Whereas I am trying to broaden my knowledge base and learn more basic philosophy, and whereas I am reading for pleasure rather than to create or support any argument, and whereas Hobbes likes to define and use italics profusely, and whereas his writing is in a style most soporific and whereas it takes him nearly half the book to get to the point, while I have been dreading picking up a book for weeks, expecting to get mired in some sidetrack defining all the different types of contracts one may possibly enter into and all the millions of different possible extenuating circumstances one may find themselves in, having entered into a contract, and whereas I was reading a much-condensed selections from Leviathan, taking pity on those poor souls who endeavor to read the whole thing, I decided that this book was, in structure, very much like a run-on sentence.Seriously, it takes Hobbes FOREVER to get to the point. The first several chapters are extended definitions, and if I wanted to read definitions, I'd pick up a dictionary.
When he does get to the point (HINT: Chapter 29-- Things that Weaken a Commonwealth), it's quite interesting.
I'm sure that Hobbes' philosophy has influenced everyone throughout the ages, and has its influences on the US constitution and those throughout the world. It's a TERRIBLE read, however. I'd highly suggest picking up a commentary or some cliffs notes, or at least skipping to Chapter 29.
