Life Without Lawyers

Restoring Responsibility in America

By: Philip K. Howard

Narrated by: Richard Allen

How to restore the can-do spirit that made America great, from the author of the best-selling The Death of Common Sense.

Americans are losing the freedom to make sense of daily choices - teachers can't maintain order in the classroom, managers are trained to avoid candor, schools ban tag, and companies plaster inane warnings on everything: "Remove Baby Before Folding Stroller".

Philip K. Howard’s urgent argument is full of examples, often darkly humorous. He describes the historical and cultural forces that led to this mess and lays out the basic shift in approach needed to fix it. Today we are flooded with legal threats that prevent us from taking responsibility. We must rebuild boundaries of law that protect an open field of freedom. The voices here will ring true to every listener. The analysis is powerful, and the solution unavoidable. What’s at stake, Howard explains in this seminal book, is the vitality of American culture.

©2009 Philip K. Howard (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Good but not nearly his best work

Philip K Howard's Life Without Lawyers was written and released more than a decade ago. The book makes the case that our legal system is too complex and must be simplified. He also makes the case for doing away with government employee unions and being able to fire non-performers with short, simple processes. The final (summary) chapter was poorly written. The narration is horrid.

An important read for every American.

We are broken, but not beyond repair. This book provides great thoughts to start discussing and resolving many of those ills.

Great book , narration isn't my taste

Saw his Ted talk and his message really resonated with me.. The narration ( while I'm sure I would be terrible at it) isn't my favorite. I wish Philip Howard was doing the narration.. Despite my wife being interested in the content of the book she couldn't listen to the book because of the narration..