One of the most famous works of western civilization, The Apology is Plato's account of the trial of Socrates.

One of the most widely read autobiographies of all time, Franklin's unfinished work is much more than a retelling of a life. It is a recipe for a self-made man. Franklin's pluck and ceaseless ingenuity capture the spirit of revolutionary America.

Well written and admiring biography of Theodore Roosevelt. Hagedorn received the blessing and full cooperation of Roosevelt's family. The result is a richly fascinating portrait filled with charming anecdotes rarely found in presidential biographies.

Classic essay by Thoreau explaining why he went to jail rather than submit to a tax he felt unjust, Civil Disobedience served as inspiration to both Gandhi and Tolstoy and continues to be regarded as a definitive statement of the rights of the individual within the state.

Undoubtedly one of the most influential writings of all time, the Communist Manifesto divided the globe for almost a century.

In this well researched speech at New York's Cooper Institute, Lincoln uses the voting records of Constitutional framers to demostrate Republican consistency with founding priciples while boosting himself to early prominence in a crowded field of presidential contenders.

A cerebral look at everyone's favorite passion, Pascal's A Discourse on the Passion of Love is an attempt to explain why we love by one of history's greatest philosophers.

George Washington's last and perhaps greatest missive to America, the address is best known for its warning against entangling foreign alliances and the formation of political parties.

James Madison's first and greatest contribution to the work that would become known as the Federalist Papers. In #10 Madison turns on its head the centuries old maxim that representative government could survive only in small republics.

One of the finer single volume biographies of Washington, Thayer makes ample use of Washington's letters and writings yielding a rich portrait of the man behind the legend.

Light and enjoyable biography of America's 16th president, Ketcham draws heavily on personal accounts to portray a more human and accesible Lincoln.

Written in 1513 to the Medici family, Machiavelli's work is known primarily for its ruthless advice and shocking lack of morality.

In this creative and entertaining dialogue, Cicero explores the roots of friendship as well as its benefits and pitfalls.