"Simpson pays unusually close attention to the precision of Rousseau's language and the logic of his argument. I regard his study as one of the two or three best treatments of the Social Contract in any language. In addition to providing a clear and deep account of Rousseau's thought, Simpson considers its relevance to contemporary liberal theory. He does so without distorting either Rousseau's thought or that of the contemporary thinkers he discusses. He succeeds in showing that Rousseau is not merely a precursor, but is also a valuable interlocutor in modern debates." -Christopher Kelly, Boston College

"A fine study, full of ideas ... clearly and straightforwardly written." –Nicholas Dent, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews

"In the immense literature on Rousseau, remarkably little has been devoted directly to the concept of freedom which is arguably the central issue in his political thought. Matthew Simpson is attempting a coherent interpretation of freedom in Rousseau that avoids the anachronistic divide between totalitarian and liberal readings and provides the basis for how to see Rousseau's idea of the contract and, hence, for relating him to central concerns in contemporary political theory." -Knud Haakonssen, Max Weber Centre for Advanced Cultural and Social Studies, University of Erfurt

“In a lucidly written introduction and six chapters, Simpson elegantly disentangles four different kinds of liberty in the thought of Rousseau: natural, civil, democratic, and moral...Simpson's book is a pleasure to read and important for thinking through many pressing political questions...the aims of his book are excellently carried out." -Jane Gordon, Philosophy in Review