Top 10 Books for Political Science Majors 

Just in case you didn't see the book list in the description, here it is again: 1. Designing Social Inquiry (King, Keohane, and Verba, 1994) 2. Guide to Methods for Students of Political Science (Stephen Van Evera, 1997) 3. Utopia (Thomas More, 1516) 4. 1984 (George Orwell, 1949) 5. The Communist Manifesto (Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, 1848) 6. The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries are Failing and What Can Be Done About It (Paul Collier, 2007) 7. Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty (Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson, 2012) 8. Contentious Politics (Charles Tilly and Sidney Tarrow, 2006) 9. The Logic of Collective Action (Mancur Olson, 1967) 10. One Person, No Vote: How Voter Suppression is Destroying Our Democracy (Carol Anderson, 2018)

I got my degree in political science in 1986. A lot of my reading since then has been in areas like strategic intelligence, history, media studies, economics, geopolitics, literature(William Gibson, Grahame Greene, Don DeLillo, Gore Vidal, etc.) security studies and grand strategy. Thanks for the list, I've read and have planned to read several books on this list.

I will definitely get my Ph.D in political science . Currently rounding up my masters in political science with specialisation in International relations.

Dr. Maiden, so glad to have found your channel. I've added your top 10 to my own reading list. I graduated from UCF with a BA in Political Science/Pre-law and have been working in China since 2017. Recently I have been surveying the landscape to get myself into the headspace of beginning to prepare for graduate school. I read journal articles regularly, but I think it's wise to start reading into methods and research. I'm excited to work my way down your list starting from the top. Thanks professor! Be safe there. Florida has been tremendously affected by the pandemic and I hope that attitudes towards vaccination change and people really come together to help end this pandemic. Living in China since 2017, I have really gotten to experience a totally different system and way of life. Comparative politics would be my focus too. Thanks for sharing your insights and please keep sharing on RU-vid.

Just starting my political science studies and oh my goodness, fascinating and intense. I’m loving the challenge, but wondering if I’m cut out for this! Purchased 5 of these books just now!

Absolutely brilliant channel ... Looking forward to have a video about phd in political science for foreign students.

I’m currently studying political science in Peru, and just found out your yt channel and I already love it. So well done!

Love that, thank you Dr. Maiden. GOD bless.

why nations fail has been one of my favorite books in my world politics reading so far, so I was happy to see that on your list

Nice to see you back Dr Maiden

Love Orwell's 1984. I had it for leisure reading.

Great video! I just enrolled at AMU for Political Science and this was helpful. I do have two suggestions for newbies. The first would be People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn. I wouldn’t have even blinked at politics without it! The other would be a substitute for the Communist Manifesto as that’s kind of dense for someone knew to theory, and I’d suggest Principles of Communism by Engles. But that’s just me, smaller and it’s easier to digest.

I'm an economics student but I love political science too. I love your recommendations. Thank you ★

Great books over there. I totally agree

Really love u video, it's extremely useful for me！Thank u！And by the way i am the 1000th thumbsup~lol

Perhaps a part 2??

Thank you so much!

thank you and thank you!

If I had to add a book to this, it would be freakonomics by Levitt and dubner. I'm in the 11th grade and after reading this book, it has changed my view points on American politics. Highly recommend.

Subscribed! From the Philippines ❤

Absolutely love your page. Currently in HS, but can’t wait to study political science!

I'm not a PA major or even a college student. Never been to college. I just like learning, so I'll put these on my TBR.

Another book that comes up frequently in a study of political science is: benedict anderson imagined communities

Dr Maiden, thank you very much for these book recommendations. I personnaly have read "Wildland: A Journey Through a Divided Country", by Evan Osnos. An odyssey through America over the course of several decades, while focusing on the evolution of different parts of society. An eye opener on the "American Dream".

Nice video!

Yanis Varoufakis The global Minotaur is a grate book on global economy that I would really recommend.

Interesting Dr, thanks for sharing. As African specialist can you please suggest also some few books in relation to African context.

Ur soo underated!!

I purchased 2 of the books you mentioned! I am starting my undergrad in political science this fall! I'm very nervous, unsure what to expect!

Thanks for the good job. Please , a video for PhD foreign students.

That one person no vote book is especially relevant today considering what's happening in the US rn

"Empire" by Michael Hardt and Antonio Negri. Essential for politics and international relations.

Things sure have change since I got my degree in political science. I had to read Plato, Russo, and others. I also had to take constitutional law and international politic

Hi Emily! I'm now looking for a place to do my PhD in IR and your videos are really helpful! One of my main concerns is how to find work after finishing a PhD (how do I approach universites, is there a data base of available positions?) would LOVE if you can do a video about it in the future... Thank you very much !

What book/books would you recommend for the following topics: - Politics - History - Economics - etc... Also, I am a beginner to the topic, it would be great if the book is intended for beginners, especially if it takes time in defining what political party, state, country, nation... are? I really want to learn about politics but I barely know anything about politics, history, geography...

5:50 interesting, surprised its considered essential

Books on modern approaches to political theories and how they shape politics mam

Merci pour votre livre malgré tout ce que nous avons demandé, pouvez-vous nous montrer les noms ISB de chaque livre afin que nous commencions à commander votre livre directement à notre adresse ou dans un magasin là-bas pour nous acheter le livre que vous avez montré ici.

I'm from morrocco and want to get a PhD in political science, but through self-study without going to university, and I want some help and advice, thank you

Very helpful list on which books to avoid.

