I CAN'T DO WHAT?

A fascinating (and sometimes disturbing) look at bizarre laws and rules around the world, gearing readers toward action and advocacy.

Exploring international, national, and local legislation, this guide is designed to help readers not only understand world cultures, but engage in meaningful action such as speaking up when just laws are ignored or challenging ones that need to be altered. Understanding the law can also be vital when traveling, as many examples show. Some laws explored here are silly and pointless; others are tremendously unfair and disproportionately target certain marginalized groups, such as women and racial or religious minorities. The four major sections cover general living, sports, the entertainment industry and arts, and children’s lives. The book also describes the consequences for breaking certain laws. Some cases represent positive changes, such as requiring helmets for ice hockey to protect the players. Slightly confusing is the inclusion of common customs or practices—such as Japanese students’ regular cleaning of their schools—that are neither rules nor laws in the sense of most of the other content. Each section ends with a fun quiz. Cartoonlike pictures on many pages as well as speech bubbles sharing fun (or gruesome) statistics break up the text. The conclusion offers practical steps for taking action. This book is a valuable and entertaining tool suitable for learning and browsing.

Justice-minded students will find this an interesting and useful read.