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Noam Chomsky

3 series 32 books in order 18 standalone books

Avram Noam Chomsky is an American intellectual, philosopher, linguist, political activist, and social critic, sometimes called "the father of modern linguistics" and one of the founders of cognitive science. A laureate professor of linguistics at the University of Arizona and institute professor emeritus at MIT, he has written more than 150 books on topics including linguistics, war, and politics. Since the 1960s he has been an influential critic of United States foreign policy. His credits include Hegemony or Survival and Failed States in the American Empire Project series.

Born
1928
Known for
American Empire Project, Massey Lectures, David Barsamian

Series by Noam Chomsky

Massey Lectures

8 books in order · 1967–2011

  1. Like a Conquered Province: The Moral Ambiguity of America

    1967 · Paul Goodman

    Like a Conquered Province: The Moral Ambiguity of America is a book based on Paul Goodman's Massey Lectures delivered for the Canadian Broadcasting…

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  2. Cover of Necessary illusions

    Necessary illusions

    1989 · Noam Chomsky

    Necessary Illusions: Thought Control in Democratic Societies is a 1989 book by Noam Chomsky that examines how political power uses propaganda to…

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  3. Cover of The malaise of modernity

    The malaise of modernity

    1991 · Charles Taylor

    The Malaise of Modernity is a book by the Canadian philosopher Charles Taylor, based on his 1991 Massey Lecture of the same title. It was first…

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  4. Cover of A short history of progress

    A short history of progress

    2004 · Ronald Wright

    A Short History of Progress by Ronald Wright explores how human progress has often led to downfall. The book uses examples from prehistoric times,…

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  5. Cover of Race against time

    Race against time

    2005 · Lewis, Stephen

    Race Against Time: Searching for Hope in AIDS-Ravaged Africa is a non-fiction book written by Stephen Lewis for the Massey Lectures. It was written…

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  6. Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth

    2008 · Margaret Atwood

    Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth is a non-fiction book written by Margaret Atwood, based on the 2008 Massey Lectures. The book consists of…

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  7. Cover of PlayerOne

    PlayerOne

    2010 · Douglas Coupland

    Douglas Coupland's 2010 Massey Lecture is a five-hour story set in an airport cocktail lounge during a global disaster. Five characters are trapped…

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  8. Winter: Five Windows on the Season

    2011 · Adam Gopnik

    Winter: Five Windows on the Season is a nonfiction book written by Adam Gopnik for the 2011 Massey Lectures. The book consists of five chapters, each…

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David Barsamian

5 books in order · 1992–2005

  1. Cover of Chronicles of Dissent: Interviews with David Barsamian

    Chronicles of Dissent: Interviews with David Barsamian

    1992 · Noam Chomsky

    Chronicles of Dissent: Interviews with David Barsamian is a 1992 book by Noam Chomsky. It is book 1 of the series David Barsamian.

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  2. Cover of Keeping the Rabble in Line: Interviews with David Barsamian

    Keeping the Rabble in Line: Interviews with David Barsamian

    1994 · Noam Chomsky

    Keeping the Rabble in Line: Interviews with David Barsamian is a 1994 book by Noam Chomsky. It is book 2 of the series David Barsamian.

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  3. Cover of Class Warfare: Interviews with David Barsamian

    Class Warfare: Interviews with David Barsamian

    1996 · Noam Chomsky

    Class Warfare: Interviews with David Barsamian is a book of collected interviews with Noam Chomsky, conducted by David Barsamian. It was first…

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  4. Propaganda and the Public Mind: Conversations with Noam Chomsky

    2001 · Noam Chomsky

    Propaganda and the Public Mind: Conversations with Noam Chomsky is a 2001 book by Noam Chomsky. It is book 4 of the series David Barsamian.

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  5. Cover of Imperial Ambitions: Conversations on the Post-9/11 World

    Imperial Ambitions: Conversations on the Post-9/11 World

    2005 · Noam Chomsky

    Imperial Ambitions: Conversations with Noam Chomsky on the Post-9/11 World is a 2005 book published by Metropolitan Books as part of the American…

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Standalone books

  1. Cover of Manufacturing consent
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  2. Cover of Syntactic structures
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  3. Cover of Requiem for the American dream
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  4. Cover of Aspects of the Theory of Syntax
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  5. Cover of Cartesian linguistics
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  6. Cover of Profit over People
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  7. Cover of Failed States
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  8. Cover of Power and Terror
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  9. Cover of American Power and the New Mandarins
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  10. Cover of Understanding Power
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  11. Cover of 9-11
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  12. Cover of The sound pattern of English
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  13. Cover of Deterring Democracy
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  14. Cover of Pirates & emperors
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  15. Cover of The fateful triangle
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  16. Cover of Rules and Representations
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  17. Cover of Problems of knowledge and freedom
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  18. Cover of Language and mind
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Frequently asked questions

How many books has Noam Chomsky written?

We list 32 books by Noam Chomsky across 3 series, published between 1967–2025 — each shown in full reading order.

What order should I read Noam Chomsky's books?

Read each series in publication order. A good place to start is “Blood and Oil: The Dangers and Consequences of America's Growing Dependency on Imported Petroleum.” Open any series above for its complete numbered reading order.

Where can I buy Noam Chomsky's books?

Every title links to Amazon from its series page — see our affiliate disclosure in the footer for how that supports the site.

Reading order compiled from author/publisher guidance and verified bibliographic data. Spotted a wrong order, a missing book, or any other mistake? and we'll correct it.

Some summaries adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.