Thank you so much for your information, introducing and explaining. It was useful for me🌹 My major is political science too and my demand is “I would be thankful if you introduce good english books about the third world or developing countries” At the moment, I’m in iran and I have books about this topic written by iranian professors but I want to read this topic in english books too because unfortunately the translation of social science is very weak in iran generally and it’s more confusing and baffling rather than informative. I’m a Marxist by myself however my thought, focus and emphasis in politics are the security, information and power, national security and profits, enlarging national wealth and welfare and also growing the influence and dominion throughout world. Anyway, Thanks again. I’m waiting for the answer. yours truly,

Can u recommend books for international relations

I love books. I have 3 textbooks I’ve brought to read I was not required to for any classes. I’ve read 2 of them and in the middle of the 3rd.. I LOVE to read 😭 - I am thinking about law school!!! After I graduate from undergrad.

Dr. Kindly put the list in a comment section

Thanks,I really find this video very informative! I have 2 Masters degrees but love to go back to university and study politics. I wonder, if it isn't too late for a 40 -year- old person to start from the beginning!Or shall I study it at home?

Hlw mam I am MA final year student in political science .Mam please suggest book on the " LAWS OF WAR".

One thing is I had to read 1984 and the communist manifesto back then. I also had to read the Prince. My degree is old. Got it in 1981

How can I get the books?

I want to buy the book

“Though sympathy alone can't alter facts, it can help to make them more bearable.”-Dracula by Bram Stoker

How can I get these books

No era ciencia tampoco? Perdón?

Hi Dr. Maiden, I plan on double majoring in PoliSci and Economics with a minor in Communications. Would you say this is a valid choice, with all honesty please 😂? I've been told Econ is extremely difficult and shouldn't be double majored if I am to double major at all. I know I am definitely going for some type of PoliSci/Govt degree, but I really don't know what else to get with with even as a minor! Please help! 😭

“1984-obviously this is a fiction book.” Or not so obvious. Had to add that part because we are experiencing 60% of that book.

I need this book plz send me

Do you recommend "The Origins of Political Order" by Francis Fukuyama?

What were the other books on your trolls list ?

Madam i Also lecturer in political science in india i want Do p.h.d in political science i want To Talk with you

I have one thing to remark although I love Orwell I really think there is a book that beats 1984 easily when it come to dystopian world I really believe brand new world by Huxley is more suited for how our world turned out.

tell me the best two books from those you mention

Hey namaste from india.. i completed my MA in political science and got 9.58 CGPA out of 10 .. means A+ grade (80%) .. i decided to apply next year at university of North Florida for MA international affairs .. but I m facing difficulty in online application process.. can I send my documents and letter direct to the mail id.. ..This year I will do IELTS exam .. i completed my english speaking class but I made silly grammar mistakes and there is no fluency in my speaking .. so I will apply next year.. does university offer any speaking course to non native or non english students.. your videos are so good.. and definitely next year I will meet you ..

I was not a big fan of 1984 really :/ I did enjoy A Brave New World however

salam

Thanks you!! Poly Sci Famu 🐍

Thank you this was very helpful, I have questions can I study masters politics or international relations without academic knowledge? What I mean by that is my passion with politics that I always have questions and I don't get bored by the news or information beside that I have some online courses do you think I have chance if I can mention that In my personal statement? 🌻

"Why Nations Fail," I've read it, it is popular but in my assessment just so-so. The authors seem blind to the counter arguments that can be made against their position, so I do not find it convincing. I recommend these 7 books instead: The Bad Samaritans - a history of developmental economics How Asia Works - case studies in developmental economics How Rich Countries Got Rich and Why Poor Countries Stay Poor - a theory of developmental economics The Revenge of Geography -- a sweeping survey on the classic literature of how geography to a large degree determines economic development and geostrategic military advantage; basically, a theory about limits imposed by nature and the accidents of history IQ and the Wealthy of Nations -- another book about limits; I know it's depressing, but it has to be confronted. If there are biological limits on the ability of public policy to lift nations out of poverty, then we should know that. Essay on the Principle of Population (Malthus, I prefer the 6th edition which represents his maturest and fullest reflection on the subject; the industrial revolution, powered by fossil fuels, has caused his theory to fall out of fashion, but the first Siberians who wandered into the peopleless wilderness of North and South America may have thought for a while that they too had escaped the limits imposed by nature) Limits to Growth (still unrefuted, the next 50 years will tell us whether the the late Jay "father of system dynamics" Forrester's World3 computer model is right or not; if it is, 2020 to 2070 should turn into a dystopian nightmare, because we have been tracking the model's "business as usual" scenario pretty closely, which is dismayingly supportive evidence for the essential correctness of this seemingly robust model)

Where we buy it?

how to buy and where can i buy this

"a coup in Mali," ooh, world shaking news.

If you’ve read the Communist Manifesto do you think that someone like Ayn Rand is also good to get a different perspective?

who else just ordered a few books ?

Hope these books are not left leaning.

Your list is so unconventional though.

Hell yeah the communist manifesto is on there! I love it!

You are very confused. I find that teachers with advanced degrees are not all that advanced. If you are a political science major, you need to know the American system of government. You need to read the Philadelphia Convention notes and the state convention ratification notes. You need a class in originalism. I suggest Brion McClanahan's constitution class on the McClanahan Academy which is on line. Best money you will ever spend. He sticks to the primary documents like glue. University professor's typically learn from establishment text books. Powerful tax free foundations give billions to universities and as a result political science, economics, and history have become agenda based. This means you have been trained or indoctrinated in tax free foundation viewpoints which benefit a small group of people. You need to learn about the 1952 Reece Committee congressional investigation on how education was changed by tax free foundations to get Americans to accept collectivism. You also need to read Adam Smith's "An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations." Economics, history and government go hand in hand. Otherwise you get theory which is not new but has already been tried. McClanahan will give a good understanding of the Anglo-American political tradition.

Is it possible to go to school and not be bombarded by only leftist rhetoric?

Drivel