Cass R. Sunstein

From The New York Times bestselling author, a bold new account of animal rights, why they may be on the verge of mass popularity, and why animals need a Bill of Rights In Animals Matter, Cass Sunstein offers a pathbreaking new argument for why we must change our practices to reduce the unjustified suffering of animals. This surprisingly personal book offers a simple proposition: The interests of animals count, and we should work to promote their well-being, just as we should work to promote the well-being of humans. Drawing on psychology, behavioral economics, and his White House experiences, Sunstein reveals why people are likely, in time, to increase their support for the legal protection of animals and why, ultimately, we should adopt a Bill of Rights for animals that affirms their right to live free from cruelty and deprivation. Applying his research on “social cascades,” Sunstein compares the animal rights movement to previous causes such as civil rights that exploded in size once they passed a threshold moment. But this change won’t happen on its own. Sunstein demonstrates that we need to overcome deliberate ignorance about the mistreatment of animals, to make their suffering conspicuous and visible, and to create animal welfare cascades. Our governments need to recognize benefits and harms to animals in their policymaking. We need to give political and legal representation to animals who are being mistreated, and we need to use “nudges” to increase their well-being. Animal rights are not radical or utopian; they are rooted in widespread moral judgments. Sunstein shows how we can eventually create a world in which most people will come to embrace them.

People often 'miswant.' They buy goods that do not make them happy and refuse to buy goods that would make their lives better. In The Price of Happiness, Cass R. Sunstein focuses on people's 'willingness to pay,' which is the foundation for free markets. He argues that willingness to pay deserves respect, and high honors in the annals of history, when buyers know what they are getting. It's when buyers lack information, or suffer from behavioral biases, that they might miswant. Special conundrums also arise when we try to monetize goods we don't normally consider in monetary terms, like pristine areas, human dignity, and social media. Exploring behavioral biases and their effect on human welfare, Sunstein shows how behavioral economics can be used to increase human happiness.

This pathbreaking book casts new light on how to handle life’s most difficult decisions. Edna Ullmann-Margalit and Cass R. Sunstein examine the role of social norms in creating both stability and instability, while offering an in-depth exploration of why people choose not to choose. Ullmann-Margalit and Sunstein evaluate the identifiable strategies people use when confronted with difficult problems, such as delegating, adhering to firm rules, adopting presumptions, and taking small, reversible steps. They emphasise the importance of norms of considerateness in maintaining social cohesion, highlighting the positive impact of personal sacrifice in both work and family environments. The authors also investigate how norms influence consumer choices, and how purchasing habits can reveal a desire for solidarity and commonality. Ullmann-Margalit and Sunstein address the effect of norms on inequality, analysing the contagious nature of indignation, which often leads to large-scale societal changes, such as the movement for equality between men and women. Decisions and Social Norms is essential reading for scholars and students of philosophy, economics, behavioral science and psychology. Providing insights on decision-making in political, legal and commercial spheres, this book is also invaluable to policymakers and practitioners in political science, law and business.

This pathbreaking book casts new light on how to handle life’s most difficult decisions. Edna Ullmann-Margalit and Cass R. Sunstein examine the role of social norms in creating both stability and instability, while offering an in-depth exploration of why people choose not to choose. Ullmann-Margalit and Sunstein evaluate the identifiable strategies people use when confronted with difficult problems, such as delegating, adhering to firm rules, adopting presumptions, and taking small, reversible steps. They emphasise the importance of norms of considerateness in maintaining social cohesion, highlighting the positive impact of personal sacrifice in both work and family environments. The authors also investigate how norms influence consumer choices, and how purchasing habits can reveal a desire for solidarity and commonality. Ullmann-Margalit and Sunstein address the effect of norms on inequality, analysing the contagious nature of indignation, which often leads to large-scale societal changes, such as the movement for equality between men and women. Decisions and Social Norms is essential reading for scholars and students of philosophy, economics, behavioral science and psychology. Providing insights on decision-making in political, legal and commercial spheres, this book is also invaluable to policymakers and practitioners in political science, law and business.

From New York Times bestselling author Cass Sunstein, a timely and powerful argument for rethinking how the U.S. Constitution is interpreted The U.S. Supreme Court has eliminated the right to abortion and is revisiting other fundamental questions today—about voting rights, affirmative action, gun laws, and much more. Once-arcane theories of constitutional interpretation are profoundly affecting the lives of all Americans. In this brief and urgent book, Harvard Law School professor Cass Sunstein provides a lively introduction to competing approaches to interpreting the Constitution—and argues that the only way to choose one is to ask whether it would change American life for the better or worse. If a method of interpretation would eliminate the right of privacy, allow racial segregation, or obliterate free speech, it would be unacceptable for that reason. But some Supreme Court justices are committed to “originalism,” arguing that the meaning of the Constitution is settled by how it was publicly understood when it was ratified. Originalists insist that their approach is dictated by the Constitution. That, Sunstein argues, is a big mistake. The Constitution doesn’t contain instructions for its own interpretation. Any approach to constitutional interpretation needs to be defended in terms of its broad effects—what it does to our rights and our institutions. It must respect those rights and institutions—and safeguard the conditions for democracy itself. Passionate and compelling, How to Interpret the Constitution is essential reading for anyone who is concerned about how the Supreme Court is changing the rights and lives of Americans today.

Why the separation of powers is essential to liberty and democracy. All over the world, people are questioning the separation of powers. They want a strong man, able to do what must be done. But James Madison was right to say this: "The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny." In this essential and immensely timely book, Separation of Powers, Cass Sunstein explains why separation of powers is necessary for both freedom and self-government. He shows that freedom from fear is a central goal of the system of separation of powers. He also explains why the executive branch is the most dangerous branch, why the idea of presidential immunity is a terrible one, and why an independent judiciary is crucial. Drawing on his extensive experience in the White House, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Homeland Security, the author also argues that the separation of powers is, in fact, six separations of powers: (1) The legislature may not exercise the executive power. (2) The legislature may not exercise the judicial power. (3) The executive may not exercise the legislative power. (4) The executive may not exercise the judicial power. (5) The judiciary may not exercise the legislative power. (6) The judiciary may not exercise the executive power. Each of these is essential to liberty under law.

The social cost of carbon: The most important number you've never heard of--and what it means. If you're injuring someone, you should stop--and pay for the damage you've caused. Why, this book asks, does this simple proposition, generally accepted, not apply to climate change? In Climate Justice, a bracing challenge to status-quo thinking on the ethics of climate change, renowned author and legal scholar Cass Sunstein clearly frames what's at stake and lays out the moral imperative: When it comes to climate change, everyone must be counted equally, regardless of when they live or where they live--which means that wealthy nations, which have disproportionately benefited from greenhouse gas emissions, are obliged to help future generations and people in poor nations that are particularly vulnerable. Invoking principles of corrective justice and distributive justice, Sunstein argues that rich countries should pay for the harms that they have caused and that all of us are obliged to take steps to protect future generations from serious climate-related damage. He shows how "choice engines," informed by artificial intelligence, can enable people to save money and to reduce the harms they produce. The book casts new light on the "social cost of carbon," the most important number in climate change debates--and explains how intergenerational neutrality and international neutrality can help all nations, above all the United States and China, do what must be done.

In recent years, 'nudge units' or 'behavioral insights teams' have been created in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and other nations. All over the world, public officials are using the behavioral sciences to protect the environment, promote employment and economic growth, reduce poverty, and increase national security. In this book, Cass R. Sunstein, the eminent legal scholar and best-selling co-author of Nudge (2008), breaks new ground with a deep yet highly readable investigation into the ethical issues surrounding nudges, choice architecture, and mandates, addressing such issues as welfare, autonomy, self-government, dignity, manipulation, and the constraints and responsibilities of an ethical state. Complementing the ethical discussion, The Ethics of Influence: Government in the Age of Behavioral Science contains a wealth of new data on people's attitudes towards a broad range of nudges, choice architecture, and mandates.

A much-needed defense of liberalism what it is, why it is under threat, and why we need it more than ever from one of our most important political thinkers today. More than at any time since World War II, liberalism is under pressure, even siege. On the right, some have given up on liberalism. They hold it responsible for the collapse of the family and traditional values, rampant criminality, disrespect for authority, and widespread immorality. On the left, some are turning their backs on liberalism. They think that it lacks the resources to handle the problems posed by entrenched inequalities, racism, sexism, corporate power, and environmental degradation. But those opposed to liberalism do not depict it accurately; they offer a caricature, and they neglect its history. In On Liberalism, former advisor to Presidents Obama and Biden and New York Times bestselling author Cass Sunstein offers a timely and clear understanding of liberalism of its core commitments, of its breadth, of its internal debates, of its evolving character, of its promise, and why we need it more than ever. He also shows how and why liberalism has been, and should be, appealing to both left and right. The book begins with a manifesto on behalf of liberalism, and then goes on to explore the central idea of experiments of living, to which a liberal constitutional order gives pride of place. From there, it discusses John Stuart Mill and Friedrich Hayek, defining liberal thinkers; the rule of law as liberals understand it; freedom of speech (including the place of lies and falsehoods within that freedom); free markets, economic liberty, and regulation; Franklin Delano Roosevelt s Second Bill of Rights, with its social and economic guarantees; and finally, the concept of opportunity. Never more urgently needed, On Liberalism moves the conversation well beyond the reductive and inflammatory political sound bites of our moment and advances a compelling argument on behalf of liberalism as the foundation of freedom and self-government.

New technologies are offering companies, politicians, and others unprecedented opportunity to manipulate us. Sometimes we are given the illusion of power - of freedom - through choice, yet the game is rigged, pushing us in specific directions that lead to less wealth, worse health, and weaker democracy. In, Manipulation, nudge theory pioneer and New York Times bestselling author, Cass Sunstein, offers a new definition of manipulation for the digital age, explains why it is wrong; and shows what we can do about it. He reveals how manipulation compromises freedom and personal agency, while threatening to reduce our well-being; he explains the difference between manipulation and unobjectionable forms of influence, including 'nudges'; and he lifts the lid on online manipulation and manipulation by artificial intelligence, algorithms, and generative AI, as well as threats posed by deepfakes, social media, and 'dark patterns,' which can trick people into giving up time and money. Drawing on decades of groundbreaking research in behavioral science, this landmark book outlines steps we can take to counteract manipulation in our daily lives and offers guidance to protect consumers, investors, and workers.

How our economic rights are fundamental to the security and stability of our democracy. In 1944, Franklin Delano Roosevelt gave a State of the Union Address that should be counted as the greatest political speech of the twentieth century. In it, Roosevelt grappled with the definition of security in a democracy, concluding that "unless there is security here at home, there cannot be lasting peace in the world." To help ensure that security, he proposed a "Second Bill of Rights"--economic rights that he saw as necessary to political freedom, including a right to education, a right to adequate health care, a right to a home, and a right to protection against destitution. Many of the great legislative achievements of the past eighty years stem from Roosevelt's vision. In The Second Bill of Rights, Cass Sunstein uses this speech as a launching point to show how these rights are vital to the continuing security of our nation. This is an ambitious, sweeping book that argues for a new vision of FDR, of constitutional history, and our current political scene that has never been more urgent or more relevant.

Will algorithms help people or hurt them? What about artificial intelligence in general? If consumers know what they need to know and do not suffer from behavioral biases, algorithms and AI are likely to be helpful. Consumers will be more likely to get what they want and need. But if consumers lack information, algorithms in particular will be able to convince them to make harmful or foolish choices. And if consumers suffer from behavioral biases, such as unrealistic optimism or a focus on the short term, algorithms will be able to produce serious harms. In Algorithmic Harm: Protecting People in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, Oren Bar-Gill and Cass Sunstein consider the harms and benefits of AI and algorithms and catalog the different ways in which algorithms are being or may be used in consumer and other markets. The authors identify the market conditions under which these uses injure consumers and consider policy and regulatory responses that could reduce the risks consumers, investors, workers, and voters face now—and in the future. Democracy and self-government are at risk; there is a great deal that can be done to reduce that risk.

