Free and Equal

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

This 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!

Thomas Piketty, author of Capital in the 21st Century

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.

New York Times Book Review

The most excellent book … substantive and beautifully expressed suggestions for improving almost everything

James O’Brien

A brilliantly eloquent, incredibly insightful reimagining of liberalism

Owen Jones

An 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 ahead

Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury

So 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 future

Minouche Shafik, President of Columbia University

Daniel Chandler argues that Rawls’s ideas can help us build a fairer society, from strengthening democracy to tackling inequality. Chandler 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 need

Amartya Sen, winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics

Many 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 better

Alain de Botton, author of The Consolations of Philosophy