The 25 best politics books
The 25 highest-ranked politics books in our ranking of 2,819, scored on how much readers love them, their prize, best-list and bestseller record, and current buzz. We rank 44 politics books in all. How we rank
- 1
One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This90.6Must-Read ScoreOne Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This
It's angry, personal and beautifully written, and it puts words to things many readers have felt but not said.
- 2The Passage of Power90.5Must-Read Score
The Passage of Power
It won the National Book Critics Circle Award, was a National Book Award finalist, reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list, and is on the New York Times' list of the 100 best books of the 21st century.
- 3Master of the Senate88.8Must-Read Score
Master of the Senate
It won both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award and reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.
- 4
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness87.1Must-Read ScoreThe New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
It's one of the most influential books of the century, credited with helping spark the criminal justice reform movement, and it's on the New York Times list of the century's best books.
- 5
A Promised Land84.5Must-Read ScoreA Promised Land
It spent weeks at #1 on the New York Times list and sold millions of copies in its first months.
- 6Orientalism82.8Must-Read Score
Orientalism
It's on TIME's list of the 100 best nonfiction books and the Guardian's 100 best nonfiction books of all time.
- 7
Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS82.0Must-Read ScoreBlack Flags: The Rise of ISIS
It won the Pulitzer Prize for general nonfiction.
- 8
Age of Ambition: Chasing Fortune, Truth, and Faith in the New China81.8Must-Read ScoreAge of Ambition: Chasing Fortune, Truth, and Faith in the New China
It won the National Book Award and was a Pulitzer finalist.
- 9Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump80.0Must-Read Score
Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump
It spent eight weeks at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list in 2026.
- 10
Dark Money79.8Must-Read ScoreDark Money
It was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and became a key book for understanding money in modern American politics.
- 11The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism79.4Must-Read Score
The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism
It's on the Guardian's list of the 100 best books of the 21st century.
- 12
107 Days79.2Must-Read Score107 Days
It spent weeks at #1 on the New York Times list and was a Goodreads Choice finalist.
- 13
Homage to Catalonia79.2Must-Read ScoreHomage to Catalonia
It's on the Modern Library list of the best nonfiction.
- 14
The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America78.9Must-Read ScoreThe Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America
It won the National Book Award.
- 15
Poverty, by America78.5Must-Read ScorePoverty, by America
It hit #1 on the New York Times list and won the Goodreads Choice Award for nonfiction.
- 16Flash Boys76.6Must-Read Score
Flash Boys
It spent two weeks at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.
- 17
The Gulag Archipelago76.1Must-Read ScoreThe Gulag Archipelago
It's on Le Monde's list of the books of the century.
- 18Means of Ascent75.6Must-Read Score
Means of Ascent
It spent two weeks at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.
- 19Al Franken: Giant of the Senate73.9Must-Read Score
Al Franken: Giant of the Senate
It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.
- 20Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right73.4Must-Read Score
Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right
It was a finalist for the National Book Award, and it became essential reading for understanding the 2016 election.
- 21A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership73.2Must-Read Score
A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership
It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.
- 22Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power73.1Must-Read Score
Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power
It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.
- 23The Coddling of the American Mind72.4Must-Read Score
The Coddling of the American Mind
It was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and sparked a national debate about parenting, education and free speech.
- 24What Happened72.2Must-Read Score
What Happened
It spent two weeks at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.
- 25Freezing Order71.4Must-Read Score
Freezing Order
It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.