The Machiavellians
Defenders of Freedom
by James Burnham
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“20/ The Machiavellians: Defenders of Freedom by James Burnham a must read book that I feel presents the most prescient description of where we are today and why and where we are heading. Really fascinating. Also, former Trotskyite. | @punk6529 Great books on this concept: The Myth of the Rational Voter The Machiavellians: Defenders of Freedom | A good book on this last point is “The Machiavellians: Defenders of Freedom.” (Thanks @drydenwtbrown for the recommendation) | I am going to start Burnhamposting soon. He just keeps becoming more relevant, including in these times. Recommended reading:”
Source →Recommended by 3 notable people, including Marc Andreessen and Ryan Shea
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Reading Profile
Should I read this?
Burnham delivers a compact, polemical account of political operators who act on interest and strategy rather than moral rhetoric. Short historical sketches and sharp generalizations move quickly; the prose favors argument over anecdote. Most useful as a concentrated vocabulary for debating elites and incentives, the book can feel doctrinal and repetitive, especially in the middle. Expect more analytic assertion than human detail or step-by-step guidance, and be prepared for a cool, often unsparing moral stance.
Read this if...
- •a graduate student in political theory drafting a paper on mid‑20th‑century debates about power who needs concise formulations and debate-ready claims to cite against moralistic critiques
- •a policy analyst at a government office trying to frame how elite incentives shape regime behavior who wants blunt categories to structure briefing questions rather than policy prescriptions
- •a university seminar leader preparing a module on realism vs moralism who needs a short, provocative text to trigger class debate and contrasting readings
Skip this if...
- •you who prefer character-driven history or lively narrative — the prose is analytical and human stories are backgrounded
- •you seeking practical, step-by-step guidance or modern policy playbooks — the book stays at the level of general theory and description
- •you'll likely put it down when the middle sections recycle similar theoretical moves without new examples; the repetition and formal tone lose readers who need narrative momentum
THIRD FISHERMAN: Master, I marvel how the fishes live in the sea. FIRST FISHERMAN: Why, as men do aland; the great ones eat up the little ones. Pericles, Prince of Tyre A classic work of political theory and practise, this book makes available an account of the modern Machiavellians, a remarkable group who have been influential in Europe and pract...
Before You Buy
Reading Specifications
Difficulty:hard
Audience Fit
- a graduate student in political theory drafting a paper on mid‑20th‑century debates about power who needs concise formulations and debate-ready claims to cite against moralistic critiques
- a policy analyst at a government office trying to frame how elite incentives shape regime behavior who wants blunt categories to structure briefing questions rather than policy prescriptions
- a university seminar leader preparing a module on realism vs moralism who needs a short, provocative text to trigger class debate and contrasting readings
- you who prefer character-driven history or lively narrative — the prose is analytical and human stories are backgrounded
- you seeking practical, step-by-step guidance or modern policy playbooks — the book stays at the level of general theory and description
- you'll likely put it down when the middle sections recycle similar theoretical moves without new examples; the repetition and formal tone lose readers who need narrative momentum
Check formats, pricing, and availability options for Kindle, physical print, or audiobooks directly.
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Why recommended
Recommended by 4 sources and appears in Most Recommended Books, Politics, and Philosophy.
Recommended by notable people
People and public figures who have recommended this book.
Recommendation Signals
Recommendation proof is sourced from public posts, interviews, reading lists, and cited references.
Ryan Shea
“20/ The Machiavellians: Defenders of Freedom by James Burnham a must read book that I feel presents the most prescient description of where we are today and why and where we are heading. Really fascinating. Also, former Trotskyite. | @punk6529 Great books on this concept: The Myth of the Rational Voter The Machiavellians: Defenders of Freedom | A good book on this last point is “The Machiavellians: Defenders of Freedom.” (Thanks @drydenwtbrown for the recommendation) | I am going to start Burnhamposting soon. He just keeps becoming more relevant, including in these times. Recommended reading:”
View sources (4) ▾80%
Appears In
Not sure if this is the right fit?
Consider The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy. Recommended by 8 sources.
“Soft-spoken, heavily illustrated fable built from short dialogues and watercolor sketches. Each spread pairs a spare line of text with a loose drawing, so the pleasure is visual and aphoristic rather than narrative; readers collect felt-true sentences more than plot. Most useful when you want quick consolations, a prompt for conversation with a child, or a pause during a rough day. Limiting if you want sustained argument, concrete advice, or tightly plotted storytelling: the repetition of gentleness can feel sentimental or thin after a while.”
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Each recommendation is collected from a public source — interviews, articles, or curated lists — and linked to its original URL. Books with many verifiable recommendations from respected people rank higher.