Politics & Social Science: Best Political Non-Fiction Novels

Welcome to our curated list of must-reads for anyone serious about understanding the world of politics and society. Now, let’s be clear, this isn’t your typical collection of dry, academic texts. We’ve picked out books that will challenge your thinking, question your assumptions, and maybe even make you uncomfortable. These are the books that dive deep into the structures of power, the complexities of human behavior, and the systems that shape our daily lives.

From revelations about the surveillance state to the moral conundrums of war, and from the enduring wisdom of the Founding Fathers to the rise of modern political structures, these books cover it all. But don’t worry, you won’t get bogged down in jargon. We’re not here to make you memorize policy specifics; we’re here to arm you with the ideas that can spark real change.

So whether you’re new to political thought or a seasoned reader, this collection is sure to leave you with more questions than answers, and isn’t that what great books do?

No Place to Hide: Edward Snowden, the NSA, and the U.S. Surveillance State, Glenn Greenwald (2014)

When Greenwald met Snowden the world as we know it changed forever. No longer could federal snoops hide behind plausible deniability with regard to all-pervasive electronic spying. In this book, Glenn Greenwald, one of the last true investigative journalists, relates the meeting that changed the world, his encounter with Edward Snowden.

The Federalist Papers In Modern Language: Indexed for Today’s Political Issues, Mary E. Webster (1999)

The Federalist Papers are arguably more important than the Constitution itself because they provide critical insight into the context of what the Bill of Rights and other parts of the Constitution mean. This volume updates the somewhat archaic language into a more modern vernacular that’s easy to read.

What Would the Founding Fathers Think: A Young American’s Guide to Understanding What Makes Our Nation Great and How We’ve Strayed, David Bowman (2012)

A book for parents seeking a pro-freedom curriculum on American civics and history. But it’s sometimes worth viewing the world through a younger person’s eyes and this book excels at such. “What would the Founding Fathers think?” is a simple question, but an incisive one and absolutely worth exploring.

Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA, Tim Weiner (2007)

What’s wrong with the CIA? A lot. And the rot comes from the trunk, not the branches. This is the main argument of Tim Weiner in Legacy of Ashes, but there is a profound nuance to his presentation: The problem here is that a Keystone Kops CIA is inadequate for a world needing actual intelligence services. It is, to coin a phrase, “a matter of national security.”

Human Smoke: The Beginnings of World War II, the End of Civilization, Nicholson Baker (2008)

Who were the good guys in World War II? The answer might seem obvious, but—and bear with us—what if there weren’t any? Often lazily accused of “revisionism,” Human Smoke portrays the villainous nature of the Allies honestly alongside the villainous nature of their rivals. The result is a World War II that’s not a heroic quest, but a human tragedy. Indispensable pacifist history meticulously researched and annotated.

The Coming of Neo-Feudalism: A Warning to the Global Middle Class, Joel Kotkin (2020)

There is a name for the type of socio-political system emerging in the United States, and it’s not “democracy” of any stripe, but neofeudalism. Increased imbalances in economic, political, and military power mean a de facto concentration of power in the hands of a well-connected and affluent elite. Learn why this is an important new development in American history and what can be done to resist it.

The Storm Before the Calm: America’s Discord, the Coming Crisis of the 2020s, and the Triumph Beyond, George Friedman (2020)

What if all the upheavals of the early 20th Century were simply the prelude to a renewed America? This is the question posed by George Friedman in The Storm Before the Calm. With an unflinching eye toward the socioeconomic changes of neoliberalism and its consequences, he nevertheless sees a bright silver lining in part because such upheavals are all in line with American tradition.

The Consolations of Philosophy, Alain de Botton (2000)

Quick highlights of philosophy for the modern man with a practical mind. This book compiles and explains the core essence of various philosophers and what it helps us to understand about our own troubles in life from illness to losing a job, to feeling lonely. Excellent attention to the Roman Stoic and German Pessimist traditions.

The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom, Johnathan Haidt (2006)

The definitive exploration of status anxiety, The Happiness Hypothesis questions why we are unhappy by exploring some of the most common, high-level reasons for human unhappiness, such as a lack of perceived success. The book likewise provides helpful practices for cultivating a happier life.

Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, Robert B. Cialdini (1984)

Good ideas don’t matter if they don’t have influence. What’s more, influence isn’t just something someone has, it’s something someone—you—can cultivate. Oftentimes we feel that it can be frustrating that people are not convinced by our ideas. But perhaps there is more to convincing someone than simply good ideas. Influence explores this “something else” and explains how to master it.

The Undoing Project: A Friendship That Changed Our Minds, Michael Lewis (2016)

Much of the 20th Century’s psychology and sociology, and thus public policy, was predicated on a lie: the lie of the rational actor. Two Israeli psychologists, Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky, showed dramatic evidence that the brain is not the rational machine it was thought to be, but consistently errs, particularly in novel situations. This book is the story of the friendship and partnership between two very different men who made that discovery.

12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos, Jordan B. Peterson (2018)

Few books written in this century have been as influential as 12 Rules for Life. The book swept in a revolution among young men seeking ways to improve their own lives in ways they could control. This predictably caused a moral panic among those who only want to control others. The book that made a million beds!

The Lucifer Principle: A Scientific Expedition into the Forces of History, Howard Bloom (1995)

Is nature “red in tooth and claw?” Scientific evidence points strongly toward “yes,” from the very beginnings of life. This means that war and violence are man’s inheritance. But rather than being an excuse for malevolence, it is a call to humility, especially in the age of nuclear and biological weaponry.

Honorable Mentions: Other Excellent Political Non-Fiction Books

Here are a few more insightful non-fiction books that didn’t quite make the cut for our collection, but are definitely worth your time. After all, there’s only so much room in one list. Here are a few more to explore while you contemplate the state of freedom in today’s world.

• The Fatal Conceit: The Errors of Socialism, Friedrich Hayek (1988): Hayek critiques socialism and the fallacy that central planning can ever effectively meet society’s needs. He stresses that the spontaneous order of free markets is the only way to ensure prosperity and freedom. This book is a clarion call for anyone concerned with government intervention.
• The Ethics of Liberty, Murray Rothbard (1982): Rothbard’s exploration of natural law and its application to libertarian ethics offers a philosophical defense of individual rights, private property, and voluntary cooperation. A cornerstone work for those looking to understand the moral foundation of a free society.
• The Myth of the Rational Voter: Why Democracies Choose Bad Policies, Bryan Caplan (2007): Caplan’s critique of democracy challenges the belief that voters make rational, informed decisions at the ballot box. He argues that political ignorance, coupled with voters’ biases, leads to poor decisions that undermine liberty and prosperity. This book offers a sobering look at the limitations of democratic systems.
• The Liberal Mind: The Psychological Causes of Political Madness, Lyle H. Rossiter Jr. M.D. (2006): Rossiter Jr. analyzes the psychological roots of liberal ideologies, arguing that they stem from a mindset that avoids personal responsibility and seeks to impose collective control through government intervention. Rossiter suggests that this mindset undermines individual freedom and promotes authoritarianism, warning that unchecked liberal policies can erode personal liberty and lead to societal collapse.
• The Coming Neo-Feudalism: A Warning to the Global Middle Class, Joel Kotkin (2020): Kotkin’s chilling analysis argues that the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of an elite class is leading to a new form of feudalism. He predicts a future where a small, interconnected elite controls much of the world’s resources, while the rest of society is relegated to a precarious existence.
• Why Government Doesn’t Work, Harry Browne (1995): Browne offers a no-nonsense critique of government, explaining why it is inherently inefficient, intrusive, and harmful to individual freedom. He argues that government’s attempts to solve societal problems only make them worse, advocating instead for a minimal state that leaves individuals free to solve their own problems.
• The New Class: An Analysis of the Communist System, Milovan Djilas (1957): Djilas critiques the rise of a new ruling class that operates within communist regimes but holds significant parallels in capitalist democracies. His book sheds light on how the political class seeks to consolidate power, exploiting the system for its own gain at the expense of the people.

Final Thoughts

Politics and society are never simple, and the books in this collection challenge us to think critically, question assumptions, and push beyond the mainstream narratives. Whether you’re exploring the dangers of government overreach, the complexities of human behavior, or the philosophy behind liberty, these works provide essential insights into the systems that shape our world.