Os melhores 32 livros sobre Class

Locke’s Second Treatise offers an in-depth analysis on the origin of our right to liberty and the rights of governments. It shows how, by respecting the laws of nature, we can limit the power of government to best protect ourselves and our property from destruction or worse, tyranny.

• Anybody interested in politics
• Anybody interested in the history of ideas and philosophy
• Anybody interested in the foundations of liberalism and democracy

Gang Leader For A Day is based on author Sudhir Venkatesh’s ten years of personal, in-depth research conducted on-site at the notorious Robert Taylor Homes public housing projects in Chicago. Ignored by city government and law enforcement, residents in the close-knit community rely only on local gangs and each other for basic services and social support.

• Anyone interested in the influence of gangs in the United States
• Anyone curious about what it takes to be a gang leader
• Anyone interested in how poor communities are supported by underground economies

The Social Animal (2011) reviews a trove of scientific evidence explaining what actually determines human behavior. Our iceberg-like unconscious mind helps us navigate the world with split-second judgment, while certain inborn traits drive us to be successful in life. You’re both a lot – and a lot less – smarter than you think!

• Students of human behavior who want to know what makes us tick
• Skeptics curious about whether people really are rational beings
• Anyone who’s interested in understanding what determines our success in life

The Locust Effect (2014) argues that foreign aid is only useful to developing countries if their impoverished citizens have protection from violence and crime. Without this, aid money is wasted because neither individuals nor businesses are safe to grow. Financial donations should aim to strengthen national criminal justice systems, so countries can serve themselves in the long run.

• Students of political science, international relations and foreign policy
• Donors and sponsors looking to help the developing world
• Anyone interested in global development

The Age of Empathy (2009) debunks popular theories which suggest that human nature is inherently selfish, cut-throat and prone to violence. Evidence provided by biology, history and science makes clear that cooperation, peace and empathy are qualities that are as natural and innate to us as our less desirable traits.

• Anthropologists curious about human nature
• Sociologists interested in our innate biological ability to bond with others
• Students interested in how social science, politics, evolution and biology intersect

Dreamland (2015) tells the story of how the opiate crisis in the United States went from being a problem only among social outcasts and the urban poor to one of the leading causes of accidental deaths in the country. The background and science of the crisis are rooted in socioeconomic factors that are distinctly American.

• Non-Americans left nonplussed by the United States’ opiate problem
• Health care professionals
• Policy wonks

The Broken Ladder (2017) explores the psychological, physical, and social ramifications of rising inequality. As the rich get richer, it powerfully demonstrates, everyone else feels poorer, regardless of material circumstances – with devastating consequences for all.

• Social psychology
• Anyone who wants to better understand inequality

Wildland (2021) recounts the story of how America became unraveled throughout the first two decades of the twenty-first century. Drawing on stories from residents of three US cities –⁠ Greenwich, Connecticut; Clarksburg, West Virginia; and Chicago, Illinois –⁠ it examines the undercurrents of change that tie together the fates of these varied landscapes. Finally, it describes how the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 laid the foundation for the violent insurrection on January 6, 2021. 

• Americans trying to make sense of the changes in their country
• Students of American politics and culture
• Activists looking for a holistic picture of the grievances of average Americans

Perversion of Justice (2021) reveals how a reporter for the Miami Herald broke the story behind Jeffrey Epstein’s sex crimes and the scandalous deal he got from the US justice system in 2008. It explains the history of the case, how the mysterious financier was able to escape justice for so long, and the important questions that remain unanswered.

• Anyone curious how a serial sex offender can elude punishment
• Fans of true crime investigations
• People interested in the ongoing mystery behind Epstein and his accomplices

Empire of Pain (2021) follows the rise and fall of the elusive Sacklers, the billionaire family behind Purdue Pharma. Its blockbuster drug, OxyContin, was aggressively marketed as safe, but would go on to spur a devastating opioid crisis that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. Yet the Sacklers’ fortress of lawyers, political connections and a philanthropic name would, time and again, protect them from responsibility.

