Mine! by Michael A. Heller & James Salzman Summary

Mine! explores the invisible social rules governing ownership through real-world examples like airplane seat reclining disputes and HBO password sharing. Law professors Heller and Salzman argue ownership isn’t fixed but a choice shaped by six narratives we unconsciously follow. The book blends legal theory, behavioral economics, and pop culture to reveal how "mine" shapes wealth distribution, digital privacy, and climate policy.

This book suits law students studying property rights, pop culture enthusiasts analyzing everyday conflicts, and readers of Freakonomics or Nudge seeking actionable insights. Its accessible storytelling appeals to anyone curious about why we claim parking spots with chairs or accept plagiarism norms but not recipe knockoffs.

Heller and Salzman identify six ownership narratives:

• First come (dibs on seats)
• Possession (physical control)
• Labor (earning through effort)
• Attachment (emotional ties)
• Self-ownership (body autonomy)
• Government allocation (legal mandates)
  These frameworks determine disputes over vaccine appointments, reclining seats, and Native American land rights.

The authors frame reclining as a clash between possession (your seat’s mechanical control) and labor (the passenger behind you working). Airlines avoid taking sides, letting social norms decide—a microcosm of how ownership rules remain intentionally vague to accommodate competing claims.

HBO tacitly permits sharing to hook viewers on shows, prioritizing attachment (emotional investment in characters) over strict possession. This strategic ambiguity boosts long-term subscriptions despite short-term revenue loss.

Critics praise its engaging style but note it oversimplifies systemic issues like wealth inequality. The Kenyon Review highlights its limited exploration of power imbalances in ownership rule-making, though it acknowledges the book’s actionable framework for personal disputes.

The authors argue carbon emissions exemplify failed government allocation rules. By reframing atmospheric ownership via labor (countries reducing emissions deserve credit) or attachment (indigenous stewardship), societies can redesign incentive structures.

Heller, a Columbia real estate law professor, wrote The Gridlock Economy. Salzman, a UCLA environmental law expert, authored Drinking Water. Their combined expertise in property rights and resource management grounds the book’s case studies.

Unlike Freakonomics, it focuses solely on ownership’s social scaffolding rather than broad behavioral economics. The book offers tangible conflict-resolution tools, like choosing between competing ownership narratives during negotiations.

In Chicago, first come norms honor chair-held spots after snowstorms. New Yorkers reject this, prioritizing labor (shoveling) or possession (continuous occupancy). The authors show how local culture dictates which ownership story prevails.

With debates over AI copyright, geoengineering rights, and micro-apartment ownership intensifying, the book’s framework helps readers navigate emerging "mine" conflicts in tech and urban policy.

“Ownership isn’t a fact—it’s a story we choose to tell.” The authors emphasize that recognizing this empowers individuals to rewrite unfair rules in daily life and policy.