Bask - Shop now
$3.79 with 46 percent savings
Digital List Price: $6.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.

Audiobook Price: $20.34

Save: $8.85 (44%)

You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Thomas Hobbes
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Leviathan Kindle Edition

by Thomas Hobbes (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 1,245 ratings
The seventeenth-century work of political philosophy that brought us the concept of the social contract.

Considered by many to be as influential and provocative as Machiavelli’s The Prince, Thomas Hobbes’s Leviathan, written during the English Civil War, argues that only a people united under a strong sovereign can resist the forces of chaos.
Exploring such concepts as the state of nature and the need to escape it, the value of a commonwealth, the advantages of a monarchy, and the role of religion in civil society, Leviathan is a controversial and challenging landmark in the history of political thought.
Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    676 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Open Road Media
  4. Publication date
    May 5, 2020
  5. File size
    4.6 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Not Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B087T6LS7K
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Open Road Media (May 5, 2020)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 5, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.6 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 676 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 1,245 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Thomas Hobbes

Thomas Hobbes

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
1,245 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find the book essential reading and thought-provoking, with one review noting its complex arguments and structure. However, the chapter count receives mixed feedback, with several customers reporting that only chapters 1-17 are included. The sound quality also gets mixed reactions, with one customer describing it as good to listen to.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

60 customers mention "Readability"45 positive15 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a must-read among classics and essential reading that is worth their time.

"College needed! Grow your brain! Good read!" Read more

"...I will just say that Leviathan is a 5-star classic and worth your time, if you can deal with reading political philosophy...." Read more

"...Essential reading if you want to understand how democracies evolved." Read more

"...So yes this was very interesting." Read more

19 customers mention "Thought provoking"19 positive0 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking and interesting, with one customer noting its complex arguments and structure, while another describes it as a seminal work in political philosophy.

"College needed! Grow your brain! Good read!" Read more

"...relevant today, but I found the second half to be interesting, and informative on learning some of the thoughts on Christianity learned men, such as..." Read more

"...Then the text makes more sense even if wrong headed for a modern audience. Essential reading if you want to understand how democracies evolved." Read more

"...- especially the absolute government aspects - but find his thinking clear and cogent, well argued, and a fascinating read...." Read more

6 customers mention "Sound quality"3 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the audio quality of the book, with some finding it good to listen to, while others report issues with static and a misleading presentation.

"...I read, but I think the majority of his arguments are sound and convincing. Five stars, no doubt in my mind...." Read more

"...rest of he book to find it all written in this monotonous, mostly drivling tone, I realized this was an artifact of history only the most ardent..." Read more

"...This product is good to listen to as a supplemental piece to reading Leviathan. Shame on the company for misrepresentating this product...." Read more

"...There is tremendous skipping and the sound has too much static. Unusable. Disk two seems to work normally." Read more

7 customers mention "Chapter count"0 positive7 negative

Customers express dissatisfaction with the chapter count, noting that only chapters 1-17 are included and that the entire fourth part is missing.

"...It gets worse. Chapter XLIII is missing, and so are Chapters XLIV-XLVII. That's right: the entirety of Part IV is simply gone...." Read more

"This book is cheaper because it only contains Chapters 1 to 17 out of the original 31 chapters...." Read more

"No serious Hobbes student should buy this book. It omits all of Part IV and the last chapter of Part III...." Read more

"The entire fourth part is missing. Chapters 25-29 appear twice in the book. In the second part, I see chapters in this order: ......" Read more

Not what I expected
1 out of 5 stars
Not what I expected
I bought this "NEW" book to add to my library collection, unfortunately it arrived TORN and it looked TRASHED as if someone had a bad semester. WTH
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

