"Pierre Manent's "A World beyond Politics?" is at once a reflection on modern political philosophy from Rousseau to Tocqueville to Weber and an interpretation of the modern democratic state. Manent is one of the best--maybe the best--minds on the current French scene. His thought is always alive, original, and provocative. It would not surprise me if quite a few political philosophers began to revise their introductory courses to address the themes and problems articulated in this book."--Steven B. Smith, Alfred Cowles Professor of Political Science, Yale University