On LibertyOn Liberty
Score Classic
What it's about
In 1859 the philosopher John Stuart Mill argued that society may only limit a person's freedom to prevent harm to others, not to protect people from themselves or enforce majority opinion. He defends freedom of thought and speech, even for wrong opinions, and the right of individuals to live as they choose, warning against the 'tyranny of the majority'.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of the best nonfiction of all time and is one of the foundations of liberal democracy. Its arguments are still at the center of debates about free speech.
You'll love it if you liked
Common Sense
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
Darkness at NoonGood to know
It's short but written in dense Victorian prose. Mill credited his wife, Harriet Taylor, as a co-thinker.
By the numbers
- Readers38 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics51 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller18 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking, True story
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Quick answers
Is On Liberty worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of the best nonfiction of all time and is one of the foundations of liberal democracy. It ranks #1,716 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 66.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is On Liberty about?
In 1859 the philosopher John Stuart Mill argued that society may only limit a person's freedom to prevent harm to others, not to protect people from themselves or enforce majority opinion. He defends freedom of thought and speech, even for wrong opinions, and the right of individuals to live as they choose, warning against the 'tyranny of the majority'.
How long does it take to read On Liberty?
About 2 hours (100 pages), or about 4 days at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after On Liberty?
If you liked it, try Common Sense by Tom Paine, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas S. Kuhn or Darkness at Noon by Arthur Koestler.