On Liberty

By: John Stuart Mill

Narrated by: Gildart Jackson

First published in 1859, John Stuart Mill's On Liberty is an exhaustive exploration of social and civic liberty, its limits, and its consequences. Mill's work is a classic of political liberalism that contains a rational justification of the freedom of the individual in opposition to the claims of the state. Drawing upon the empiricism of John Locke, George Berkeley, and David Hume, and the utilitarianism of Jeremy Bentham, On Liberty defends the representative democracy as the culmination of society's progression from lower to higher stages, even as it recognizes one of the unique dangers of this type of government - namely, the "tyranny of the majority".

Central to Mill's ideology is the harm principle - the idea that individual liberties should only be curtailed when they harm or interfere with the ability of others to exercise their own liberties. Unlike other liberal theorists, Mill did not rely upon theories of abstract rights to support his ideology, but rather grounded his philosophy in ideas of utility.

As relevant to modern audiences as it was to Mill's Victorian readership, On Liberty is an enduring classic of political thought.

Public Domain (P)2011 Tantor

Why we need to limit Google, Facebook, Twitter etc

This book provides the clearest outline for the dangers and remedies to the greatest threat to our liberty since the jack boot.

Solid content and narration

Fascinating and useful content for anyone, delivered eloquently by the narrator. This can help with politics and life

Excellent Read on Classical Liberalism

A must listen for those who wish to understand the basis of classical liberalism and the true meaning of liberty.

A Must Read for My Generation.

As a millennial, I say we are overdue for the awareness that government is the biggest threat to all people's prosperity. There's no end to the nation-state in sight, but we can preserve, and improve on the good and bad aspects of the prosperous system we were given.

the argument for inalienable human rights here

everyone who loves Democracy and equality should hear this one. recommended reading in my fantasy classroom.

Clean, Clear Reading of Essential Text

On Liberty is a dense text capably read in this edition. I’d have liked just a little more EQ midrange removal.

Timeless.

Should be required reading for High school students. Chapter two is a fantastic review of the value and importance of free speech.

Glad to find the audio book

I am so glad Gildart Jackson read this book. I picked this book up for a political since class and this narration made this essay enjoyable. I liked the ideas contained in it on liberty and when liberty should and shouldn't be permissible.

Impeccable

In a style very much similar to Adam Smith, Mill is perspicuous in getting a point across in the most elegant manner. The practicalities dealt with in this work is ahead of its time; indeed his doctrine that a state should be a hub of knowledge with the sole purpose of disseminating that knowledge to the masses is a curious precursor to the Internet and other social cyber networks. I recommend it.

Mostly Reasonable Dissertation

When we take into account John Stewart Mill's isolated upbringing, enforced by his father, it is not surprising that he would become the purveyor of the extraordinarily compartmentalized philosophy he shares in this volume. Though his logical conclusions are for the most part, agreeable to me; his tone is that of a man who is very self-possessed - "I know what's right, and good; so let's leave off any further discussion."

As is usually my experience with books he reads, Gildart Jackson was more than satisfactory in his reading of "On Liberty"!