The Federalist PapersThe Federalist Papers
Score Classic
What it's about
Published in 1787 and 1788 under the pen name Publius, these 85 essays by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay argued for ratifying the new United States Constitution, explaining the thinking behind the separation of powers, federalism and the presidency.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of the 100 best nonfiction books of all time. It remains the most important guide to how the Constitution was meant to work.
You'll love it if you liked
Alexander Hamilton
Common Sense
John AdamsGood to know
The 18th-century prose is demanding; reading selected essays, like Federalist No. 10 and No. 51, is a good start.
By the numbers
- Readers48 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics51 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller17 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
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Quick answers
Is The Federalist Papers worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of the 100 best nonfiction books of all time. It ranks #1,420 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 69.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Federalist Papers about?
Published in 1787 and 1788 under the pen name Publius, these 85 essays by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay argued for ratifying the new United States Constitution, explaining the thinking behind the separation of powers, federalism and the presidency.
How long does it take to read The Federalist Papers?
About 17 hours (692 pages), or about 5 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Federalist Papers?
If you liked it, try Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow, Common Sense by Tom Paine or John Adams by David McCullough.