already. I actually found it very interesting and it’s made me very excited for the class bc this is the track of govt I want to major in. Fun fun!
August 27, 2019
The perfect introduction to political philosophy. I found this very accessible and opened me up to a whole range of ideas I was previously unaccustomed to. The book compares and contrasts the philosophers and offers a summation and critique of each philosopher at the end of each chapter. This book is far from dry and uses many practical examples and thought experiments to further elucidate the ideas contained within.
January 20, 2020
This serves as a nice teaser to a myriad of philosophers and thinkers throughout history. Each one's philosophy is summed up in a few pages, which often doesn't seem to be enough. At the same time, it does serve as a basis for continued learning and recommends more in-depth works on each including original works.
September 16, 2025
“How to Think Politically” is a book written by Graeme Garrard and James Bernard Murphy. Its title, however, is slightly misleading – it is not so much a guide to teaching you political ways of thinking as it is an introduction to the political thinkers of the past. It is divided into the following sections: ancients, medievals, moderns, and contemporaries. From each of these eras, the authors have chosen what they believe to be the most influential political and philosophical thinkers, summarizing their main ideas in easily comprehensible chapters. From Confucius or Plato, John Locke or Marx, up to Hannah Arendt and Mohandas Gandhi, the book touches on exactly 30 thinkers who have shaped the world we live in today.
What I particularly enjoyed was how accessible and compact it was. As a political science student, I felt this was something I should have read a year ago in order to make more connections in class and already have some context before lectures begin. It really feels like the ABC of politics, history, and philosophy. Since these three subjects are some of my greatest interests, it was clear that I found this book both interesting and entertaining. I enjoyed the authors’ touch of modernity, drawing comparisons between our current times and political theories from hundreds of years ago. It is fascinating to see how ideas influence one another, evolve, are modernized, misunderstood, and sometimes revisited even after centuries.
I think the greatest value for me was, in addition to gaining a better understanding of these important women and men of the past, realizing that there are hundreds of ways to govern and tens of ways to interpret and view the world. If Machiavelli is all about gaining power and the idea that the ends justify the means then Gandhi is all about peace and nonviolence. If Thomas Paine asserts that all people are born equal, Plato emphasizes hierarchy and status as crucial to a well-functioning state. I may agree with some ideas and disagree with others, while other readers might have completely different opinions. I suppose that is what makes governance such a difficult task– each of us has a slightly (or greatly) different understanding of how it should be done. And there is no great book to tell us which of us is right, even though sometimes our inner virtues might make it painfully clear that equality benefits the society and the separation of powers is the foundation of democracy.
When it comes to a bit of criticism about the book, I have to point out that trying to fit the ideas of 30 of the most important thinkers of the past into a reasonable number of pages is an almost impossible task. As a result, the book sometimes feels quite superficial. I understand that it was meant to provide an overview of each thinker, but completely ignoring the fact that Mao Zedong implemented forced labor camps and violated many human rights during his reign is still worth mentioning, even with a limited word count. At other times, I wished I could have explored some of the ideas in greater depth. Generally speaking, the structure of the chapters was a bit chaotic – some thinkers received detailed biographical information, others none at all, and their ideas were sometimes just thrown together. Was it interesting to follow and make connections? Yes. Did I have a hard time organizing my thoughts? Also yes. That said, I must compliment the writing style, which was witty and profound, making the book engaging, though it required focus to follow the ideas.
Overall, if you are studying or simply interested in politics, history, or philosophy, I 100% recommend reading this book. It provided me with a clear overview of the timeline and the thinkers who lived and shaped it, allowing me to make connections with my classes in nearly every chapter. It is also useful if you want to understand where some of the systems or ideas we use today originated, or if you notice new phenomena it might make you think, what do they resemble, and whether there are lessons—warnings or inspirations—to be found in the past.
What I particularly enjoyed was how accessible and compact it was. As a political science student, I felt this was something I should have read a year ago in order to make more connections in class and already have some context before lectures begin. It really feels like the ABC of politics, history, and philosophy. Since these three subjects are some of my greatest interests, it was clear that I found this book both interesting and entertaining. I enjoyed the authors’ touch of modernity, drawing comparisons between our current times and political theories from hundreds of years ago. It is fascinating to see how ideas influence one another, evolve, are modernized, misunderstood, and sometimes revisited even after centuries.
