Creating freedom : the lottery of birth, the illusion of consent, and the fight for our future

**The ideal of freedom is at the heart of our political and economic system. It is foundational to our sense of justice, our way of life, our conception of what it is to be human. But are we free in the way that we think we are?**In __Creating Freedom,__ Raoul Martinez brings together a torrent of mind-expanding ideas, facts, and arguments to dismantle sacred myths central to our society—myths about free will, free markets, free media, and free elections. From the lottery of our birth to the consent-manufacturing influence of concentrated power, this far-reaching manifesto lifts the veil on the mechanisms of control that pervade our lives. It shows that the more we understand how the world shapes us, the more effectively we can shape the world. A highly original exploration of the most urgent questions of our time, __Creating Freedom__ reveals that we are far less free than we like to think, but it also shows that freedom is something we can create together. In fact, our very survival may depend on our doing so. A manifesto for deep and radical change, Creating Freedom explores the limits placed on freedom by human nature and society. It explodes myths at the heart of our economic, political, and criminal justice systems, calling for a profound transformation in the way we think about democracy, equality, and our own identities. Free markets, free elections, free media, free thought, free speech, free will?the language of freedom pervades our lives, framing the most urgent issues of our time and the deepest questions about who we are and who we want to be. It is a foundational concept at the heart of our civilization, but it has long been distorted to justify its opposite: soaring inequality, the erosion of democracy, an irrational criminal justice system, and a dehumanizing foreign policy. Raoul Martinez argues that the more we understand the limits on our freedom, the better placed we are to transcend them. Drawing together findings and ideas from neuroscience, criminology, psychology, politics, climate science, economics, and philosophy, Creating Freedom constructs a radical framework to make sense of the world and empower us to change it. This is a wide-ranging analysis of power, control, and freedom, which asks us to question our inherited identities, question our society, and turn the power to choose into the freedom to create. From the Hardcover edition A Manifesto For Deep And Radical Change, Creating Freedom Explores The Limits Placed On Freedom By Human Nature And Society. It Explodes Myths At The Heart Of Our Economic, Political, And Criminal Justice Systems, Calling For A Profound Transformation In The Way We Think About Democracy, Equality, And Our Own Identities. Free Markets, Free Elections, Free Media, Free Thought, Free Speech, Free Will The Language Of Freedom Pervades Our Lives, Framing The Most Urgent Issues Of Our Time And The Deepest Questions About Who We Are And Who We Want To Be. It Is A Foundational Concept At The Heart Of Our Civilization, But It Has Long Been Distorted To Justify Its Opposite: Soaring Inequality, The Erosion Of Democracy, An Irrational Criminal Justice System, And A Dehumanizing Foreign Policy. Raoul Martinez Argues That The More We Understand The Limits On Our Freedom, The Better Placed We Are To Transcend Them. Drawing Together Findings And Ideas From Neuroscience, Criminology, Psychology, Politics, Climate Science, Economics, And Philosophy, Creating Freedom Constructs A Radical Framework To Make Sense Of The World And Empower Us To Change It. This Is A Wide-ranging Analysis Of Power, Control, And Freedom, Which Asks Us To Question Our Inherited Identities, Question Our Society, And Turn The Power To Choose Into The Freedom To Create. The ideal of freedom is at the heart of our political and economic system. It is foundational to our sense of justice, our way of life, our conception of what it is to be human. But are we free in the way that we think we are? In Creating Freedom, Raoul Martinez brings together a torrent of mind-expanding ideas, facts, and arguments to dismantle sacred myths central to our society—myths about free will, free markets, free media, and free elections. From the lottery of our birth to the consent-manufacturing influence of concentrated power, this far-reaching manifesto lifts the veil on the mechanisms of control that pervade our lives. It shows that the more we understand how the world shapes us, the more effectively we can shape the world. A highly original exploration of the most urgent questions of our time, Creating Freedom reveals that we are far less free than we like to think, but it also shows that freedom is something we can create together. In fact, our very survival may depend on our doing so. The ideal of freedom is at the heart of our political and economic system. It is foundational to our sense of justice, our way of life, our conception of what it is to be human. But are we free in the way that we think we are' In Creating Freedom, Raoul Martinez brings together a torrent of mind-expanding ideas, facts, and arguments to dismantle sacred myths central to our society-myths about free will, free markets, free media, and free elections. From the lottery of our birth to the consent-manufacturing influence of concentrated power, this far-reaching manifesto lifts the veil on the mechanisms of control that pervade our lives. It shows that the more we understand how the world shapes us, the more effectively we can shape the world. A highly original exploration of the most urgent questions of our time, Creating Freedom reveals that we are far less free than we like to think, but it also shows that freedome is something we can create together. In fact, our very survival may depend on our doing so "Freedom has long been a foundational concept at the heart of our civilization. Free markets, free media, free speech-even in these politically divided times, freedom is one thing we can all agree on. But we also live in a time of unprecedented economic inequality, eroding democracy, and a broken criminal justice system. How can we value freedom and simultaneously inhibit it? In Creating Freedom, Raoul Martinez argues that the more we understand the limits on our freedom, the better we will be at resisting them. Drawing on neuroscience, criminology, psychology, politics, climate science, economics, and philosophy, Creating Freedom lays a blueprint for us to make sense of our fractured world-and illuminates the path toward a better future"--Publisher's website Raoul Martinez brings together ideas, facts, and arguments to dismantle sacred myths central to our society--myths about free will, free markets, free media, and free elections. From the lottery of our birth to the consent-manufacturing influence of concentrated power, this book exposes the mechanisms of control that pervade our lives. Although we are far less free than we like to think, freedom is something we can create together. In fact, our very survival may depend on our doing so.--Adapted from jacket flap. The lottery of birth. Luck Punishment Reward The illusion of consent. Control Elections Markets Media The fight for our freedom. Creativity Knowledge Power Survival Empathy.