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. In clear and impassioned style [Chandler] returns Rawls to the center of the conversation, where he belongs, re-establishing his work as a potential agent of radical - and practicable - change... intellectually rigorous and full of hopeA 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. In clear and impassioned style [Chandler] returns Rawls to the center of the conversation, where he belongs, re-establishing his work as a potential agent of radical - and practicable - change... intellectually rigorous and full of hopeA beautifully written and compelling argument that Rawlsian political philosophy can heal our broken societies and make us, indeed, free and equalThis is a fantastic book. More than ever, we need philosophers to participate in the public debate about inequality and sustainability. In Free and Equal 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!A tremendous book, timely, wise, authoritative and clear. The world will fall on it like tired labourers falling on a tray of donutsA brilliantly eloquent, incredibly insightful reimagining of liberalism, and by such a compelling writerAn exceptionally sane, judicious essay on what a viable democracy entails... [Chandler] develops a realistic, humane - and in its way, revolutionary - vision of a society committed to equity, inclusion and accountability. It should become an indispensable tool in political debate in the years aheadSo many of the answers to our dilemmas about democracy and inequality can be found in the philosophy of John Rawls. Daniel Chandler brings those answers to life with contemporary evidence and solutions. Read Free and Equal and feel hopeful about the futureChandler has an excellent background on the philosophical issues that are central to practical policy making, and given the lucidity and reach of what he writes, this book will meet a very important needMany of us wonder idly why we can't live in a kinder world. Daniel Chandler has done us all a significant favour by devising a powerful analysis of exactly why the world is not presently kind and how it might become more so. An inspiring work which returns political philosophy to its rightful position: that of working out how to make things betterClear, brave, compelling. This book shows how to put values at the heart of politics in a rigorous way, and is an important contribution to the future of progressive politicsThis is essential reading for anyone interested in the future of the left, and indeed the future of liberal democracyA magnificent attempt to apply fundamental philosophical principles to the practical building of a better world. Far-reaching and well-evidenced, it offers a new, coherent, principles-based approach to policy designIn this very timely and refreshing book, Daniel Chandler argues that rather than abandon liberalism we must reimagine it. Free and Equal asks big questions about how human society should be organised, and offers answers all of us should take seriously, whatever our politicsDaniel Chandler is the most exciting new thinker on the scene, making the most complex of ideas digestible even for idiots like me. Free and Equal provides a refreshingly hopeful tonic for our cynical times. I gulped it downInvaluable... Chandler takes a set of universal principles around fairness, based on the philosophy of John Rawls, and applies them to the real world of liberal democracyA beautifully clear, inspiring, wise book with the potential not only to reinvent liberalism, but to transform our societies for the betterDaniel Chandler's provocative book helps make human possibilities more credible than they have been in our neoliberal age. Free and Equal doubles as an accessible guide to a leading philosophical system, and a call for a new agenda for justice in our timeThought-provokingLucid and well-informedLet's hope it is as widely read as it needs to beThis is superb work, in both explaining Rawls for general readers and in applying Rawlsian principles to contemporary problems of social and political justice ... It is impressive - clear, concise, thorough, and accessibleA book full of ideals and ideas, optimism grounded in action. It is as energising as it is timelyThis is 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 practiceA rousing and original argument against hopelessness which will convince even the most jaded among us that a better public debate and a more just world are indeed within reachA timely and thought-provoking look into society, Chandler's insights are much needed in today's world. Free and Equal offers a well-written perspective on how we live today and provides hope in practical ways for economies to operate for the better in the futureA stirringly hopeful book ... An exemplary demonstration of how public reasoning can be done ... This is a kind of erudite public intellectualism reminiscent of Amartya Sen, and is a welcome respite from the knee-jerk moralism that dominates the op-ed pages and social mediaPowerfully argued and lucidly writtenInspiring ... A stirring call for egalitarian liberalism based on the ideas of John RawlsA breath of fresh air... Engaging, clear and persuasiveSerious, progressive, and grounded in a great political philosopher ... Such a contrast to the trivia about liberal elitesFascinatingImportant... skilful... Free and Equal is a shining example of how a lucid writer can make complex arguments clearer and develop practical proposals to improve societyAttractively written and strongly argued ... This is a welcome reminder of what progressive politics should beGenuinely original... An inspiring catalogue of fresh ideas each with a clear and jargon-free philosophical underpinning drawn from Rawls' workA crisp exposition of Rawls's principles ... skipping freely between gritty evidence and high theory, and grappling impressively and impatiently with practical obstacles to change ... Chandler is reminiscent of his one-time teacher, Amartya SenA refreshing and useful contribution to envisioning a better world… Free and Equal provides a model for what politically engaged philosophy should look likeA really vibrant piece of work, which provides social democrats with something there's been precious little of for a long time: inspiration
So refreshing to read substantive & beautifully expressed suggestions for improving almost everythingStrikingly innovative … Chandler’s exposition of Rawls is exemplary … [Free and Equal] offers a theoretical framework whose coherence and sophistication will commend it to many on the British left who are still searching for an organizing ideological horizonDaniel Chandler is an economist and philosopher based at the London School of Economics. He has degrees in economics, philosophy and history from Cambridge and the LSE, and was awarded a Henry Fellowship at Harvard where he studied under Amartya Sen. He has worked in the British Government as a policy advisor in the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit and Deputy Prime Minister's Office, and as a researcher at think tanks including the Resolution Foundation and Institute for Fiscal Studies.