Martin Luther King, Jr., a seminal figure in American history, is best known for his pivotal role in advancing civil rights through nonviolent protest. Born in 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia, King was deeply influenced by his Christian faith and the peaceful teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. His leadership of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, his inspiring "I Have a Dream" speech during the 1963 March on Washington, and his receiving of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 underscore his profound impact on the nation's progress toward racial equality. King's eloquence and unwavering commitment to justice helped transform the civil rights movement and laid the groundwork for significant legislative changes, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
❝The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character — that is the goal of true education.❞ — Martin Luther King, Jr.
King was also a committed scholar and an avid reader, traits that greatly influenced his philosophical and tactical approach to activism. Educated at Morehouse College, Crozer Theological Seminary, and eventually receiving a doctorate from Boston University, King was well-versed in theological studies, ethics, and the works of philosophers such as Hegel and Nietzsche. His speeches and writings reflect a deep engagement with theological and philosophical texts, which shaped his concepts of nonviolence, justice, and equality. King's extensive reading enabled him to draw on a rich array of sources to inspire and rationalize the civil rights movement, making his advocacy both profound and universally resonant.
Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Favorite Books
Last Updated: June 2024
War and Peace
Author: Leo Tolstoy
Publisher: Vintage
Date: Dec 2nd, 2008
Leo Tolstoy's epic novel set against the backdrop of Napoleon's invasion of Russia explores the impact of the Napoleonic era on Tsarist society through the interconnected lives of four aristocratic families, blending a meticulous historical study with deeper philosophical issues.
Civil Disobedience
Author: Henry David Thoreau
Publisher: Lulu.com
Date: Apr 25th, 2017
Henry David Thoreau's influential essay advocating for individual resistance to civil government in moral opposition to an unjust state, emphasizing the importance of personal conscience over the dictates of laws.
Major Works on Religion and Politics
Author: Reinhold Niebuhr
Publisher: Library of America
Date: Apr 7th, 2015
This collection features the seminal writings of Reinhold Niebuhr, offering insightful reflections on the intersections of faith, ethics, and politics, and his influence on modern political ideology and thought.
Progress and Poverty: An Inquiry into the Cause of Industrial Depressions and of Increase of Want with Increase of Wealth; The Remedy
Author: Henry George
Publisher: Lulu.com
Date: Aug 2nd, 2018
An Inquiry into the Cause of Industrial Depressions and of Increase of Want with Increase of Wealth; The Remedy - Henry George's influential 19th-century work examines the paradox of increasing inequality in capitalist societies, advocating for the "single tax" on land as a solution to mitigate the disparity.
The Prince
Author: Niccolò Machiavelli
Publisher: Independently published
Date: Feb 21st, 2021
Niccolò Machiavelli's seminal work on political theory and the qualities of great leaders, advocating pragmatic and often controversial methods for ruling effectively and maintaining power in a turbulent political landscape.
The New Negro Aesthetic: Selected Writings
Author: Alain Locke
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Date: Jan 18th, 2022
This compilation explores the Harlem Renaissance's intellectual and cultural ethos, advocating for a radical reassessment of racial identity and promoting a vibrant Black culture through art, literature, and social commentary.
The Essential Writings
Author: Mahatma Gandhi
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Date: May 11th, 2008
This collection offers a comprehensive look into the philosophical and practical foundations of Gandhi's thoughts on non-violence, civil rights, and freedom, including his reflections on personal experiences and his interpretations of Indian spirituality.
Poetical Works of William Cullen Bryant
Author: Richard Henry Stoddard
Publisher: Palala Press
Date: May 20th, 2016
This collection showcases the poetry of William Cullen Bryant, an American romantic poet, journalist, and long-time editor of the New York Evening Post, known for his meditations on nature and human mortality.
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Aristotle's "Politics": Second Edition
Author: Aristotle
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Date: Mar 4th, 2013
In this critical analysis of political communities, Aristotle discusses the origins and structure of the state, and the roles of citizens and leaders in governance, emphasizing the importance of a good political system for achieving the virtuous life.
The Essential Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson
Author: Ralph Waldo Emerson
Publisher: Modern Library
Date: Sep 12th, 2000
This anthology compiles the seminal essays, speeches, and poetry of Ralph Waldo Emerson, a leading voice of transcendentalism, offering profound insights into nature, self-reliance, and individual freedom.
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The Souls of Black Folk
Author: W.E.B. Du Bois
Publisher: Modern Library
Date: Jan 7th, 2003
W.E.B. Du Bois's seminal work is a collection of essays that examine race, culture, and the struggles of Black Americans at the turn of the 20th century, proposing that the problem of the 20th century is "the problem of the color line."
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The Bible
Author: Christian Art Publishers
Publisher: Christian Art Publishers
Date: Mar 7th, 2017
The Bible is a collection of religious texts or scriptures sacred in Christianity, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, which narrate the history of the Earth from its creation to the spread of Christianity in the first century A.D.
The City of God
Author: Saint Augustine
Publisher: Modern Library
Date: Feb 1st, 1994
Saint Augustine's monumental work defends Christianity against its pagan critics and outlines his vision of human history, focusing on the city of Man versus the city of God, exploring themes of religion, philosophy, and theology.
Nicomachean Ethics
Author: Aristotle .
Publisher: Independently published
Date: Aug 26th, 2021
Aristotle's foundational philosophical text discusses the concept of virtue and the path to happiness, exploring moral philosophy and the best way to live a good and fulfilling life.
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The Complete Poetry and Selected Prose of John Donne
Author: John Donne
Publisher: Modern Library
Date: Aug 14th, 2001
This collection showcases the breadth of John Donne's work, featuring his intricate and passionate poetry that explores themes of love, death, and religion, alongside his significant prose works, highlighting his skill as a metaphysical poet and preacher.
The French Revolution: A History
Author: Thomas Carlyle
Publisher: Independently published
Date: Oct 26th, 2023
Thomas Carlyle's dramatic and detailed chronicle of the French Revolution from its hopeful beginnings to its radical consequences, offering insight into the powerful forces and personalities that reshaped France.
The Social Contract
Author: Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Publisher: Independently published
Date: Aug 23rd, 2021
Jean-Jacques Rousseau's treatise on the best way to establish a political community in the face of the problems of commercial society, which posits that true sovereignty lies with the people, who enter into a collective agreement to form a state that upholds the general will.
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Complete Poetical Works
Author: James Russell Lowell
Publisher: Legare Street Press
Date: Oct 26th, 2022
This collection offers all the published poetry of James Russell Lowell, an American Romantic poet, critic, satirist, and diplomat, known for his lyrical prowess and political engagement.
The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes
Author: Langston Hughes
Publisher: Vintage
Date: Oct 31st, 1995
This comprehensive edition includes the poetry of Langston Hughes, one of the central figures of the Harlem Renaissance, whose work celebrates African American culture and life, while addressing issues of race, class, and social justice.
The Republic
Author: Plato
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Date: Sep 14th, 2007
Plato's philosophical dialogue concerning justice, the order and character of the just city-state, and the just man, offering insights through dialectic conversations led by Socrates on various philosophical issues.
The New Being
Author: Paul Tillich
Publisher: Bison Books
Date: Jun 1st, 2005
Paul Tillich's theological work comprises a series of sermons that articulate his philosophy of religion and existentialist approach to faith, emphasizing the transformational potential of embracing spiritual "newness" in modern life.