I think the greatest value for me was, in addition to gaining a better understanding of these important women and men of the past, realizing that there are hundreds of ways to govern and tens of ways to interpret and view the world. If Machiavelli is all about gaining power and the idea that the ends justify the means then Gandhi is all about peace and nonviolence. If Thomas Paine asserts that all people are born equal, Plato emphasizes hierarchy and status as crucial to a well-functioning state. I may agree with some ideas and disagree with others, while other readers might have completely different opinions. I suppose that is what makes governance such a difficult task– each of us has a slightly (or greatly) different understanding of how it should be done. And there is no great book to tell us which of us is right, even though sometimes our inner virtues might make it painfully clear that equality benefits the society and the separation of powers is the foundation of democracy.
When it comes to a bit of criticism about the book, I have to point out that trying to fit the ideas of 30 of the most important thinkers of the past into a reasonable number of pages is an almost impossible task. As a result, the book sometimes feels quite superficial. I understand that it was meant to provide an overview of each thinker, but completely ignoring the fact that Mao Zedong implemented forced labor camps and violated many human rights during his reign is still worth mentioning, even with a limited word count. At other times, I wished I could have explored some of the ideas in greater depth. Generally speaking, the structure of the chapters was a bit chaotic – some thinkers received detailed biographical information, others none at all, and their ideas were sometimes just thrown together. Was it interesting to follow and make connections? Yes. Did I have a hard time organizing my thoughts? Also yes. That said, I must compliment the writing style, which was witty and profound, making the book engaging, though it required focus to follow the ideas.
Overall, if you are studying or simply interested in politics, history, or philosophy, I 100% recommend reading this book. It provided me with a clear overview of the timeline and the thinkers who lived and shaped it, allowing me to make connections with my classes in nearly every chapter. It is also useful if you want to understand where some of the systems or ideas we use today originated, or if you notice new phenomena it might make you think, what do they resemble, and whether there are lessons—warnings or inspirations—to be found in the past.
March 13, 2025
a pretty good book introducing 30 big names in political philosophy from 551 BC - 2009! was super happy to find some known & unknown philosophers that i really enjoyed (and discover how much i disliked others, lol)!
complete list of everyone i marked as a favorite:
- plato
- thomas aquinas
- john locke
- mary wollstonecraft
- karl marx
- mao zedong
- john rawls
- martha nussbaum
- arne naess
and a list of philosophers i didnt like:
- maimonides
- immanuel kant
- john stuart mill
- mohandas ghandi
complete list of everyone i marked as a favorite:
- plato
- thomas aquinas
- john locke
- mary wollstonecraft
- karl marx
- mao zedong
- john rawls
- martha nussbaum
- arne naess
and a list of philosophers i didnt like:
- maimonides
- immanuel kant
- john stuart mill
- mohandas ghandi
March 20, 2020
Great selection of ancient and modern philosophers; excellent introduction in political philosophy and the vital - although sometimes uneasy - interaction between philosophy and politics. I especially enjoyed the invisible thread that connects the philosophical thought through the centuries and the chapters of the book. The personal touch of the writers at the very last para of every chapter putting things in perspective was also interesting.
October 14, 2020
إن التطلع إلى العدالة هو ما يجعل السياسة نبيلة ، في حين أن الصراع على السلطة هو ما يجعل السياسة دنيئة. اشتهر اللورد «أكتون» ، المؤرخ العظيم في القرن التاسع عشر ، بقوله أن : السلطة تميل إلى إفساد المرء وأن السلطة المطلقة تفسده تمامًا .
كان يشير هنا إلى البابوية ، موضحًا أن السلطة يمكن أن تدمر شخصية حتى أفضل الرجال. نحن جميعًا على دراية بالفساد الأخلاقي الذي تسببه السلطة ، من الفساد المروع للأباطرة الرومان إلى الرعب الدموي للديكتاتوريين النازيين والشيوعيين. لكن العجز أيضًا يميل إلى الإفساد : تميل مخططات العدالة البعيدة عن مصادر السلطة إلى أن تصبح خيالية وغير مسؤولة وخطيرة. كان المفكرون السياسيون الفرنسيون والروس قبل ثورتهم الشهيرة عاجزين تمامًا. ونتيجة لذلك ، ابتكروا خططًا طموحة للقضاء على الزواج والطبقات الاجتماعية والدين والملكية والمال والتقويم!
