Comments on: McDougall On Tocqueville

By: Mrs. Davis

Mrs. Davis — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:59:12 +0000

I have started this book, but I strongly recommend reading Freedom just around the corner first. It is the first in a three volume general history of the US that is outstanding for many reasons.

By: Lexington Green

Lexington Green — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:16:43 +0000

I read Democracy in America with a book group about ten years ago. We broke the book into ten chunks and met once a month and drilled down. A great experience. Despite the difficulties noted, Tocqueville had a good gut, and got a lot of it right. David, yet another interesting book suggestion. Society, Manners, and Politics in the United States by Michael Chevalier looks promising.

By: J. Scott

J. Scott — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:03:37 +0000

Interesting and valuable post. I received the Liberty Fund four volume French/English version of Tocqueville’s Democracy in America; and while I read a version of DOA twenty years ago, this post combined w/the gift encouraged me to give it another look. Many thanks!

By: david foster

david foster — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:39:56 +0000

Another Frenchman who visited the U.S. in roughly the same time period was Michael Chevalier. He was an engineer, here on an official government mission to check out the canals, railroads, etc, but he was also an astute social observer. The title of the book is “Society, Manners, and Politics in the United States.” I’ll try to pull some extracts if I get time.

By: tyouth

tyouth — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:22:54 +0000

arrrgh! that last should read “they will be ruled”.

By: tyouth

tyouth — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:21:48 +0000

“How is it possible that society should escape destruction if the moral tie is not strengthened in proportion as the political tie is relaxed?”

Good post Fouche. The above quote encompasses much of our current social questions and problems, doesn’t it? One might put it another way: “when the people cannot rule themselves, the will be ruled” (quotes mine).