Any reader looking to gain a basic understanding of the origins of modern politics, look no further than this convenient and comprehensive guide to ancient as well as present political ideologies, concepts, and figures. The Politics Book, by Rod Dacombe, John Farndon, A.S. Hodson, Jesper Johnsøn, Niall Kishtainy, James Meadway, Anca Pusca, and Marcus Weeks, is one part of a collection of literature under the shared title, Big Ideas Simply Explained. Each book in the collection is written on a topic unrelated to the others, meaning that reading more than one book in the assembly is technically unnecessary. The Politics Book, as well as the other entries in Big Ideas Simply Explained, are non-fiction works written in the format of many compact, unrelated sections, each focusing on a different concept under a more general overarching theme which, in this case, is Political Ideology. Since each compact section is essentially unrelated, each referring to its own specific topic, The Politics Book excludes any semblance of a cohesive plot, as non-fiction works of this variety generally do. This work briefly covers any and all topics under the metaphorical sun that one could ever dream of, as its short segments allow for elaboration on a variety of topics in a relatively short quantity of pages. It covers anything from Confucious’s theories of loyalty, duty, and respect, to Vladimir Lenin’s take on the masses’ political power through a communist lens, even failing to exclude Giuseppe Mazzini’s understanding of rights and duties in the context of a nationalist society. Although this book is a good starting point for those interested in learning more about the evolution of political theory through the ages, it stops there, failing to deliver the in-depth insight that a more precisely focused piece of literature may provide. Despite this, this work is meant to be a brief overview, meaning that its particularly fleeting elaboration on addressed topics is completely warranted in context. The Politics Book includes easy-to-understand flow charts and models that allow quick comprehension, making it a convenient method of understanding both topics that one may not yet fully comprehend as well as a great review resource. Generally, this book is a worthwhile read for any reader with an interest in politics, ancient systems of government, and past political leaders, as well as those with the simple goal of learning more about a miscellaneous topic in an accommodating and blissfully undemanding format.
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