Private property poses a dilemma in American culture. We revere the institution and are quick to protect private rights, yet we are troubled when landowners cause harm to neighbors and communities, especially when new development fuels sprawl and degrades the environment. In this wide-ranging inquiry, Eric Freyfogle explores the inner workings of the familiar but poorly understood institution of private property. He identifies the three threats that it now faces, gives glimpses of its surprising past, displays its complex links to liberty, and shows ultimately why private rights must remain consistent with a community's overall good.