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How To Think Politically
ترجمة #ماهررزوق
كان يشير هنا إلى البابوية ، موضحًا أن السلطة يمكن أن تدمر شخصية حتى أفضل الرجال. نحن جميعًا على دراية بالفساد الأخلاقي الذي تسببه السلطة ، من الفساد المروع للأباطرة الرومان إلى الرعب الدموي للديكتاتوريين النازيين والشيوعيين. لكن العجز أيضًا يميل إلى الإفساد : تميل مخططات العدالة البعيدة عن مصادر السلطة إلى أن تصبح خيالية وغير مسؤولة وخطيرة. كان المفكرون السياسيون الفرنسيون والروس قبل ثورتهم الشهيرة عاجزين تمامًا. ونتيجة لذلك ، ابتكروا خططًا طموحة للقضاء على الزواج والطبقات الاجتماعية والدين والملكية والمال والتقويم!
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How To Think Politically
ترجمة #ماهررزوق
September 9, 2020
I. Loved. This. Book.
Guys, this is a GREAT book. I’m truly grateful to the authors.
If you’re not a philosophy major and you have too many classics on your to-read lists and you can’t decide whether you should read the Communist Manifesto or Plato’s Republic, start with this book.
The tone is conversational, nuanced, and clear. It’s ACCESSIBLE.
This is the kind of book that makes me think I should have studied politics.
Guys, this is a GREAT book. I’m truly grateful to the authors.
If you’re not a philosophy major and you have too many classics on your to-read lists and you can’t decide whether you should read the Communist Manifesto or Plato’s Republic, start with this book.
The tone is conversational, nuanced, and clear. It’s ACCESSIBLE.
This is the kind of book that makes me think I should have studied politics.
June 10, 2019
How to Think Politically is a interesting book with a lot of information about different political figures. Well researched and well written. Different religions and different countries.
September 7, 2025
كتاب مهم كبداية لفهم الأيديولوجيات والخلفيات التاريخية لثلاثين مفكرا وفيلسوفا وسياسيا وضعوا تصورات لشكل الدول�� وصفات الحكام والأنظمة الأصح لحكم الشعوب من وجهة نظرهم
علاقة الفلسفة بالسياسة علاقة شائكة فعلا، فالفلسفة تأملية متشككة على نقيض السياسة التي تحتاج إلى الحزم واتخاذ قرارات بدون الكثير من التعقيدات الفكرية المصاحبة للفلسفة
ولكن وجودها ضروري لإيجاد طرق للتوازن بين القوة والعدالة
لأنه لا تصح إحداهما بدون الأخرى
كما أن الفلسفة ضرورية لفهم كيفية تحقيق الإزدهار البشري
هل من خلال تطبيق مباديء الحرية والمساواة والعدالة الاجتماعية أو من خلال الإرتقاء الذاتي بالتدين أو من خلال تماهي الأفراد مع المصلحة العامة للمجتمع بدلا من الفردية والأنانية
هل تغيير راديكالي بثورات كبيرة أم تغييرات صغيرة تدريجية للوصول لأفضل شكل للمجتمع ودفعه للأمام
هل تحقيق الرفاهية يقاس بالثراء فقط أم هناك معايير أسمى مما يخص الاحساس بالجمال وتقدير الذات
كما تضع الفلسفة بالتعاون مع السياسة تصورات وتنبؤات في بعض الأحيان بالنظام السياسي الأمثل
واضعة في اعتبارها مقدار السمو الفكري والمعرفي والأخلاقي والروحي سواء للحاكم أو المحكومين
وتحليل لكل نظام في ظل السياق الذي يطبق به وتبعات هذا التطبيق
بيد أن كل ما نستنتجه من كل آراء المفكرين في هذا الكتاب أن لا شيء من المبادئ العامة والمثل العليا يراد تحقيقها بشكل مطلق لأن هذا له نتيجة تدميرية
ذلك لأن في عالم السياسة والحياة نفسها تطغى النسبية فلا يمكن أن تكون الحرية مطلقة ولا المساواة ولا السلطة كذلك
فما هو ضار لي قد يكون مفيدا لغيري
وما هو مفيد ومسلي للفرد قد يكون له تأثير ضار على المجتمع.
