This gracefully written, intellectually rigorous book explores the major issues of political theory by presenting the perspectives of major theorists. It gives students necessary historical background while examining basic themes and assessing the validity of basic arguments. Written in a clear, direct style, it can be easily understood by students with little previous exposure to political science. Rather than simply presenting an abstract or formal discussion of the major issues of political theory, it examines how the issues were understood by specific political thinkers including Plato, Machiavelli, Locke, Hobbes, Marx, Dahl, Popper, Nozick. T.H. Green, and others. This is a useful thematic introduction to political theory that places theory in an interesting historical and intellectual context.