In the summer of 1937, Europe was being torn apart by extremist ideologies. With the world on the brink of war, Bertrand Russell set out to found a "new science," one which would make sense of the traumatic events of the day and offer an explanation for those that would follow. The result was Power, a remarkable book which Russell regarded as one of the most important of his long career.

Power, Russell argues, is man's ultimate goal, and is, in its many guises, the single most important element in the development of any society. Countering the totalitarian desire to dominate, Russell shows how political enlightenment and human understanding can lead to peace. Power is a passionate call for independence of mind and a celebration of the instinctive joy of human life.