Free and Equal

Reviews

Praise for Daniel Chandler's Free and Equal

"A vigorous case for adopting the liberal political framework laid out by John Rawls. . . . Chandler is a lucid and elegant writer, and there’s an earnest sense of excitement propelling his argument — a belief that Rawls’s framework for thinking through political issues offers a humane way out of the most intractable disputes.”
—The New York Times Book Review

“Welcomely ambitious. . . . Richly erudite and thoughtful. . . . A sanely conventional vision of a state reformed in the direction of ever greater fairness and equity, one able to curb the excesses of capitalism and to accommodate the demands of diversity.”
—The New Yorker

“A robust and inspiring case for the philosophy of John Rawls, dragging his theory of justice down from Harvard’s ivory towers and into the street with the people. . . . Intellectually rigorous and full of hope.”
—Zadie Smith

“A fantastic book. . . . Daniel Chandler provides us with the moral basis for an ambitious egalitarian agenda, and a roadmap for putting this into practice. It is a must-read!”
—Thomas Piketty

“Given the lucidity and reach of what [Chandler] writes, this book will meet a very important need.”
—Amartya Sen, winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics

"If liberal democracy is to survive as a form of government, it needs a complete rethink. So argues Chandler, a British economist and philosopher, in this rousing homage to the political philosopher John Rawls, whose 'realistic utopia,' the book contends, provides a blueprint for a society premised on both individual freedom and true equality.”
—The New York Times Book Review, "New Books Coming in May"

“Chandler brings good cheer and a positive outlook to the work of reshaping society, which marks an advance on the usual gloom and doom. A resounding endorsement of [John] Rawls’ philosophy and a complex recipe for something better than what we have now.”
—Kirkus Reviews [starred review]

“A stirring call to make justice and equity a reality by applying the ideas of liberal philosopher John Rawls.”
—The Guardian

“Daniel Chandler offers a powerfully argued case for renovating democracy’s tattered social contract.”
—Financial Times

“A beautifully written and compelling argument that Rawlsian political philosophy can heal our broken societies and make us, indeed, free and equal.”
—Sir Angus Deaton, winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics

“Daniel Chandler's provocative book helps make human possibilities more credible than they have been in our neoliberal age.”
—Samuel Moyn, author of Not Enough: Human Rights in an Unequal World

“A beautifully clear, inspiring, wise book with the potential not only to reinvent liberalism, but to transform our societies for the better.”
—Johann Hari, author of Stolen Focus and Lost Connections

“A refreshing and useful contribution to envisioning a better world. . . . A model for what politically engaged philosophy should look like.”
—Jacobin

“An exceptionally sane, judicious essay on what a viable democracy entails. . . . Realistic, humane - and in its way, revolutionary.”
—Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury

“Attractively written and strongly argued. . . . This is a welcome reminder of what progressive politics should be.”
—Times Literary Supplement

“A shining example of how a lucid writer can develop practical proposals to improve society.”
—Irish Times

“An exemplary demonstration of how public reasoning can be done. . . . A welcome respite from the knee-jerk moralism that dominates the op-ed pages and social media.”
—New Statesman

“A book full of ideals and ideas, optimism grounded in action. It is as energising as it is timely.”
—Andy Haldane, former Chief Economist of the Bank of England

“A morally steadfast book, which liberalism's honest opponents should take for their target, and which will enliven liberal theory and perhaps even reinvigorate liberal political practice.”
—Daniel Markovits, author of The Meritocracy Trap
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