Notes on Democracy

by H. L. Mencken

Overview

Notes on Democracy by H. L. Mencken is a sharp, irreverent, and fearless dissection of democratic ideals from one of America’s most provocative minds. Written in the 1920s—yet stunningly relevant today—Mencken strips the romanticism from democracy and exposes its contradictions, hypocrisies, and absurdities with biting wit and intellectual firepower. In his trademark sardonic style, Mencken questions whether the common people, whom democracy is supposed to empower, are truly capable of governing themselves—or whether democracy is just a spectacle run by mediocrities, for mediocrities. He categorizes political leaders into "demagogues" and "demaslaves," skewering both with equal glee. Far from being a dry political treatise, Notes on Democracy reads like a spirited debate over drinks with the smartest cynic in the room. Love him or loathe him, Mencken will challenge your assumptions, make you laugh, and leave you thinking long after the final page. Perfect for readers who enjoy political philosophy with a sharp edge, or who just want to watch sacred cows get grilled.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781515464075
Publisher:	Wilder Publications
Publication date:	04/21/2025
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	190
File size:	431 KB

About the Author

H. L. Mencken (1880-1956) was an American journalist, critic, essayist, satirist, and scholar. He began his career on local newspapers in 1899, becoming a reporter for the Baltimore Morning Herald and then serving on the staff of the Baltimore Sun. He is best known for the aggressive iconoclasm of his editorial policies, challenging cherished beliefs and institutions. The term "Menckenian" has entered multiple dictionaries to describe anything of or pertaining to Mencken, including his combative rhetorical and prose style.

Stefan Rudnicki first became involved with audiobooks in 1994. Now a Grammy-winning audiobook producer, he has worked on more than five thousand audiobooks as a narrator, writer, producer, or director. He has narrated more than nine hundred audiobooks. A recipient of multiple AudioFile Earphones Awards, he was presented the coveted Audie Award for solo narration in 2005, 2007, and 2014, and was named one of AudioFile's Golden Voices in 2012.

Editorial Reviews

[A] tremendous polemic…[which] destroy[s] by rendering it ridiculous and unfashionable, the democratic tradition of the American pioneers.”

Saturday Review of Literature (1926)