Infringements of people's civil liberties, such as racial profiling by the police, take place on a daily basis. This work covers key issues as how every ethnic group on Earth has been victimized by racist laws, how laws banning hate speech can become dangerous, and how you can make a difference.

Does free speech have limits? Can torture be justified? Who is really in charge of your rights? Every day we are confronted with news of foreign governments who refuse to acknowledge liberties that we in the Western world take for granted, comfortably assuming that ours are protected. But contrary to what public apathy would have you believe, civil liberties are only as strong as the people who uphold them, and they’re nearly always under threat, no matter where you live. Tom Head traverses the globe in order to provide a clear introduction to what civil liberties are and why they're worth defending. From hate speech to wheelchair access, modern slavery to utopian living, this handy guide offers a fascinating global history of civil liberties paired with inspiring advice on how to take an active role in their defence -- before it’s too late.