  • Kenya Hale
    5.0 out of 5 stars Story time
    Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    College needed! Grow your brain! Good read!
    Helpful
     Report
  • Ritesh Laud
    5.0 out of 5 stars Hobbes is a lot smarter than I am
    Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2004
    Verified Purchase
    I finished reading Leviathan a couple months ago, but cringed every time I thought about writing a review. The book is large at over 700 pages and covers so much ground, a review would have to be a book in itself to do it justice. Due to Leviathan's philosophical content and somewhat antiquated language, it's very slow going. Each page needs time to digest.
    So I'm not going to bother writing a real review. I will just say that Leviathan is a 5-star classic and worth your time, if you can deal with reading political philosophy. Hobbes divides the work into four major sections:
    Of Man, in which he discusses human nature and why civilized people prefer peace to war. Here Hobbes establishes the primary reason that people form a government to rule over them: to safeguard them from enemies, both external and internal.
    Of Common-wealth, in which Hobbes first talks about the several forms of government and the pros and cons of each. He then explains the rights that a government has over its people; according to Hobbes, the government can do pretty much anything it wants to. Finally he goes into the things that tend to weaken or dissolve a government.
    Of a Christian Common-wealth, the longest section, in which Hobbes accepts the Bible as the word of God and quotes from it numerous time to bolster his position in support of a powerful government.
    Of the Kingdome of Darknesse, the shortest and strangest section, in which Hobbes veers away from the topic of government and instead focuses on religious practices and beliefs of the day that he deems improper and inconsistent with the Bible.
    It took me months to read this, but I came away with great respect for Hobbes and a better understanding of politics. I can't say that I agree with everything I read, but I think the majority of his arguments are sound and convincing.
    Five stars, no doubt in my mind. But it's a dive into the deep end, so you'll probably only finish it if you really appreciate and enjoy philosophical discussion!
    163 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Richmond
    4.0 out of 5 stars Worth the Time
    Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Surprisingly easy to read and thought provoking. I shied away from reading non-fiction classics for a long time, but it has been fruitful to give them a go. Even with Leviathan there is plenty to think about and Hobbes explains everything clearly. The first half of the book is about political philosophy and the second half concerns itself with Christian doctrine. You can abridge the work by reading only the first half, which is what schools teach about the work that is relevant today, but I found the second half to be interesting, and informative on learning some of the thoughts on Christianity learned men, such as Hobbes, had considered. For instance, he makes a surprisingly rational case considering what we should trust from the Bible, as well as critical thinking on heaven, hell, and angels/demons. I say surprisingly because those of us who haven't taken the time to read the classics are ignorant to how well thought out are the arguments and weighty considerations of evidence.
    6 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • J. Hauck (Guerrilla Reader)
    5.0 out of 5 stars The First Modern Support and Defense of Social Contract Theory
    Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Review of "Leviathan or The Matter, Forme and Power of a Common-Wealth Ecclesiastical and Civill (Leviathan)," by Thomas Hobbes (b. 1588- d. 1679). Hobbes was known for his views on how humans could thrive in harmony while avoiding the perils and fear of societal conflict. His experience during a time of upheaval in England influenced his thoughts and beliefs. "All of his works concern the structure of society and legitimate government, and Leviathan is regarded as one of the earliest and most influential examples of social contract theory when it was written during the English Civil War (1642-1651)." Hobbes believed that peace and effective rule could only be achieved through a strong central government. Leviathan argues for a social contract for the subjects through rule by an absolute sovereign. For example on page 164 in Chapter XXX Of the Office of the Soveraign Representative: "Such as are Necessary: For the use of Lawes, (which are but Rules Authorised) is not to bind the People from all Voluntary actions; but to direct and keep them in such as motion, as not to hurt themselves by their own impetuous desires, rashnesse, or indiscretion, as Hedges are set, not to stop Travellers, but to keep them in the way. And therefore a Law that is not Needful, having not the true End of a Law, is not Good. A Law may be conceived to be Good, when it is for the benefit of the Soveraign; though it be not Necessary for the People; but it is not so. For the good of the Soveraign and People, cannot be separated. It is a weak Soveraign, that has weak subjects; and a weak People, whose Soveraign wanteth Power to rule them at his will. Unnecessary Lawes are not good Lawes; but trapps for Mony; which where the right of Soveraign Power is acknowledged, are superfluous; and where it is not acknowledged, unsufficient to defend the People." It is easy to see how Hobbes has clearly stated his case for central government and strong laws to serve as a bulwark against behavior that could lead to more societal upheaval (among others). As other reviewers have stated this is somewhat difficult reading as it was composed and remains in Old English. The syntax and organization may be different than what the reader may be used to. In the final analysis Leviathan supports the view that a person's moral and/or political obligations are dependent upon a contract or agreement among them to form the society in which they live. Five stars.
    25 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Robert A Lersch
    5.0 out of 5 stars Seminal book of its type
    Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I read in college and again as a 60 year old. Better second time around when I understood life better. a bit repetitive for modern taste but imagine trying to stay alive during the English civil war. Then the text makes more sense even if wrong headed for a modern audience. Essential reading if you want to understand how democracies evolved.
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Fernando Vallespin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Es la "edición definitiva" de un clásico
    Reviewed in Spain on April 28, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Libro que aúna las dos ediciones clásicas del Leviatán, la inglesa y la latina, y que contiene, en un primer volumen, lo que quizá sea el más amplio y serio estudio introductorio que jamás se haya hecho de este libro.
    Report
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great
    Reviewed in Canada on May 31, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Very interesting book. I read it once for class, but plan on reading again because it’s very interesting
    Report
  • Giuseppe
    3.0 out of 5 stars capolavoro d'altri tempi
    Reviewed in Italy on June 23, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Bel libro anche se l'ho comprato erroneamente in lingua inglese... sarebbe stato più facile goderselo con un'edizione tradotta in italiano che costasse poco
    Report
  • Emergency Tap Off
    5.0 out of 5 stars A classic of its kind.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 6, 2007
    Verified Purchase
    Why is this book important?

