JUSTICE: What's the Right Thing to Do

Considering the role of justice in our society and our lives, Michael Sandel reveals how an understanding of philosophy can help to make sense of politics, religion, morality - and our own convictions. Breaking down hotly contested issues, from abortion, euthanasia and same-sex marriage, to patriotism, dissent and affirmative action, Sandel shows how the biggest questions in our civic life can be broken down and illuminated through reasoned debate. Justice promises to take readers - of all ages and political persuasions - on an exhilarating journey to confront today's political and moral controversies in a fresh and enlightening way.

Michael Sandel, author of the New York Times international bestseller, Justice: What's The Right Thing To Do, features in an upcoming Spring 2011 BBC Four series on Justice, as well as the standalone documentary film, Justice: A Citizen's Guide to the 21st Century, as part of the BBC's Year of Justice season.

Michael Sandel is the Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Professor of Government at the University of Harvard. Sandel’s legendary 'Justice' course is one of the most popular and influential at Harvard with up to a thousand students enrolling every year. In 2011, BBC4 will air a season on Justice, featuring eight of Sandel’s Harvard lectures and his new documentary film, “Justice: A Citizen’s Guide to the 21st Century.” Michael Sandel has lectured widely in Europe, China, Japan, India, Australia and North America. He has been a visiting professor at the Sorbonne, Paris, and delivered the Tanner Lectures at Oxford. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Sandel is the author of many books and has previously written for the Atlantic Monthly, the New Republic and the New York Times. In 2009, he delivered the Reith Lectures for the BBC.

‘Big thinking... an ambitious and appealing idea' The Times

‘One of the world's most interesting political philosophers’ Guardian
 
‘Michael Sandel transforms moral philosophy by putting it at the heart of civic debate’ New Statesman
 
‘Hard cases may make bad law, but in Michael Sandel's hands they produce some cool philosophy… Justice is a timely plea for us to have a sensible discussion about what sort of society we really want to live in’ Observer

‘A spellbinding philosopher… Sandel is calling for nothing less than a reinvigoration of citizenship’ The Nation
 
In the beautifully concise explanations of American philosopher Michael Sandel, I see great insight into our current predicaments. If any political reckoning is on its way . . . then perhaps it might come from the philosophy department of Harvard (Madeleine Bunting )
 
Justice is a lucid and compelling analysis of our current moral dilemmas, which argues for a new commitment to citizenship and the common good (Shirley Williams )

Sandel dazzles in this sweeping survey of hot topics . . . Erudite, conversational and deeply humane, this is truly transformative reading (Publishers Weekly )