In this timely book, Cass R. Sunstein shows that organizations and nations are far more likely to prosper if they welcome dissent and promote openness. Attacking "political correctness" in all forms, Sunstein demonstrates that corporations, legislatures, even presidents are likely to blunder if they do not cultivate a culture of candor and disclosure. He shows that unjustified extremism, including violence and terrorism, often results from failure to tolerate dissenting views. The tragedy is that blunders and cruelties could be avoided if people spoke out. Sunstein casts new light on freedom of speech, showing that a free society not only forbids censorship but also provides public spaces for dissenters to expose widely held myths and pervasive injustices. He provides evidence about the effects of conformity and dissent on the federal courts. The evidence shows not only that Republican appointees vote differently from Democratic appointees but also that both Republican and Democratic judges are likely to go to extremes if unchecked by opposing views. Understanding the need for dissent illuminates countless social debates, including those over affirmative action in higher education, because diversity is indispensable to learning. Dissenters are often portrayed as selfish and disloyal, but Sunstein shows that those who reject pressures imposed by others perform valuable social functions, often at their own expense. This is true for dissenters in boardrooms, churches, unions, and academia. It is true for dissenters in the White House, Congress, and the Supreme Court. And it is true during times of war and peace.

凯斯·R.桑斯坦，美国当代杰出的法学家、政治理论家和社会科学家，1954年生于美国马萨诸塞州，先后毕业于哈佛大学（1975）和哈佛法学院（1978），获得法律博士学位，此后曾担任联邦高法院首位黑人大法官瑟古德·马歇尔的助理。自1981年起任教于芝加哥大学法学院，在芝大常年担任卡尔·卢埃林法理学卓越讲席教授，受聘于法学院和政治学系。自2008年起，加盟哈佛大学法学院，先为菲利克斯·法兰克福特讲席教授，后升任哈佛大学罗伯特·沃姆斯利校级教授，曾担任奥巴马政府白宫信息和规制事务办公室主任（2009-2012）。

自1980年代初进入学界以来，桑斯坦著作等身，在宪法理论、政治理论和行为经济学领域都做出了开拓性和基础性的学术贡献。2008年加盟哈佛法学院时，时任哈佛法学院院长、现为联邦高法院大法官的艾琳娜·卡根称桑斯坦为我们这个时代“研究领域广、作品多、引证率高、影响力大”的法学家。自2000年以来，桑斯坦的著作陆续有了中译本，在中国学界也产生了深远的影响。

关于译者

支振锋，法学博士，政治学博士后，中国社会科学院法学研究所副研究员，《环球法律评论》杂志副主编。曾在美国哥伦比亚大学、英国华威大学、荷兰乌特勒支大学以及我国台湾地区“中央研究院法律学研究所”等高校和研究机构做访问学者。

近年来已出版个人专著2部，译著6部，在《法学研究》、《环球法律评论》等核心期刊发表学术论文约25篇；在《人民日报》、《求是》、《光明日报》等报刊发表理论文章近20篇。此外，在《中国社会科学报》、《法制日报》、《中国青年报》、《工人日报》、《环球时报》、《南方周末》以及《紫光阁》、《民主与法制》等各类报刊发表文章约150篇。