الاعتدال والتوسط والابتعاد عن التعصب و التطرف في كل شيء مطلوب
ليس هناك نظام سياسي قابل للتطبيق مئة بالمئة بدون عقبات أو تبعات سيئة وأحيانا غير متوقعة نظرا للتعقيدات التي تشمل البشر وعلاقتهم بالعالم وبأنفسهم
الكتاب فقط مقدمة ويحث على قراءة المصادر لمزيد من الاطلاع على هذه الأفكار والفلسفات
علاقة الفلسفة بالسياسة علاقة شائكة فعلا، فالفلسفة تأملية متشككة على نقيض السياسة التي تحتاج إلى الحزم واتخاذ قرارات بدون الكثير من التعقيدات الفكرية المصاحبة للفلسفة
ولكن وجودها ضروري لإيجاد طرق للتوازن بين القوة والعدالة
لأنه لا تصح إحداهما بدون الأخرى
كما أن الفلسفة ضرورية لفهم كيفية تحقيق الإزدهار البشري
هل من خلال تطبيق مباديء الحرية والمساواة والعدالة الاجتماعية أو من خلال الإرتقاء الذاتي بالتدين أو من خلال تماهي الأفراد مع المصلحة العامة للمجتمع بدلا من الفردية والأنانية
هل تغيير راديكالي بثورات كبيرة أم تغييرات صغيرة تدريجية للوصول لأفضل شكل للمجتمع ودفعه للأمام
هل تحقيق الرفاهية يقاس بالثراء فقط أم هناك معايير أسمى مما يخص الاحساس بالجمال وتقدير الذات
كما تضع الفلسفة بالتعاون مع السياسة تصورات وتنبؤات في بعض الأحيان بالنظام السياسي الأمثل
واضعة في اعتبارها مقدار السمو الفكري والمعرفي والأخلاقي والروحي سواء للحاكم أو المحكومين
وتحليل لكل نظام في ظل السياق الذي يطبق به وتبعات هذا التطبيق
بيد أن كل ما نستنتجه من كل آراء المفكرين في هذا الكتاب أن لا شيء من المبادئ العامة والمثل العليا يراد تحقيقها بشكل مطلق لأن هذا له نتيجة تدميرية
ذلك لأن في عالم السياسة والحياة نفسها تطغى النسبية فلا يمكن أن تكون الحرية مطلقة ولا المساواة ولا السلطة كذلك
فما هو ضار لي قد يكون مفيدا لغيري
وما هو مفيد ومسلي للفرد قد يكون له تأثير ضار على المجتمع.
الاعتدال والتوسط والابتعاد عن التعصب و التطرف في كل شيء مطلوب
ليس هناك نظام سياسي قابل للتطبيق مئة بالمئة بدون عقبات أو تبعات سيئة وأحيانا غير متوقعة نظرا للتعقيدات التي تشمل البشر وعلاقتهم بالعالم وبأنفسهم
الكتاب فقط مقدمة ويحث على قراءة المصادر لمزيد من الاطلاع على هذه الأفكار والفلسفات
December 1, 2024
Took a while with this one, juggling it with other books and travelling to the other side of the world. Nevertheless, I would recommend it to anyone looking for a brief, yet highly informative precis of philosophical thought. The chapters on Confucius, Socrates, Marx, Rawls and Nussbaum were especially interesting and made me have some incredibly deep reflections. The book also gives you a strong sense of the intelligence of these people which seems a strange point to make but when you consider that some of these thinker's ideas have been listened to for nearly the entirety of human civilisation, it makes you realise the scope of their intellect.
Despite this, the chapter which I enjoyed the most was their own concluding remarks on the 'unhappy marriage' between politics and philosophy. They write that one cannot exist without the other yet keep themselves at a distance where they can help each other but are not intertwined. I, for one, am inclined to take the opinion, which I think the authors lean to themselves (?), that, ultimately, most political decisions are a reflection of one's own philosophy and that to engage in politics, one must have their own philosophical framework to guide them. However, I'd say crucially, that one must engage with different philosophical ideas to constantly refresh their perspectives and inform their own current-day political thinking. This is why, I would argue, philosophy has such value to our everyday lives and perhaps have my own regrets of not engaging with it sooner in my life.
