What do you think?
Rate this book
Tyranny of the Majority: Fundamental Fairness in Representative Democracy
At last...the public hearing she was denied...These essays reveal keen powers of analysis applied to some of the most obdurate problems that bedevil electoral politics. Anyone who cares about the mechanisms of democracy should be engaged by her tough-minded explorations. It doesn't matter where you think you it's all here, to argue or agree with.
-- Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Lani Guinier's fascinating book is a prophetic intervention into a public conversation we desperately need to rejuvenate. There is no doubt that her powerful voice will produce good consequences for our nation and world.
-- Cornel West, Author of Race Matters
Intriguing and desperately needed...
-- The San Francisco Chronicle
-- Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Lani Guinier's fascinating book is a prophetic intervention into a public conversation we desperately need to rejuvenate. There is no doubt that her powerful voice will produce good consequences for our nation and world.
-- Cornel West, Author of Race Matters
Intriguing and desperately needed...
-- The San Francisco Chronicle
352 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1994
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 4, 2008
What a book! I mean just look at the title. [Words of advise for all you Poly Sci majors..When your focus is on proportional representation and you find yourself a tad shy of that 20 pages that you need this is the book for you. This lady spins like 4 lines a quote. And what a quote you'll get. She packs a punch like Arnold but has the ability to speak a monologue like clint. This is so cheesy but I shudder to say "she'll make your day."]
November 25, 2021
The author wrote this in 1994 about the problem of majority rule. Now we’re having trouble with minority rule. We need fairness and support for racial minorities in this country so they can fully participate.
December 13, 2022
A meticulous, firm, and pragmatic critique of U.S. winner-take-all voting systems (and geographic districting, in general) that advances an alternative definition of political participation ("right to influence outcomes" rather than "the right to vote") and suggests specific voting arrangements (i.e. cumulative voting) focused on social and psychological group aggregation rather than the presumed group identities imposed by race and geography (the latter of which is often imperfectly used as a proxy for race).
One of the most insightful venues of argument was an assessment, verging on critique, of the collapsing of the civil rights movement's goals from an expansive and broad vision of political participation and engagement into a primary emphasis on electoral success (i.e. do we have enough politicians of color in office). Informed to some degree by the institutionalization of the voting rights act, it was a tremendous example of Goodhart's law (when the measure becomes the target, it ceases to be a good measure).
Guinier's arguments relied extensively upon an assumption of effective communication and organizing amongst interest groups (organized along racial lines or otherwise) that seemed somewhat idealistic, but in the context of legal scholarship, this did not detract from her case significantly.
One of the most insightful venues of argument was an assessment, verging on critique, of the collapsing of the civil rights movement's goals from an expansive and broad vision of political participation and engagement into a primary emphasis on electoral success (i.e. do we have enough politicians of color in office). Informed to some degree by the institutionalization of the voting rights act, it was a tremendous example of Goodhart's law (when the measure becomes the target, it ceases to be a good measure).
Guinier's arguments relied extensively upon an assumption of effective communication and organizing amongst interest groups (organized along racial lines or otherwise) that seemed somewhat idealistic, but in the context of legal scholarship, this did not detract from her case significantly.
June 28, 2019
A very good political treatise on the dangers of majority rule in a democracy.
November 9, 2019
A great read and super strong One Vote, One Voice crags course!
June 26, 2012
This text covers some of Guinier's ideas on fairness. The basic premise is that fairness is not an absolute but an abstract concept that must continually negotiated to make sure everyone is included. Her solutions and critiques are inventive and well defended. Guinier has provided a critically important text for those interested in fundamental fairness
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews