The Best Political Nonfiction Books Ever

This is one of the 743 lists we use to generate our main The Greatest Books list.

About this list

Esquire, 15 Books

This list comprises 'The Best Political Nonfiction Books Ever,' curated by Esquire's editors. The selection criteria emphasize timelessness and essential reading status, targeting works that are intellectually substantial and potentially transformative for readers. The list was curated by Charles P. Pierce, a contributor to Esquire, and includes 15 books deemed essential for an informed understanding of political narratives. Each book was selected for its enduring significance and ability to engage with complex political themes. The curation process involved careful editorial selection rather than public voting or contributions from multiple sources.

This list was originally published in 2021 and was added to this site 12 months ago.

View: List Grid Table
Rank Book Authors Year Country Language Actions
2518 The Passage Of Power Robert Caro 2012 American English
15786 Wallace Marshall Frady 1968 English
17008 The Rascal King Jack Beatty 1992 American English
15786 Boss Mike Royko 1971 American English
10742 Huey Long T. Harry Williams 1969 American English
15786 The Twilight Of The Presidency George E. Reedy 1971 American English
17008 The Rise Of The Counter Establishment Sidney Blumenthal 1986 American English
404 The Federalist Papers Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay 1787 American English
15786 Rules For Radicals Saul D. Alinsky 1971 American English
15786 The Selling Of The President Joe McGinniss 1969 American English
553 The Souls of Black Folk W. E. B. Du Bois 1903 American English
304 The Autobiography of Malcolm X Alex Haley 1965 American English
1784 Sexual Politics Kate Millett 1970 American English
15786 None Dare Call It Treason John A. Stormer 1964 American English
3870 Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72 Hunter S. Thompson 1973 American English