On the Social Contract Audiobook By Jean-Jacques Rousseau cover art

On the Social Contract

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On the Social Contract

By: Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Narrated by: Erik Sandval
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About this listen

"Man was born free, but everywhere he is in chains." Thus begins Jean-Jacques Rousseau's influential 1762 work, On the Social Contract, a milestone of political science, and essential reading for students of history, philosophy, and social science. A progressive work, it inspired world-wide political reforms, most notably the American and French Revolutions, because it argued that monarchs were not divinely empowered to legislate. Rousseau asserts that only the people, in the form of the sovereign, have that all powerful right.

On the Social Contract's appeal and influence has been wide-ranging and continuous. It has been called an encomium to democracy and, at the same time, a blueprint for totalitarianism. Individualists, collectivists, anarchists, and socialists have all taken courage from Rousseau's controversial masterpiece.

Public Domain (P)2009 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
European History & Theory Philosophy Political Science Politics & Government World Literature
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Influential Book • Timeless Elements • Straightforward Narration • Insightful Concepts • Thought-provoking Ideas
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Sounds naive in 21st century, but if you factor in when it was written! It's a monumental work form the first letter to the end.

Thank you sir!

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He has a few good points, but quite a bit of unsubstantiated and irrational claims.

Old and Tired

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A bit of a challenge, but overall a good listen for the time alloted. I particularly appreciate the vast connections to the subject in relation to historic Greece and Rome. surprisingly relevant to today when needed to understand the slight given by government on a regular basis and how it falls into its own pitfalls.

A hard listen but worthwhile.

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It's easy to see why the founding fathers or inspired by this book. It provides a solid foundation on the rights and responsibilities of the citizens of a state.

A solid foundation political science

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What did you love best about On the Social Contract?

Interesting to understand the philosophy.

Did Erik Sandval do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

A pretty dry read on the narrators part but clearly understood.

A classic

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the book was insightful and answers many questions swirling in my mind
yet the narrator was quite boring

great book

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The audio book allowed me to get through The Social Contract. I zoned out while reading because the content is good but dry, so listening happily took it off my list of works to get through.

Neat alternative to reading

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This guy is supposed to be one of the main three social contract theorists alongside Locke and Hobbes. But, now I understand why nobody can seem to explain his viewpoints in online lectures. They’re complete nonsense. Circular logic the whole way through.

His idea that everybody should belong to everybody else was played out to it’s fullest in a Brave New World by Alexander Huxley. What a horrible idea. Feels like another bedrock of socialism.

One good line, “man is born free and yet everywhere he is in chains” Amen to that brother.

*caveat I did not read the whole book. Maybe like 5 chapters? That was enough for me to understand the thesis, which is pure bullshit. Go read Hobbes and then Locke. Much better source material.

Skip. Read Hobbes and Locke instead.

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really makes you asses what your relationship to government is and what your responsibility is to maintain your personal sovereignty.
I do not agree with some of his arguments, but clearly we have hindsight in history he could not foresee.
great read

great though provoking reas

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More of an effort should be made in the education system to expose this type of thinking to young students. This is among many books I wish I had been made to read in high school.

Worthwhile read

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