William Magnuson: The Just and the Good: How Law Made the Western World

About this event

Join us for the Austin launch of The Just and the Good: How Law Made the Western World, as William Magnuson traces two thousand years of Western law to shed light on what the law is and what it can be. ‍ About the Event First Light Books is proud to host the launch celebration for The Just and the Good: How Law Made the Western World by William Magnuson. Magnuson will be in conversation with Pramit Chaudhuri, Associate Professor of Classics at the University of Texas at Austin. Doors open at 6:00 PM, with the conversation beginning at 6:30 PM. About the Book "We humans make our laws, and then our laws make us, William Magnuson explains—informatively, insightfully, elegantly. One of the best books on the history of law I've read in years." —H.W. Brands, author of The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin As debates rage over the rights and duties of citizens, corporations, presidents, and nations, fundamental questions about the rule of law have taken on renewed urgency. Why is the law worthy of our respect, and what role should it play in shaping a free society? The Just and the Good by William Magnuson traces two thousand years of Western law in order to shed light on what the law is and what it can be. In this book, Magnuson examines ten foundational laws and legal institutions that transformed the course of Western history, from the courts of ancient Athens and the legal codes of Rome to the Magna Carta, the U.S. Constitution, and the American civil rights movement. He explores how law has influenced human behavior, structured political life, and both reflected and shaped ideas about freedom, equality, and justice. Through vivid storytelling and careful historical analysis, Magnuson examines both the achievements and failures of legal systems, arguing that law is not merely a product of society but a force that influences how people live, govern, and understand justice. Lively and thoroughly researched, The Just and the Good examines the lega

Who

• William MagnusonAuthor
  Buy their bookMore events

The book

• The Just and the Good: How Law Made the Western WorldWilliam Magnuson

More by William Magnuson

• 
  For ProfitWilliam MagnusonBuy on Bookshop.org

Bookshop.org funds independent bookstores. Buying through these links can earn Find Local a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Venue

First Light Books

4300 Speedway, Austin, TX

Venue website

All events at First Light Books · All venues in Austin