Despite this, the chapter which I enjoyed the most was their own concluding remarks on the 'unhappy marriage' between politics and philosophy. They write that one cannot exist without the other yet keep themselves at a distance where they can help each other but are not intertwined. I, for one, am inclined to take the opinion, which I think the authors lean to themselves (?), that, ultimately, most political decisions are a reflection of one's own philosophy and that to engage in politics, one must have their own philosophical framework to guide them. However, I'd say crucially, that one must engage with different philosophical ideas to constantly refresh their perspectives and inform their own current-day political thinking. This is why, I would argue, philosophy has such value to our everyday lives and perhaps have my own regrets of not engaging with it sooner in my life.
March 1, 2025
This book offers "snackable" insights into political philosophy — a great introduction for anyone curious to learn more!
Key takeaways:
- I loved the introduction’s framing: politics is where ideals meet concrete reality.
- Philosophy brings a unique lens on turning knowledge into practical wisdom — how to live well, both individually and as a society.
- Unlike economics, politics is a zero-sum game — someone wins, someone loses.
- The discussion on the balance of power and justice stood out: justice without power is unenforceable, and power without justice leads to tyranny.
- Thought-provoking question: Are we shifting toward a world where citizens act like consumers and statesmen become bureaucrats — reducing everything to markets and regulations?
- The chapters on Aristotle, Hume, Burke, Kant, Madison, Mill, Hayek, Rawls, and Nussbaum resonated deeply with me. The section on Rawls inspired me to pick up A Theory of Justice!
It also made me wonder: how would these thinkers' views evolve if they had modern knowledge of science and technology? What would Kant or Aristotle think if they understood DNA, cosmic insignificance, cognitive biases — or the ways technology shapes society today? I wish we had answers!
Key takeaways:
- I loved the introduction’s framing: politics is where ideals meet concrete reality.
- Philosophy brings a unique lens on turning knowledge into practical wisdom — how to live well, both individually and as a society.
- Unlike economics, politics is a zero-sum game — someone wins, someone loses.
- The discussion on the balance of power and justice stood out: justice without power is unenforceable, and power without justice leads to tyranny.
- Thought-provoking question: Are we shifting toward a world where citizens act like consumers and statesmen become bureaucrats — reducing everything to markets and regulations?
- The chapters on Aristotle, Hume, Burke, Kant, Madison, Mill, Hayek, Rawls, and Nussbaum resonated deeply with me. The section on Rawls inspired me to pick up A Theory of Justice!
It also made me wonder: how would these thinkers' views evolve if they had modern knowledge of science and technology? What would Kant or Aristotle think if they understood DNA, cosmic insignificance, cognitive biases — or the ways technology shapes society today? I wish we had answers!
November 29, 2021
“How to think Politically” Sages, Scholars and Statesmen whose ideas have shaped the world.
By Graeme Garrard and James Bernard Murphy
An interesting and engaging book that compiles the world great thinkers and their concepts, devided into 4 sections : Ancients, Medieval, Moderns and Contemporaries.
The readers are treated to short chapters on individual philosopher/ thinker and their main theories, from Confucius to Plato, from Al-Farabi to Machiavelli, from John Locke to Mohandas Gandhi to Mao Zedong.
It is an ambitious task, no doubt, to fit some of the awe inspiring, thought provoking, life changing theories and philosophies into just a few pages, but the writers at least manage to ignite a spark for the interested readers to delve deeper and find out more about their favorite philosopher / sage / statesman.
It was a demanding read that somewhat needed concentration, but it was good to revisit some familiar names and their familiar thoughts and outlook, while also learning more about a few others that I had only heard about but never really knew them.
By Graeme Garrard and James Bernard Murphy
An interesting and engaging book that compiles the world great thinkers and their concepts, devided into 4 sections : Ancients, Medieval, Moderns and Contemporaries.
The readers are treated to short chapters on individual philosopher/ thinker and their main theories, from Confucius to Plato, from Al-Farabi to Machiavelli, from John Locke to Mohandas Gandhi to Mao Zedong.
It is an ambitious task, no doubt, to fit some of the awe inspiring, thought provoking, life changing theories and philosophies into just a few pages, but the writers at least manage to ignite a spark for the interested readers to delve deeper and find out more about their favorite philosopher / sage / statesman.