Two big name thinkers tackle a great question: why are we so often oblivious to things around us, from pollution and lying to bias and corruption? The useful human ability to adapt to all circumstances can lead to blindspots. Here's how to break the habit.

The social cost of carbon: The most important number you've never heard of—and what it means.If you're injuring someone, you should stop—and pay for the damage you've caused. Why, this book asks, does this simple proposition, generally accepted, not apply to climate change? In Climate Justice, a bracing challenge to status-quo thinking on the ethics of climate change, renowned author and legal scholar Cass Sunstein clearly frames what’s at stake and lays out the moral imperative: When it comes to climate change, everyone must be counted equally, regardless of when they live or where they live—which means that wealthy nations, which have disproportionately benefited from greenhouse gas emissions, are obliged to help future generations and people in poor nations that are particularly vulnerable. Invoking principles of corrective justice and distributive justice, Sunstein argues that rich countries should pay for the harms that they have caused and that all of us are obliged to take steps to protect future generations from serious climate-related damage. He shows how “choice engines,” informed by artificial intelligence, can enable people to save money and to reduce the harms they produce. The book casts new light on the “social cost of carbon,” the most important number in climate change debates—and explains how intergenerational neutrality and international neutrality can help all nations, above all the United States and China, do what must be done.

This "smart and fun read, and a valuable way to revitalize your life" (Walter Isaacson) deftly explains how disrupting our well-worn routines, both good and bad, can rejuvenate and reset our brains for the better. Have you ever noticed that what is exciting on Monday tends to become boring on Friday? Even passionate relationships, stimulating jobs, and breathtaking works of art lose their sparkle after a while. As easy as it is to stop noticing what is most wonderful in our lives, it's also possible to stop noticing what is terrible. People get used to dirty air. They become unconcerned by their own misconduct, blind to inequality, and are more liable to believe misinformation than ever before. Now, neuroscience professor Tali Sharot and Harvard law professor (and presidential advisor) Cass R. Sunstein investigate why we stop noticing both the great and not-so-great things around us and how to "dishabituate" at the office, in the bedroom, at the store, on social media, and in the voting booth. This groundbreaking and "sensational guide to a more psychological rich life" (Angela Duckworth, New York Times bestselling author), based on decades of research, illuminates how we can reignite the sparks of joy, innovate, and recognize where improvements urgently need to be made. The key to this disruption--to seeing, feeling, and noticing again--is change. By temporarily changing your environment, changing the rules, changing the people you interact with--or even just stepping back and imagining change--you regain sensitivity, allowing you to identify more clearly the bad and more deeply appreciate the good.

A Forbes Best Higher Education Book of the YearFrom renowned legal scholar Cass R. Sunstein, a concise, case-by-case guide to resolving free-speech dilemmas at colleges and universities.Free speech is indispensable on college campuses: allowing varied views and frank exchanges of opinion is a core component of the educational enterprise and the pursuit of truth. But free speech does not mean a free-for-all. The First Amendment prohibits “abridging the freedom of speech,” yet laws against perjury or bribery, for example, are still constitutional. In the same way, valuing freedom of speech does not stop a university from regulating speech when doing so is necessary for its educational mission. So where is the dividing line? How can we distinguish reasonable restrictions from impermissible infringement?In this pragmatic, no-nonsense explainer, Cass Sunstein takes us through a wide range of scenarios involving students, professors, and administrators. He discusses why it’s consistent with the First Amendment to punish students who shout down a speaker, but not those who chant offensive slogans; why a professor cannot be fired for writing a politically charged op-ed, yet a university might legitimately consider an applicant’s political views when deciding whether to hire her. He explains why private universities are not legally bound by the First Amendment yet should, in most cases, look to follow it. And he addresses the thorny question of whether a university should officially take sides on public issues or deliberately keep the institution outside the fray.At a time when universities are assailed on free-speech grounds from both left and right, Campus Free Speech: A Pocket Guide is an indispensable resource for cutting through the noise and understanding the key issues animating the debates.