This is a magisterial, one-volume history of political thought from Herodotus to
the present, Ancient Athens to modern democracy - from author and professor Ala
n Ryan. This is a book about the answers that historians, philosophers, theologi
ans, practising politicians and would-be revolutionaries have given to one quest
ion: how should human beings best govern themselves? Almost every modern governm
ent claims to be democratic; but is democracy really the best way of organising
our political life? Can we manage our own affairs at all? Should we even try? In
the west, do we actually live in democracies? In this extraordinary book Alan R
yan engages with the great thinkers of the past to show us how vividly their ide
as speak to us in today's uncertain world.