It was a demanding read that somewhat needed concentration, but it was good to revisit some familiar names and their familiar thoughts and outlook, while also learning more about a few others that I had only heard about but never really knew them.
October 8, 2020
How to Think Politically is an excellent introduction to political philosophers and philosophy. The book is made up of many small chapters, each describing an influential thinker. Not only is the philosopher’s ideas discussed, but he is also put into historical context. The book runs chronologically and, with few exceptions covers Western thinkers. This gives the reader a sense of the evolution of political thought. The thinkers cover a wide range of beliefs from peaceful God based governments and rules for leaders to the much more practical thinkers like the often misunderstood, Machiavelli, whose thinking on government puts him with some unexpected allies. Revolutionary thinkers from Mill to Marx, to Mao and Gandhi, provide a mix of an ideology some excepted in the West and others rejected. This is an excellent starting place for the future political scientist or philosophy student.
February 18, 2021
Brilliantly written guidebook for beginners seeking to better understand political philosophy. If you have extensive knowledge about political philosophy I’d imagine you might find some of the content redundant, but if you’re like me and are just looking to get started on philosophy it’s generally a great read. My preferred length for any books chapters is that it be fairly short so I can keep motivated to read. This book fulfilled that exact need with no chapter being longer than 10 pages. Thanks to this I was able to keep finding new interesting content and finish in just less than a week (which is rare for me.) Overall the themes are very well explained, although the only criticism I would make is that towards the medieval-early modern section they don’t very well explain certain references to earlier philosophy.
September 12, 2022
Antes de construir o castelo, haverá que encontrar as suas pedras.
Uma introdução essencial à filosofia política, de todos aqueles que moldaram o panorama político internacional ao longo da história. Maquiavel, Nietzsche, Rawls, Platão...
Pragmático. Importante. Histórico.
"Há certo gosto em pensar sozinho. É um ato individual, como nascer e morrer" - Carlos Drummond de Andrade.
O quer que penses, desenvolve. Não haverá maior certeza que a do desconhecimento absoluto. E, a partir daí, estarás pronto para a trabalhosa e gratificante tarefa da aprendizagem. Sócrates e a sua grande virtude.
Uma introdução essencial à filosofia política, de todos aqueles que moldaram o panorama político internacional ao longo da história. Maquiavel, Nietzsche, Rawls, Platão...
Pragmático. Importante. Histórico.
"Há certo gosto em pensar sozinho. É um ato individual, como nascer e morrer" - Carlos Drummond de Andrade.
O quer que penses, desenvolve. Não haverá maior certeza que a do desconhecimento absoluto. E, a partir daí, estarás pronto para a trabalhosa e gratificante tarefa da aprendizagem. Sócrates e a sua grande virtude.
October 27, 2023
A very interesting and easy to read book on many authors that talked about how we should conduct our lives in Society but also how Society should conduct itself according to our lives. Each author is only six pages away from the next so don't expect a full dive but that also makes the size of the book quite inviting. Expect to find all kinds of theories that are much older than we can expect and also to see, for us Europeans, the tremendous political importance that were the American colonies at their inception.
One of the few books that everyone SHOULD read in their life
One of the few books that everyone SHOULD read in their life
January 16, 2025
A good introduction to some of the most influential political philosophers in history. Each chapter is concise yet detailed, and provides enough information on each philosopher's background and ideas to give us a comprehensive (if basic) understanding of their main contributions. Sometimes the authors' internal biases seem to peek through in their writing, but it doesn't detract too much from the individual chapters. A well-written starting point or refresher for anyone interested in political philosophy.
April 18, 2025
Num momento em que o mundo parece virado do avesso, e em que se questiona cada vez mais o caminho que tem sido seguido, este livro aparece como uma leitura super útil.
"Como Pensar Politicamente" faz uma viagem rápida e bem explicada pelas principais ideias e pensadores que moldaram a política. Ajuda-nos a perceber de onde vêm muitos dos debates que assistimos hoje em dia, e a olhar para eles com mais contexto e menos ruído.
Além disso, é daquelas leituras que abrem portas: vai despertar a vontade de explorar ainda mais sobre cada filósofo e as suas ideias.
"Como Pensar Politicamente" faz uma viagem rápida e bem explicada pelas principais ideias e pensadores que moldaram a política. Ajuda-nos a perceber de onde vêm muitos dos debates que assistimos hoje em dia, e a olhar para eles com mais contexto e menos ruído.
