The People

A bold, sweeping exploration through the rise, fall, and reinvention of “the people”—from ancient Athens to digital populism—exposing the timeless playbook of power: how it’s won, wielded, and lost. Since the dawn of politics, leaders have claimed to speak for “the people.” Some have led revolutions in their name; others have crushed them under the same banner. But who, exactly, are “the people”? And how has this elusive concept shaped the rise and fall of governments, from Rome to the Renaissance, from Robespierre to Trump? The People: A Brief History of Power and Populism from Antiquity to Today takes readers on an exhilarating journey through history’s greatest political gambits. From the Athenian agora to the social media battlefield, this book explores how rulers, revolutionaries, and demagogues have harnessed the power of the crowd—sometimes for democracy, sometimes for destruction. With sharp analysis and gripping storytelling, The People unpacks the mechanics of populism: how it surges in times of crisis, how it transforms societies, and why it so often ends in betrayal. From medieval peasant revolts to Latin American caudillos, from 19th-century nationalism to today’s algorithm-driven movements, the book reveals striking patterns and hidden connections across centuries.