The Republic by Plato

Favorite Quote
“The heaviest penalty for declining to rule is to be ruled by someone inferior to yourself.” — Plato
The Book in One Sentence
The Republic is one of the most important political and philosophical works in history, written by Plato, the archetypal philosopher and one of Socrates’ students, in the form of a dialogue about justice and political systems.
Why should you read it?
If you’re in politics, this is a must-read. If not, it’s still a valuable read on what it means to be governed, how to be a good citizen, and why philosophers can be good rulers but don’t necessarily will be. All-around a classic worth picking up.
Key Takeaways
Justice must be looked at on an individual as well as a city level.
Both cities and souls can be divided into three distinct parts.
Philosophers trying to rule others will face lots of difficulty, and rightfully so.