Product Description One of France's leading and most controversial political thinkers explores the central themes of Tocqueville's writings: the democratic revolution and the modern passion for equality. What becomes of people when they are overcome by this passion and how does it transform the contents of life? Pierre Manent's analysis concludes that the growth of state power and the homogenization of society are two primary consequences of equalizing conditions. The author shows the contemporary relevance of Tocqueville's teaching: to love democracy well, one must love it moderately. Manent examines the prophetic nature of Tocqueville's writings with breadth, clarity, and depth. His findings are both timely and highly relevant as people in Eastern Europe and around the world are grappling with the fragile, complicated, and frequently contradictory nature of democracy. This book is essential reading for students and scholars of political theory and political philosophy, as well as general readers interested in the nature of modern democracy. Review A stunning intellectual achievement worthy of a place in the first circle of Tocqueville studies. . . . Pierre Manent's book illuminates the core of Tocqueville's political philosophy . . . excellent book. ( American Political Science Review) This pathbreaking book may well be the most provocative and insightful study of Tocqueville ever published. It is rightly described in Harvey Mansfield's foreword as 'elegant and profound.' This provocative topic is explored with startling acuity, and few readers will leave this book without a new appreciation of Tocqueville's importance. ( Choice) This pathbreaking book may well be the most provocative and insightful study of Tocqueville ever published. This provacative topic is explored with startling acuity and few readers will leave this book without a new appreciation of Tocqueville's importance. ( Social & Behavioral Sciences) masterfully presents the story . . . ( First Things) Manent goes beyond the usual treatment of this familiar Tocquevillian topic... offers enlightening analysis of themes sometimes glossed over in other accounts of Tocqueville. (A.D. Ethics, January 1998) . . . we are indebted to the translator and publishers for making available. Manent's unsurpassed contribution to the appreciation and understanding of that new science of politics, . . . (Mathie, William The Review Of Politics) Manent's unobtrusively extraordinary recapitulation of Tocqueville demonstrates that philosophic detachment need not, and indeed cannot, exist without intense devotion to ordinary experience. His is a book to be read. (John C. McCarthy Albert E. Gunn And Staff) About the Author Pierre Manent, former editor of the journal Commentaire and assistant to Raymond Aron, earned an advanced degree in philosophy at the Ecole Normal Superieure. He is currently Director of Studies at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales and co-editor of the journal La Pense Politique.