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Justice Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Michael J. Sandel (Author, Narrator), Macmillan Audio (Publisher)
4.6 out of 5 stars 3,431 ratings

What are our obligations to others as people in a free society? Should government tax the rich to help the poor? Is the free market fair? Is it sometimes wrong to tell the truth? Is killing sometimes morally required? Is it possible, or desirable, to legislate morality? Do individual rights and the common good conflict?

These questions are at the core of our public life today - and at the heart of Justice, in which Michael J. Sandel shows how a surer grasp of philosophy can help us to make sense of politics, morality, and our own convictions as well.

Sandel's legendary Justice course is one of the most popular and influential at Harvard. Up to a thousand students pack the campus theater to hear Sandel relate the big questions of political philosophy to the most vexing issues of the day. In the fall of 2009, PBS will air a series based on the course.

Justice offers listeners the same exhilarating journey that captivates Harvard students - the challenge of thinking our way through the hard moral challenges we confront as citizens. It is a searching, lyrical exploration of the meaning of justice, an audiobook that invites listeners of all political persuasions to consider familiar controversies in fresh and illuminating ways.

Affirmative action, same-sex marriage, physician-assisted suicide, abortion, national service, the moral limits of markets, patriotism, and dissent - Sandel shows how even the most hotly contested issues can be illuminated by reasoned moral argument.

Justice is lively, thought-provoking, and wise - an essential new addition to the small collection of works that speak convincingly to the big questions of our civic life.

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  1. Listening Length
    11 hours and 1 minute
  2. Author
    Michael J. Sandel
  3. Narrator
    Michael J. Sandel
  4. Audible release date
    September 15, 2009
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Macmillan Audio
  7. ASIN
    B002P9T82A
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length 11 hours and 1 minute
Author Michael J. Sandel
Narrator Michael J. Sandel
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date September 15, 2009
Publisher Macmillan Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B002P9T82A
Best Sellers Rank

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4.6 out of 5 stars
3,431 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book thought-provoking, with one review noting how it introduces basic jurisprudence and moral philosophy, while another highlights its illuminating consequentialist methodology. Moreover, the book is written in a way that anyone can understand, with one customer praising its clear writing style with examples of situations. Additionally, customers enjoy the book, finding it fun and suitable for all ages, while also appreciating its character development, with one review specifically mentioning how it cultivates good character.

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Thought provokingReadabilityEnjoymentCharacter development
275 customers mention "Thought provoking"251 positive24 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking, providing an insightful introduction to jurisprudence and moral philosophy, with one customer noting its illuminating consequentialist methodology.

"...Good read and worthwhile for the ideas and perspectives it opens up." Read more

"...In fact, he is neither: he is very clear and demanding in his thinking and he illustrates different concepts of justice and fairness..." Read more

"...The example and consequentialist methodology of the book is very illuminating and acted as an excellent mechanism for people to re-question some of..." Read more

"...This may be the only book of serious political philosophy where some of the lessons appropriately rely on Winnie the Pooh, the Simpsons, Miss Manners..." Read more

149 customers mention "Readability"132 positive17 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, appreciating its clear and accessible writing style, with one customer noting that Sandel uses many examples to illustrate situations.

"...The logic of this approach seems seductively attractive but somehow wrong. What about higher values? Is human life all about getting what we want?..." Read more

"...I found this overview of the theories of justice extremely readable, clear and illuminating...." Read more

"...He delivers clear expositions and critiques of utilitarianism, libertarianism, Kantian ethics, and John Rawls' theory of justice, and then builds a..." Read more

"...The book was in fantastic shape with very crisp pages (it felt almost new), absolutely no marks and with the hardcover and associated dust jacket..." Read more

49 customers mention "Enjoyment"43 positive6 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable and entertaining, with many noting it's great for all ages and makes readers think.

"...It's lively stuff, as far as political philosophy goes, and, as far as commenting on current events goes, it has the advantage of clearly exposing..." Read more

"This is a great book for people like me who did not study philosophy and have come to realize the need to have larger conversations in order to make..." Read more

"...justice, and it does so in a way that is both informative and entertaining. I was ready to hit the 5-star rating...." Read more

"...This book makes it incredibly fun to do so by posing some of the most interesting moral dilemmas that we’ve conceived since Aristotle’s time...." Read more

6 customers mention "Character development"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, with one customer noting how it cultivates good character, while another describes it as brilliant.

"...the purpose of politics is to form good citizens and cultivate good character...." Read more

"...breakdown on the flaws of utilitarianism, Kantian ethics, and Aristotle was genius...." Read more

"...because it makes you think and search deeply into your own values and humanity...." Read more

"...to navigate through complicated issues: maximising happiness; respecting people; cultivating virtue and the common good." Read more

SUPER FAST SHIPPING!!!
5 out of 5 stars
SUPER FAST SHIPPING!!!
Book came in pristine condition with every single page intact, cover and back glossy, and etc. perfect addition to my studying and I cannot WAIT to bring this to my ethics bowl!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Claudio
    5.0 out of 5 stars well thought out examples
    Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Somewhat feels like playing devils advocate while not really committing to either. The examples drove the point home though that there is no right answer so it’s not really being an advocate for either. Even we think there is others may disagree on what that right answer might. The one example that really made me think about why it is 2 people can even think different about something was a cheerleader in a wheelchair. What is the purpose of cheer and does a girl unable to do the usual flips involved meet that purpose. There were so many great examples that were more intense and maybe seemed more important but this “simpler” one really made me about how people can have different ideas of what the purpose of something is. Good read and worthwhile for the ideas and perspectives it opens up.
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  • David H. MacCallum
    5.0 out of 5 stars a tough look at a complicated topic
    Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2011
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I find thinking about basic concepts - those that form the essence of our society - can be very tough going. Basic concepts, when one thinks hard about them, become slippery. What, after all, is meant by the concept of "ethics" or "morality" or, for that matter, "justice"? These words are so frequently used that their precise meaning is assumed. They seem joined; their meaning seems a bit blurred. Are ethics the same concept as morals? Are ethics a way of living, a way of sorting out right from wrong, encompassing such concepts as fairness, honesty, compassion, a guidepost to finding the good life? Are morals something a bit more constrained? Are they concerned with doing the right thing, always with a view toward the impact of our actions on other human beings? If these distinctions are hard enough, "justice" is an even harder concept.

    We all know that a "just" society is vastly preferred over an "unjust" one. It offers a route to the diffusion of happiness throughout society. But is a just society compatible with gaping differences in the economic or social position of different people in the society? Does a just society require that most people enjoy similar benefits? Can a society be considered to be "just" if a few control the many? What exactly is "justice" and how is it measured? How is it created? How can we tell if a society is "just"? In the end, is a "just" society preferable to one that is less just? If so, how can we tell it is preferable?

    These are the tough concepts that Michael Sandel tackles in a very challenging, but ultimately deeply satisfying thought piece. His book, Justice, What's the Right Thing to Do?, takes three quite different cuts at surveying the field of justice. This is complicated stuff and I would advise any reader to take notes as the essay unfolds. It is easy to lose the thread, not because Sandel is not precise and not because he is boring. In fact, he is neither: he is very clear and demanding in his thinking and he illustrates different concepts of justice and fairness (not that these are necessarily identical concepts) with real-life examples that ask the reader to look at the same set of facts from different angles. Professor Sandel teaches at Harvard Law School and has the exemplary ability to argue two different points of view of an issue, each with great persuasive power.

    I thought I had a strong point of view about affirmative action, the sale of fresh human organs, the volunteer army, and the proper distribution of wealth in a society. These issues, and many more, are discussed in the context of some of the great thinkers about justice. More than anything, it leads this reader to a revised attitude towards the discussion of values, greater respect for the strength of different points of view.

    We first learn about Jeremy Bentham and his principle of utilitarianism. Is any particular solution to any problem just? His sole measuring stick is simple: determine what solution produces the highest level of happiness for the largest number of people. This seems simple, although the measurement of satisfaction is undoubtedly hard. But then, is this all there is to forming a "just" society? What about defending individual rights, which can be so easily ignored if the only measuring stick is the happiness of the community? Does utilitarianism weigh preferences with no judgment as to their worthiness?

    Ultimately, the respect for the individual becomes a more central idea in the pursuit of justice. John Stuart Mill, a generation younger than Bentham, erects a superb structure that argues the notion that respecting individual liberty is the essence of the just society. Character is what counts most to Mill. This is a seductive line of thought and, in fact, it was only short distance between Mill's thoughts and the idea that any interference with individual liberty is not only repugnant but leads eventually to an unjust society. This is the essence of libertarianism: reject all forms of restraint on the individual. Taxation is a form of theft. Free markets hold the answer to any tough issue. Why should there not be a market for human organs? What is wrong with consensual cannibalism? What is wrong with using economic inducements to citizens in order to persuade them to serve in the armed forces?

    The logic of this approach seems seductively attractive but somehow wrong. What about higher values? Is human life all about getting what we want? Is there a higher standard? This brings us to a discussion of Immanuel Kant, a philosopher who had always had a forbidding image to me. Kant's view is that one must look at the motive behind any action to determine its worth. He asks that all our actions be honest, all be held to the standard of a dedication to high morals. Is what I am doing fair and virtuous to myself? To society? What is the impact of my actions and behavior on others?
    So we travel and long, and sometimes hard, road in this book. But at the end, Professor Sandel asks us to think about the effects of what we do and the system that we create not only on ourselves but on the society as a whole.

    This is a very satisfying, if tough, book. It asks questions that are very hard to think about, let alone answer. But in asking the questions, it forces the reader to think about the logic and the eventual effect of all possible answers. It moves the debate from the talking heads of television and the extremism of today's political heat to a discussion of what really is a just society.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • A. Menon
    4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent introduction but occasionally over deductive
    Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2009
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    I think this book is an excellent introduction to the philosophy of justice. Sandel goes through the foundations in a very clear fashion. I found this overview of the theories of justice extremely readable, clear and illuminating. The order of introduction is, utilitarian scales of justice, then individual freedom based ideas and ending with Aristotilian ideas of underlying virtue and purpose.

    The book systematically goes through different forms of justice and examples that force the reader to confront the cognitive dissonance that arises from assumed results from high level justice and the fairly wrenching deductive results that follow in specific cases that appeal to our sense of humanity. These cases in the book are what make it most valuable as it forces us to reckon with the consequences of taking ideas too far, and that logical conclusions can take us from the spirit of the intention. This turns out to be a theme that eventually leads to the conclusion- using systematic rules of justice versus a vision of societal right and wrong, can lead us down unintended paths, and because of that we need to re-embrace that public discourse on matters of right and wrong is at the heart of the way we view justice, not prioritizing a system of measuring scales (whether the measuring be utility or personal freedom).

    Comparing this to Sen, who recently too published his views on justice, there are similarities of using public discourse as a means of judging what is in societies interest from justice, though the means of getting there are different with Sen taking all forms of input, both near and far vs Sandel looking for it to be systematically embedded in local and national discourse. I think Sandels approach is a lot more realistic given the constituent dependencies of democratic systems (whether this is effectively better, i doubt, but practically it is).

    The reason I dont think this book isnt quite five stars (though its pretty close) is that it often lacks practical reasoning and occasionally overfits cases to political philosophies vs focusing on the behavioural aspects of our personal scales of justice. It occasionally uses arguments and reasoning that is refuted in other cases to fit the books thesis. An example is the gay marriage, discussing the reality that it is about the virtue of the institution of marriage and a question of the qualities its members should have. He throws out criticisms of the personal freedoms defenses of gay marriage by using a polygamous marriage argument as another logical extension of marriage and personal freedoms. That is not like for like... especially on the premise that is a personal freedom. Most polygamous marriages are not done under what might consider personal choice (one can make this argument in a similar way to the surrogate mother not knowing what she is getting into). There might be a minority of people engaged in polygamy under free choice, but most of the issues with respect to polygamy dont fall under a well informed free will argument. So the original principle that requires moral attitute vs personal freedom (as overwhelming issue) is based on a poor extension of the expanse of personal freedoms and their consequences. The acting under free will is a specific argument used earlier in a surrogate pregnancy case.

    This was an excellent overview of justice and the philisophical battleground it sits on is second to none. The example and consequentialist methodology of the book is very illuminating and acted as an excellent mechanism for people to re-question some of their basic assumptions by taking them to some unpleasant logical conclusions. The only critique i have is this methology is also used inappropriately with biased examples. That being said, thats what makes justice a never ending subject that makes us look into our value systems and the origins of them, what one person sees as an inappropriate comparison, another sees as like for like, forcing us to take the next step deeper into where we differ and then why that difference emerges in the first place. I highly recommend reading this, at the least it causes us to rethink ones own set of underlying priorities and value systems and how it relates to societal interaction.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Ny
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Great book, got it for school and wasn’t displeased while reading it
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  • Joao Carlos Souto
    5.0 out of 5 stars Mensagem clara e de ffácil compreensão
    Reviewed in Brazil on February 1, 2022
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    O Professor Michael Sandel escreveu um clássico, de linguagem simples, direta, objetiva. O que dizer de um clássico? Bem, basta dizê-lo clássico, simples assim.

