First Democracy: The Challenge of an Ancient Idea

First Democracy: The Challenge of an Ancient Idea
By Paul Woodruff
Oxford University Press. 2005. 284 pgs. Nonfiction

This is a book about democracy what democracy is and what democracy is not. The author begins by stating three features of government which are commonly equated with democracy: voting, majority rule, and elected representatives. Democracy does not exist just because any of these are present. Ok. So then what is democracy? The author sets out to demonstrate what democracy is by exploring 7 qualities of Athenian democracy: freedom from tyranny, harmony, rule of law, natural equality, citizen wisdom, reasoning without knowledge, and education. He then discusses the question "Are Americans ready for democracy?" A good question. A great book.

SML