Democracy in America
Alexis de TocquevilleTocqueville identified the tensions inherent to democratic culture 190 years before they became obvious.
“I know of no country in which, speaking generally, there is less independence of mind and true freedom of discussion than in America.”
— Alexis de Tocqueville
Why It's Lindy
Tocqueville identified the tensions inherent to democratic culture 190 years before they became obvious. A book about America written by a foreigner that Americans have never fully absorbed.
About This Volume
After traveling through the United States for nine months in 1831, the 26-year-old Frenchman Tocqueville produced what may be the most prescient book ever written about America. He analyzed democracy not just as a political system but as a social condition, predicting with astonishing accuracy its tendencies: the tyranny of the majority, the flattening of distinction, the restless materialism, and the vulnerability to a soft despotism.
Frequently Asked
Why should I read Democracy in America?
Tocqueville identified the tensions inherent to democratic culture 190 years before they became obvious. A book about America written by a foreigner that Americans have never fully absorbed.
What is Democracy in America about?
After traveling through the United States for nine months in 1831, the 26-year-old Frenchman Tocqueville produced what may be the most prescient book ever written about America. He analyzed democracy not just as a political system but as a social condition, predicting with astonishing accuracy its tendencies: the tyranny of the majority, the flattening of distinction, the restless materialism, and the vulnerability to a soft despotism.