    De qualquer modo destaco uma passagem do livro. Diz ele:

    "A ganância é um vício, um mau jeito de ser, principalmente quando deixa as pessoas alheias ao sofrimento dos outros.. Mais do que um vício pessoal, está em desacordo com a virtude cívica. Em tempos de dificuldade, uma boa sociedade se une. Em vez de pressionar pela vantagem máxima, as pessoas cuidam umas das outras."

    Adiante ele acrescenta:

    "Uma sociedade em que as pessoas exploram seus vizinhos para obter ganhos financeiros em tempos de crise não é uma boa sociedade. A ganância excessiva é, portanto, um vício que uma boa sociedade deve desencorajar, se puder."

    De imediato me veio à memória um país de grande extensão e grande população localizado na Ásia. Um país em que não há respeito a Direitos Humanos, não há eleição, divisão de Poder e liberdade religiosa. Direitos trabalhistas nem pensar, e justamente porque eles não existem esse país se transformou na grande fábrica de tudo. Uma grande fábrica em que se pratica trabalho escravo ou similar à escravidão. É exemplo para o mundo? o que tem a ensinar? Reflexão que todos deveriam fazer.

    Quanto ao livro do ilustre Professor de Harvard ele é muito mais do que essa passagem reproduzida acima, sobre ganância e falta de virtude.

    Recomendo o livro. Boa leitura.
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  • S. Bank
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wege in eine gerechtere Gesellschaft
    Reviewed in Germany on April 5, 2015
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Professor Michael J. Sandel, 59, lehrt politische Philosophie. Seine Studenten bringt er dazu, als Sittenrichter selbst zu urteilen, statt im Gewand des Skeptizismus und der pluralistischen Toleranz in moralische Enthaltsamkeit zu flüchten. Er greift seine Fallbeispiele aus der Realität des politischen und sozialen Lebens, konstruiert aus ihnen ein moralisches Dilemma und erprobt die Lösung an den Gedankengebäuden philosophischer Leuchttürme wie Aristoteles, John Stuart Mill und Immanuel Kant.

    Kann Folter (etwa von Terroristen oder Kindesentführern) zum Schutz eines höheren Guts gerechtfertigt sein? Würden Sie notfalls ein Medikament stehlen, das Ihr Kind zum Überleben braucht? Wie viel ist ein Menschenleben wert (praktische Frage für Versicherungen)? Ist Patriotismus eine Tugend? In welcher Gesellschaft wollen wir leben ? In einer Markgesellschaft oder in einer sozialen Gesellschaft die Markwirtschaft zum erreichen ihrer sozialen Ziele betreibt. Sandel geht es darum, "die Ruhelosigkeit der Vernunft zu wecken" und den staatsbürgerlichen Dialog auf allen Ebenen in Gang zu bringen, immer mit offenem Ausgang. Denn die Demokratie muss mit der Prekarität ihres moralischen Urteilsvermögens leben.

    Dieser Grundkurs über Gerechtigkeit, den er in Harvard seit gut einem Vierteljahrhundert anbietet, ist phänomenal, eine wahre Bereicherung!
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  • Jackson R
    5.0 out of 5 stars Engrossing, relevant and incredibly written.
    Reviewed in Australia on April 28, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Exceptionally written by a leading intellectual on the matters of political philosophy and applied ethics. Everything is laid out well and real cases used to give practical examples of concepts discussed. One of those books you are disappointed to finish because it's just so good.
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  • Cliente de Amazon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Me encantó
    Reviewed in Mexico on June 26, 2017
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Fácil lectura para todo público aunque no se esté familiarizado con el tema, ejemplos claros, buena explicación, buen desarrollo de los temas, incluye ejemplos de autores importantes de cada corriente.
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  • Shahid Abdurrahman
    5.0 out of 5 stars THE BOOK IS EXCELLENT BUT IT WAS CRUMPLED WHEN RECEIVED
    Reviewed in France on March 23, 2021
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I received the book but it was severly crumpled :(
    However, the book is very well written and contains a lot of interesting insights.
    It is definitely a must read. :) 💯
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    Shahid Abdurrahman
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    THE BOOK IS EXCELLENT BUT IT WAS CRUMPLED WHEN RECEIVED

    Reviewed in France on March 23, 2021
    I received the book but it was severly crumpled :(
    However, the book is very well written and contains a lot of interesting insights.
    It is definitely a must read. :) 💯
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    Customer imageCustomer image
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