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The Permission Society: How the Ruling Class Turns Our Freedoms into Privileges and What We Can Do About It Hardcover – September 13, 2016

by Timothy Sandefur (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 44 ratings
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Throughout history, kings and emperors have promised “freedoms” to their people. Yet these freedoms were really only permissions handed down from on high. The American Revolution inaugurated a new vision: people have basic rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and government must ask permission from them. Sadly, today’s increasingly bureaucratic society is beginning to turn back the clock and to transform America into a nation where our freedoms—the right to speak freely, to earn a living, to own a gun, to use private property, even the right to take medicine to save one’s own life—are again treated as privileges the government may grant or withhold at will. Timothy Sandefur examines the history of the distinction between rights and privileges that played such an important role in the American experiment, and how we can fight to retain our freedoms against the growing power of government. Illustrated with dozens of real-life examples—including many cases he litigated himself—Sandefur shows how treating freedoms as government-created privileges undermines our Constitution and betrays the basic principles of human dignity.
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  1. Print length
    296 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Encounter Books
  4. Publication date
    September 13, 2016
  5. Dimensions
    5.9 x 1.2 x 9.1 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1594038392
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1594038396
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Sandefur hopes to inspire a 'return of the Jedi' movement that pushes back against the ever-expanding Nanny State and its many permission slips.... Sandefur has personally spearheaded many lawsuits against governments in an attempt to roll back the horizons of the Permission Society.... What better way to strike back against the Permission Society than to ignore it altogether? And then call Timothy Sandefur to defend us when we end up in court!" - Adam Thierer, The Independent Review

"What Sandefur writes about relates to first principles of governance and of political life...but the book is not intended for lawyers and includes clear explanations of the legal doctrines discussed.... Sandefur's review of the results of equating freedoms with privileges should add fuel to the fire of those whose fundamental relationship with the State is to say 'Not by your leave.'" - Karl Schaffenburg, The University Bookman
"This book gives many examples of legislators, lobbyists, and bureaucrats treating American citizens as inferior. It is a useful handbook for those who want to reclaim their rights--and stop asking permission from government." - Tyler Arnold, The Washington Free Beacon
"Sandefur documents how far America has lapsed from the Founders' premise that our rights pre-exist government, which is instituted to protect them. Today, Americans' rights are increasingly restricted to those privileges that government grants for its purposes." - George Will, The Washington Post

From the Inside Flap

Throughout history, kings and emperors have promised "freedoms" to their people. Yet these freedoms were really only permissions handed down from on high. The American Revolution inaugurated a new vision: people have basic rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and government must ask permission from them. Sadly, today's increasingly bureaucratic society is beginning to turn back the clock and to transform America into a nation where our freedoms--the right to speak freely, to earn a living, to own a gun, to use private property, even the right to take medicine to save one's own life--are again treated as privileges the government may grant or withhold at will. Timothy Sandefur examines the history of the distinction between rights and privileges that played such an important role in the American experiment, and how we can fight to retain out freedoms against the growing power of government. Illustrated with dozens of real-life examples---including many cases he litigated himself--Sandefur shows how treating freedoms as government-created privileges undermines our Constitution and the basic principles of human dignity.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Encounter Books (September 13, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 296 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1594038392
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1594038396
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.24 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.9 x 1.2 x 9.1 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 44 ratings

About the author

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Timothy Sandefur

Timothy Sandefur

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Timothy Sandefur is Vice President for Legal Affairs at the Goldwater Institute, where he also holds the Duncan Chair for Constitutional Government. He has won important legal victories for free enterprise and property rights in Arizona, California, Kentucky, Missouri, Oregon, and other states. He is the author of several books, including Cornerstone of Liberty: Property Rights in 21st Century America (coauthored with Christina Sandefur, 2016), The Conscience of The Constitution (2014), The Permission Society (2016), The Right to Earn A Living (2010), Frederick Douglass: Self-Made Man (2018), The Ascent of Jacob Bronowski (2019), and Some Notes on the Silence (2022), as well as dozens of scholarly articles on subjects ranging from eminent domain and economic liberty to copyright, evolution and creationism, slavery and the Civil War, and the political philosophy of Shakespeare, ancient Greek drama, and Star Trek. He is an Adjunct Scholar with the Cato Institute, and his articles have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, National Review, The Weekly Standard, Reason, The Objective Standard, and elsewhere. He is a frequent guest on radio and television programs, including John Stossel, Kennedy, The Armstrong and Getty Show, and CPSAN's Book TV.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
44 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book insightful, rational, and scholarly. They also describe the writing style as wonderful, clear, and on point from start to finish.

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Thought provokingWriting style
4 customers mention "Thought provoking"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book insightful, rational, and scholarly. They also say it's interesting and well-informed.

"...A simple and thought-provoking read. It should be mandatory reading for anyone in government at every level and in high school civics classes." Read more

"A very interesting book. After reading it you will not look at any government the same way." Read more

"insightful, rational and scholarly - a must read!" Read more

"Sharp, insightful, revelatory, and real. If you wan to know what is happening in our society, read, think, and respond with knowledge and power." Read more

4 customers mention "Writing style"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing style wonderful, clear, and competent. They also say the book stays on point from start to finish.

"...He's a very dynamic speaker. His writing style is very engaging. I would recommend reading all his books." Read more

"First rate read, here. Highly recommend his other writings also. He"s clear, and stays on point from start to finish." Read more

"...The balance is infuriating and terrifying at the same time. And wonderfully written. Don't we all see what's going on?..." Read more

"well informed and competent presentation..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Rhodwarrior
5.0 out of 5 stars I don't review many things, but this book impressed ...
Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2017
Verified Purchase
I don't review many things, but this book impressed me. A simple and thought-provoking read. It should be mandatory reading for anyone in government at every level and in high school civics classes.
2 people found this helpful
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Kristin L. Napolillo
5.0 out of 5 stars He's a brilliant legal scholar
Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2017
Verified Purchase
I've only read through the first chapter and it's great. But I wanted to add that I have personally met Mr. Sandefur on a couple of occasions. He used to be a leading member of the Pacific Legal Foundation, and lived just a few short miles from me. We asked him to speak at our Tea Party meetings on the ACA. And later he spoke to us about his current passion, which is Native American societal issues. He's a very dynamic speaker. His writing style is very engaging. I would recommend reading all his books.
4 people found this helpful
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Francis Buckley
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a splendid book about a sea change in ...
Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2016
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This is a splendid book about a sea change in how we live our lives, from a presumption that all is permitted absent a prohibition, to a presumption that all is banned absent a permission.
13 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Sandefur .... spot on again.
Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2017
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First rate read, here. Highly recommend his other writings also. He"s clear, and stays on point from start to finish.
One person found this helpful
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Vince Dowdle Jr.
4.0 out of 5 stars One of those great book EVERYBODY should read.
Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2020
Verified Purchase
This is one of those books everybody in the world should read... but I'd bet few people have ever even heard of it. I think I heard Stossel recommend it.

Ok, so truthfully, the beginning is so thick with history and legal history that I almost had to fight my way through it. I didn't bother reading all (or any) of the footnotes (who does?) but I'm going to assume they're trustworthy. Is this book good? Yes. Interesting? Yes. Actually fascinating. But I might be an outlier. Given the number of reviews, I've got to wonder how many people actually read this book versus how many people bought it.

The balance is infuriating and terrifying at the same time. And wonderfully written. Don't we all see what's going on? Apparently Timothy Sandefur does. And he desperately want us to see it too. The sections on Prior restraint are - to me - especially most important. Where will to government interference end? Private property, guns, drugs, sex. Americans (especially) for whatever reason really believe the government should be actively involved. And why?

I don't get it. And I fear for the future.

Excellent book. Highly recommend.
2 people found this helpful
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gas
5.0 out of 5 stars All should read this
Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2017
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A very interesting book. After reading it you will not look at any government the same way.
One person found this helpful
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Hardrock Lawyer
5.0 out of 5 stars well informed and competent presentation
Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2017
Verified Purchase
insightful, rational and scholarly - a must read!
2 people found this helpful
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sunshine
4.0 out of 5 stars A wakeup call to those who want to remain free.
Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2017
Verified Purchase
Sharp, insightful, revelatory, and real. If you wan to know what is happening in our society, read, think, and respond with knowledge and power.
3 people found this helpful
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Liv
5.0 out of 5 stars Incroyable
Reviewed in France on January 21, 2018
Verified Purchase
Malheureusement, le texte aide seulement avec une approche philosophique de la question. En Europe, tout est question du monarque et des autorisations qu'il accorde, même dans les sociétés où le monarque n'existe plus.
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