• Current affairs enthusiasts
• Lovers of family dynasty dramas
• Anyone wanting to understand the opioid crisis

Women, Race and Class (1981) is a collection of essays that expose how racism, sexism, and classism intertwined in the struggle for women’s suffrage in the United States. With special emphasis on the historical missteps of the mainstream feminist movement, it charts a path for an anti-racist and anti-classist feminism. 

• Feminists looking to understand intersectionality more deeply
• History buffs
• Anyone invested in the ongoing struggle for justice

Slouching Towards Utopia (2022) examines the “long century” between 1870 and 2010, during which technological progress, globalization, and the advent of social democracy opened a new horizon of human progress. Barring the horror years of World Wars I and II, humanity seemed to be on a slow, uneven crawl toward utopia. But in 2010, the tables turned. Economic progress in the Global North ground to a halt. 

• History buffs
• John Maynard Keynes fans
• Anyone wondering how the world became so unequal

Don Quixote (1605) is widely regarded as the first modern novel. Its claim to fame extends beyond historical novelty. For many readers and critics, it remains the greatest novel of its kind. It tells the story of a man who becomes so enchanted by tales of chivalry that he decides to become a knight-errant – a wandering gallant in the style of Lancelot. The self-styled knight who calls himself Don Quixote and his trusty sidekick Sancho Panza get themselves into all kinds of absurd mischief, but their foolish quest ultimately brings them something precious: an immortal friendship.

• Anyone who’s been put off by the length of Cervantes’s great novel
• Lovers of classic literature, tall tales, and absurd adventures
• Anyone looking to put a face to the famous names Don Quixote and Sancho Panza

It’s OK to be Angry About Capitalism (2023) is a critique of the economic and political system in the US. It offers a blueprint on how to move past unbridled capitalism onto a fairer and freer future.

• Everyone interested in the idea of democratic socialism
• Those who’d like to understand Bernie Sanders’s political agenda
• Anyone concerned about inequality

The Myth of American Inequality (2022) corrects widespread misconceptions about inequality in the United States. Taking aim at misleading official statistics, it shows that poverty has all but disappeared in today’s America and that the gap between rich and “poor” isn’t nearly as large as many people assume. 

• Politicos and policymakers
• Historians and economists
• Anyone interested in contemporary debates about economic justice

The Secret History (1992) is the gripping tale of a group of Classics students at a New England college who are involved in the murder of a classmate. The novel explores the complex relationships between the friends, and the impact the incident has on their lives.

• People who enjoy psychological fiction
• Fans of the “dark academia” genre
• Anyone with an interest in Classics

Jane Eyre (1874) is an intense, intimate portrait of a young woman’s search to find her place in Victorian society without compromising her passionate ideals. It follows her as she navigates life’s obstacles – and her developing love for the mysterious Edward Rochester.

• Hopeless romantics who crave plot twists and turns
• History lovers keen to get a window into life as a nineteenth-century governess
• Fans of period dramas like Outlander and Bridgerton

Of Mice and Men (1937) is a poignant tale that traces an unlikely friendship between two impoverished workers in California during the Great Depression: compact, quick-witted George Milton, and huge, childlike Lennie Small.

• Lovers of classic literature
• Those entranced by the American dream
• People curious about one of Steinbeck’s greats

Wuthering Heights (1847) is a masterpiece of English literature. Set in Yorkshire, it tells the story of two families and their intense, often tumultuous relationships – in particular, the stormy romance between Heathcliff and Catherine.

• Fans of family sagas
• People drawn to unconventional love stories and antiheroes
• Anyone interested in classic novels of the nineteenth century

Animal Farm (1945) is a classic satirical novella that transplants the events of the Russian Revolution of 1917 to a small English farm. Once the animals stage an uprising, a political battle ensues between an ideological pig named Snowball and a power-hungry pig named Napoleon. 

• Fans of political satire
• Animal lovers
• Anyone who likes a classic story

We Were Liars (2014) is the suspenseful story of the wealthy, carefree Sinclair family and the tragic event that exposes the cracks in their perfect facade – as told by an unreliable narrator, Cadence Sinclair.