    Hobbes stands at the end of the intellectual life of the Middle Ages which means that for centuries philosophy, religion and science had been one unified structure under the stewardship of the Church, in a World that stood at the centre of the universe beneath a God in his heaven,who provided and blessed kings and governments.

    Suddenly, all these ideas and structures and certainties were in question, or blown apart with gunpowder: Hobbes wrote this during the English Civil War which resulted in the execution of a king by his people, something that would have been unthinkable beforehand.

    Hobbes is a modern man, a pioneer, in the sense that he is trying to find what are the bases of knowlege and truth, and power and statecraft-and religion, and-ultimately-what it is to be human, and what sort of institutions would best represent human beings. This book is supposed to be about everything, in one volume! Which shows great self-confidence if nothing else.

    It is not an easy read. If you are not familiar with Seventeenth Century English, you may find it hard going. I would recommend you buying the Oxford Very Short Introduction to Hobbes, or something similar, and reading it first, so as to acquire the leading ideas. This might help. It might help at first to dip in, rather than plough through in some kind of tear-stained marathon!

    There is something in this book to offend everyone really, notably the chapter on the Pope, referring to him as King of the Fairies.

    There is an interesting short biography of Hobbes in Aubrey's 'Brief Lives' which describes him singing every day to keep fit, and travelling with a special walking stick with an ink well fitted in the top, so that he could make notes if an idea struck him when he was out walking. Aubrey knew Hobbes personally.

    The idea that power can rest upon distortions of the truth seems to have contemporary resonance, weapons of mass destruction etc.
    Report
  • César
    1.0 out of 5 stars Defeito no livro
    Reviewed in Brazil on June 7, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    O livro veio com defeitos graves. Páginas dobradas e coladas umas às outras.
    Customer image
    César
    1.0 out of 5 stars
    Defeito no livro

    Reviewed in Brazil on June 7, 2021
    O livro veio com defeitos graves. Páginas dobradas e coladas umas às outras.
    Images in this review
    Customer imageCustomer imageCustomer image
    Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report