Charles Fried

Modern Liberty

And the Limits of Government

“An erudite, sharp-tongued libertarian, eager to do battle with censors, regulators ... and sanctimonious busybodies of every stripe.”—New York Times

In this impassioned defense of liberty, renowned Harvard law professor Charles Fried argues that the seemingly unimpeachable goals of equality and community are often the most potent rivals of freedom. Declared a “spirited, sophisticated manifesto” by the New York Times Book Review, Modern Liberty demonstrates how the dense tangle of government regulations both supports and threatens our personal liberties. Armed with Fried’s insights, readers will be better able to defend themselves against those on both the left and the right who would, even with the best intentions, restrict their liberty.

“An intellectual feast. Whether he is comparing the claims of liberty to those of equality or considering the degree to which principles of liberty should protect the most diverse sexual activities, Fried’s prose is alive, often humorous, and always intellectually exciting.”—Floyd Abrams

“A stunningly insightful and engaging narrative.”—Geoffrey Stone, author of Perilous Times

James R. Gaines has been the editor of several magazines, including Time and People, and is the author most recently of Evening in the Palace of Reason. He lives in Paris.