• Lovers of suspenseful fiction and well-crafted romance
• Anyone keen for a glimpse into the lives of the 1 percent
• Avid readers who want the scoop on one of the best-loved young adult contemporary novels

A Rose for Emily (1930) was first published in Forum magazine. Told in a nonlinear style, it starts with the funeral of Emily, a fixture in the fictional Jefferson County. It then goes back in time to trace moments of her life, and the decline in her health and status. 

• Faulkner fans
• Lovers of Southern Gothic literature
• Anyone curious to learn more about a complex classic

The Hunger Games (2008) is the first volume of the popular YA fantasy trilogy. In the post-apocalyptic future state of Panem, teenagers participate in a brutal yearly game show where they compete against each other in a deadly obstacle arena. When her sister is drafted for the games, 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her place – not realizing she’ll end up fighting for something bigger than mere survival.

• Sci-fi fans and fantasy aficionados
• Readers who love strong female characters
• Fans of The Hunger Games movies with Jennifer Lawrence

A Theory of Justice (1971) is a seminal work of political philosophy, in the social contract tradition. One of the most widely debated philosophical works of the twentieth century, it provides a framework for evaluating societies and social outcomes in terms of justice, fairness, and rights.

• Political philosophy buffs
• Those wishing to deepen their understanding of social inequality
• Anyone who cares about creating a fairer society

Great Expectations (1860) is Charles Dickens’ classic novel about the social ambitions and failings of Pip, a small-town orphan who suddenly becomes wealthy through a mysterious benefactor. Pip leaves his home town for London, but as his social and material standing develop, he suffers a moral deterioration that leaves him questioning his decisions. 

• Fans of classic literature
• Anyone who loves a good tale of rags to riches
• People who want to find out what Dickens was all about

The Hate U Give (2017) is a critically acclaimed coming-of-age tale set against the backdrop of racism and police brutality. It follows 16-year-old Starr Carter as she navigates two contrasting worlds: the poor Black neighborhood where she lives and the white prep school where she studies. Starr's attempt to strike a balance between these two worlds is shattered when she witnesses the shooting of her childhood friend, Khalil, by a police officer.

• Social justice advocates and activists
• Young adults exploring identity and inequality
• Anyone interested in compelling contemporary fiction

The Prince and the Pauper (1881) is a classic tale that explores the societal framework of the sixteenth-century English society. The story unravels the unexpected journey of two identical boys – Prince Edward, the royal heir, and Tom Canty, a destitute pauper, as they swap their lives. In exploring each other's worlds, they gain insightful lessons about society, identity, and human kindness, with the story offering a profound commentary on class disparities and social norms.

• History enthusiasts
• Fans of classic literature
• Personal development seekers

Small Mercies (2023) is an intense thriller that takes place in Boston in 1974, when the city’s busing crisis was just getting started. The story centers around a single mother in the neighborhood of South Boston, whose daughter goes missing on the same night a Black man is found dead under suspicious circumstances.

• Fans of historical fiction
• Crime drama aficionados
• Anyone craving a suspenseful story

The Remains of the Day (1989) features one of contemporary literature’s most unforgettable narrators, Stevens, a butler who reminisces on his life in service at one of England’s stately homes in the years leading up to World War II. 

• Fans of contemporary literature
• History lovers interested in a literary take on the interwar years in England
• Period drama devotees seeking a look at life in a stately home

Abolish Rent (2024) examines the housing crisis from the perspective of those most affected by exploitative rent practices, offering a sharp critique of the current system. It highlights powerful stories of resistance from poor and working-class tenants, showing how collective action can transform both housing and cities and ultimately envisions a revolutionary tenant movement that fights for housing as a fundamental right.

• Tenants who want to organize and fight back against exploitative housing conditions
• Urban planners and policy makers who want insight into the tenant crisis
• Anyone who thinks safe, stable housing should be a basic human right

Inheritocracy (2025) argues that meritocracy is a myth in today’s Britain. Inherited wealth, it suggests, trumps individual talent and effort in shaping the life chances of younger generations – above all, millennials. This isn’t a purely economic story, though: the increasing prominence of parents in adult children’s lives is redefining ideas about everything from growing up to love. 

• Millennials wondering why adulthood feels financially out of reach
• Parents thinking about wealth, legacy, and fairness
• Anyone interested in inequality, housing, and generational shifts