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The Spirit of Laws Audiobook
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(3.01) - 1,199 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Originally published in 1748, this is possibly the most masterful and influential book ever written on the subject of liberty and justice. Accordingly, it is a work that profoundly influenced America’s Founding Fathers. Its success was due partly to the fact that it was the first systematic treatise on politics, partly to Montesquieu’s championship of the nobility and the Parliaments, but above all to the brilliant style of his prose.
By the “spirit of laws,” Montesquieu means their raison d’être and the conditions determining their origin, development, and forms. Montesquieu discusses numerous topics, including the general functions of government, relations between the sexes, the morals and customs of the nation, economics and religion, and the theory of law and legislative practice.
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"Back in the day when historians/political philosophers didn't shy away from embracing projects of enormous breadth and scope... This man also had the most phenomenal knowledge of the classical world. If you are at all interested in American democracy, it's founded in large part on his thought."
— Johannes (5 out of 5 stars)
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“Montesquieu’s perspicacity…has made and continues to make him worth reading.”
— Anne M. Cohler, professor, University of Chicago
The Spirit of Laws Listener Reviews
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" Must read for any political junkie. "
— Tschäff, 9/11/2013 -
" Read books 1 and 20 "
— Chelsea, 9/8/2013 -
" I had always heard about Montesquieu's ideas, but it became so much clearer after reading him. This abridged edition is a worthy translation. "
— Rusty, 3/24/2013 -
" Modern pundits and general yappers would do well to read more Montesquieu and less of whatever they are reading now -- if they are, in fact, reading anything at all. "
— Elaine, 2/6/2013 -
" A classic, but honestly the latter portions could be excised, or at least excerpted. Get a modern translation, despite the price. "
— Richard, 5/16/2012 -
" One of the best books I have ever read and ever shall hope to read at least three more times in my lifetime... if only all books were only a slight fraction of the merit of this (and all of M's works I have read) book then I daresay I would never stop reading. "
— Adam, 9/5/2011
About Baron de Montesquieu
Baron de Montesquieu (1689–1755) was a French jurist, satirist, and political and social philosopher during the Enlightenment. His most well-known work, The Spirit of Laws, profoundly influenced European and American political thought and was relied on by the framers of the US Constitution.
About Wanda McCaddon
Wanda McCaddon (d. 2023) narrated well over six hundred titles for major audiobook publishers, sometimes with the pseudonym Nadia May or Donada Peters. She earned the prestigious Audio Award for best narration and numerous Earphones Awards. She was named a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine.