by Elie Mystal
First published 2025
Elie Mystal examines ten pieces of legislation he considers fundamentally harmful to American society. The New York Times bestselling author applies his legal expertise and sharp wit to dissect laws covering abortion, immigration, voting rights, religious freedom, and gun policy. Mystal argues these regulations worsen rather than improve citizens' lives and should be completely repealed. He contends that laws passed before the Voting Rights Act of 1965 deserve presumptive constitutional challenge, given they emerged from an illegitimate government ruling over disenfranchised populations. The author connects America's status as the most violent wealthy nation to legal frameworks that grant gun manufacturers effective immunity. Mystal emphasizes that humans create these laws and possess the power to eliminate them. The book offers readers a path toward more rational legal structures while addressing contemporary political flashpoints with trademark humor and indignation.
Genres: politics, social-issues, non-fiction, law
Vibes: indignant, informative, thought-provoking
Tropes: call-to-action, social-commentary
Setting: America
Period: 21st-century
256 pages · Hardcover · The New Press