Leviathan, or The Matter, Forme and Power of a Common-Wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil, commonly called Leviathan, is a work of philosophy written by Thomas Hobbes and originally published in 1651. It is considered one of the most important works in political philosophy.
The book deals with the structure of society and how it can be maintained. In this book, Hobbes presents a model of society that is based on the complete equality and freedom of all individuals.
Although the idea may sound somewhat idealistic, Hobbes argues convincingly why this is the only way to ensure that all individuals have an equal opportunity to prosper. He also addresses the conflicts that arise when people do not have equal freedom, such as crime and poverty.
If you are looking for a book that will completely change the way you think about society, you need to read Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes.
PDF · Leviathan — didn't start? Download again
Also available: PDF · EPUB · MOBI · Read online
Download the EPUB and send it with Amazon's Send to Kindle (web, app, or your kindle.com email). Modern Kindles accept EPUB directly — no conversion needed.
Tap the downloaded file, then "Open in Books". It opens in Apple Books, with your reading progress synced across your devices.
Open the file with Google Play Books or any EPUB reader (ReadEra, Moon+ Reader). PDFs open in any viewer.
PDFs open anywhere. For EPUB, try Calibre or Thorium Reader — both free and excellent.
Public domain (US)·No sign-up·DRM-free·Real text, not scans
Copyright note. Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes is believed to be in the public domain in the United States only. It may still be copyrighted in other countries. If you are not in the United States, please check your local laws to ensure this eBook is in the public domain in your country before downloading Leviathan in PDF or EPUB.
375 years later, still timely
A cool, uncompromising case for peace through strong, accountable power. Hobbes writes with mechanical clarity, asking readers to trade chaos for covenant.
Useful for debates on authority, rights, and the line between security and oppression. Clear definitions and examples make it surprisingly teachable across disciplines.
The bargain at the heart of politics.
Institutions as designed tools.
Terms defined, claims testable.
Share this book