Words That Changed the World

Henry David Thoreau's short work "Civil Disobedience" is one of American literature's most famous short works. Although it was first delivered as a lecture in 1848, it wasn't until the 20th century that it came to be valued for its ideas. This volume explains why the document was written, its impact at the time, and its relevance and significance in today's world. "Civil Disobedience" was a key text for, among others, Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement. Thoreau's thoughts on the importance of individuals, informed dissent, and nonviolent resistance resonate in today's world. Readers will come away with a deeper understanding of the concept of civil disobedience and a new appreciation for one of America's great writers.

The Communist Manifesto is one of the world's most influential political documents. Written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, it presented the Communist League's program and purposes. It explained the goals of communism and the theory underlying the movement. Among other topics, this volume discusses and brings to life the reasons why the document was written, how it was received by the people for whom it was written, the effect it had on society at the time, the global effects and repercussions it had, and whether it has any relevancy in the 21st century. The entire document is reproduced in the book.