Além disso, é daquelas leituras que abrem portas: vai despertar a vontade de explorar ainda mais sobre cada filósofo e as suas ideias.
November 7, 2023
Contrary to the title, the book does not tell you how to think politically. Instead, it provides a historical overview of the marriage between politics and philosophy, doing so via a series of short introductions to an extensive list of history’s most influential political philosophers.
It’s a good introduction to political philosophy, and can even act as a hub to go back to when looking for who’s ideas to study next.
It’s a good introduction to political philosophy, and can even act as a hub to go back to when looking for who’s ideas to study next.
January 9, 2020
How to Think Politically is a masterfull collection of some of the most influential thinkers of our human history. By neatly summarizing the thinkers, the reader is allowed to reflect and analyze various different philosophies and political ideas. Personally, it introduced me to a wide array of historical humans and this has expanded my perspective on who to read about .Recommend!
August 1, 2020
The brief summaries of various philosophers' and political theorists' lives and philosophies makes a good launchpad for any individuals or schools of thought the reader wants to learn more about. Basically, Political Theory 101. I enjoyed it for how it gave me just enough background to decide which theorists I'd like to study more.
March 11, 2024
A wonderful journey through time, understanding the personal, societal, and political contexts of each political thinkers. A new glasses for me to differentiate between various political streams. Ultimately, a case for the unhappy marriage between Politics and Philosophy, as they always need each other, but can kill the other anytime they see fit.
December 26, 2024
I enjoyed reading this book. It exposed me to the profiles of philosophers that I had only heard their names but not very familiar with their works and also helped introduce me to important political figures whose thinking have helped shape popular movements in different ways. It’s a book that deserves multiple readings
June 28, 2025
وش اقول ووش اخلي عن ذا الكتاب.
رائع بمعنى الكلمة.
يتكلم عن كل سياسي، اغلبهم كانو فلاسفة سياسين.
احترم هؤلاء البشر اغلبهم قاتلو الموت لأجل هذة الأفكار ولا يعيشون ك عبيد، او ايذاء حيوان او الطبيعة.
ناس افتخر انهم موجودين واستفدت كثير منهم.
وتناقشت مع كل واحد منهم في كل فكرة شفتها مهمة.
شكرا لكم وللي مانحطوا بذا الكتاب على النقاشات الحلوة والمثمرة.
رائع بمعنى الكلمة.
يتكلم عن كل سياسي، اغلبهم كانو فلاسفة سياسين.
احترم هؤلاء البشر اغلبهم قاتلو الموت لأجل هذة الأفكار ولا يعيشون ك عبيد، او ايذاء حيوان او الطبيعة.
ناس افتخر انهم موجودين واستفدت كثير منهم.
وتناقشت مع كل واحد منهم في كل فكرة شفتها مهمة.
شكرا لكم وللي مانحطوا بذا الكتاب على النقاشات الحلوة والمثمرة.
November 4, 2025
الكتاب مميز, وتمت ترجمته بطريقة جيدة, وقد ركز على اغلب المفاهيم الاساسية و المقولات الكبرى في شان الدولة ومبرارت وجودها
الكتاب اختار مفكرين من العالم الإسلامي. ربما فهمت اختيار سيد قطب رغم عدم التعمق في فكر سيد قطب في الكتاب و لكني لم افهم لماذا الفاربي و ليس اي شخصية اخرى مثل ابن خلدون او ابن المقفع ممن تخدثو بشأن الدولة بشكل مباشر
الكتاب اختار مفكرين من العالم الإسلامي. ربما فهمت اختيار سيد قطب رغم عدم التعمق في فكر سيد قطب في الكتاب و لكني لم افهم لماذا الفاربي و ليس اي شخصية اخرى مثل ابن خلدون او ابن المقفع ممن تخدثو بشأن الدولة بشكل مباشر
September 6, 2019
Highly recommend this book for numerous reasons:
1) It goes through 30 of the most influential thinkers in our history, gives their philosophical input on contemporary issues
2) Quick read, short chapters
3) A plethora of information on your favorite writers
1) It goes through 30 of the most influential thinkers in our history, gives their philosophical input on contemporary issues
2) Quick read, short chapters
3) A plethora of information on your favorite writers
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews