Leviathan cover art

Leviathan

or The Matter, Form, and Power of a Commonwealth, Ecclesiastical and Civil

 Preview

Audible Standard 1-month free trial

Auto-renews at $8.99/mo + applicable tax after 30-day trial. Cancel Anytime
Try for $0.00
Compare plans

Leviathan

Written by: Thomas Hobbes
Narrated by: James Adams
Try for $0.00

$8.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $32.31

Buy Now for $32.31

The leviathan is the vast unity of the State. But how are unity, peace, and security to be attained? Hobbes’ answer is sovereignty, but the resurgence of interest today in Leviathan is due less to its answers than its methods: Hobbes sees politics as a science capable of the same axiomatic approach as geometry.

Written during the turmoil of the English Civil War, Leviathan was, in Hobbes’ lifetime, publicly burnt and even condemned in Parliament as one of the causes of the Great Fire of London in 1666. Its current appeal lies not just in its elevation of politics to a science, but in its overriding concern for peace, its systematic analysis of power, and its convincing apologia for the then-emergent market society in which we still live.

Public Domain (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Europe Ideologies & Doctrines Philosophy Political Science Politics & Government
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1

What the critics say

“Leviathan is a remarkable attempt to explain and justify the institution of government, and it remains one of the masterpieces of political thought.” ( Masterpieces of World Literature)
All stars
Most Relevant
This book was aptly titled "Leviathan". It is a beast, and it takes dedication to stick to it and to listen to every little morsel of information contained in it. It was written in a time of turmoil, and I believe it can hold its ground in our day and age.
If you are a fan of political theory or even current affairs you will probably enjoy this book, James Adams did a fantastic job narrating, his voice was clear and gripping.
The subject matter is weighty but very well written and gives insight into the earlier struggles between church and state as well as between Catholicism and other denominations.

A beast of a book but worth every minute.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
good up until the last quarter, when he apparently puts his brain on a shelf.

3/4 intelligent

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
While I may be way over my head in attempting to read something like Leviathan I've found it to be an incredible glimpse into the 17th century and the ideas of the time. Many of Hobbes' considerations surprised me, seeming so similar to modern discussions I still have today.

I haven't finished it yet but it's well worth the effort so far.

James Adams has been an excellent narrator. The speed and clarity of his speech are perfect for such dense language.

1 star for story as it isn't a narrative, wish I could have simply omitted selecting a "story"rating.

#audible1

Worth the Effort

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Great narrator for a great piece of political philosophy. Wish I had this when I was back in school.

Fantastic

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.