Alexis de Tocqueville's, "Democracy in America" (1835,1840). It was the first history/sociology book I read that I really enjoyed. I came away with a clarity t

Alexis de Tocqueville's, "Democracy in America" (1835,1840). It was the first history/sociology book I read that I really enjoyed. I came away with a clarity that there is an essential character to American politics and discourse that has been constant throughout its history. Decades later it is still one of the most clearly written books I've read. It reminds me of reading an elegant proof.