“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.
