Senator David Norris has been an Independent member of Seanad Éireann since 1987. He won a historic constitutional challenge in 1988 to the laws criminalizing homosexuality in Ireland. Senator Norris was a candidate in the 2011 Irish presidential election. He is a former lecturer at Trinity College Dublin, a Joycean scholar, a conservationist and a passionate defender of human rights.

"Norris has added immeasurably to our public life. ... Norris's memoir is excellent ... He gives us a complete picture, in a fluent and highly readable account. ... raises important questions, such as the power of the media ... The good senator is redeemed by his bravery and wit." -- Eamonn Delaney Irish Independent "Norris emerges in these pages as a figure who feels a passionate engagement with the world and is in possession of great moral seriousness. He is also very funny. ... A Kick Against the Pricks is more than the account of an interesting life well lived. ... He wishes to speak up for the idea of a life led by conscience, a life that made a difference to the world. ... His autobiography is ...a way of suggesting and evoking what a lone voice can do by remaining fearless and dutiful, by speaking up again and again, by learning to fail better, by losing neither a sense of humour nor a sense of purpose nor the skill, displayed with relish in this book, of taking real pleasure from life." -- Colm Toibin The Irish Times "Much like the man himself, it's a witty, erudite, entertaining and provocative read." -- Olaf Tyransen Hot Press

Senator David Norris has been an Independent member of Seanad Éireann since 1987. He won a historic constitutional challenge in 1988 to the laws criminalizing homosexuality in Ireland. Senator Norris was a candidate in the 2011 Irish presidential election. He is a former lecturer at Trinity College Dublin, a Joycean scholar, a conservationist and a passionate defender of human rights.

"Norris has added immeasurably to our public life. ... Norris's memoir is excellent ... He gives us a complete picture, in a fluent and highly readable account. ... raises important questions, such as the power of the media ... The good senator is redeemed by his bravery and wit." -- Eamonn Delaney Irish Independent "Norris emerges in these pages as a figure who feels a passionate engagement with the world and is in possession of great moral seriousness. He is also very funny. ... A Kick Against the Pricks is more than the account of an interesting life well lived. ... He wishes to speak up for the idea of a life led by conscience, a life that made a difference to the world. ... His autobiography is ...a way of suggesting and evoking what a lone voice can do by remaining fearless and dutiful, by speaking up again and again, by learning to fail better, by losing neither a sense of humour nor a sense of purpose nor the skill, displayed with relish in this book, of taking real pleasure from life." -- Colm Toibin The Irish Times "Much like the man himself, it's a witty, erudite, entertaining and provocative read." -- Olaf Tyransen Hot Press

Senator David Norris has been an Independent member of Seanad Éireann since 1987. He won a historic constitutional challenge in 1988 to the laws criminalizing homosexuality in Ireland. Senator Norris was a candidate in the 2011 Irish presidential election. He is a former lecturer at Trinity College Dublin, a Joycean scholar, a conservationist and a passionate defender of human rights.

"Norris has added immeasurably to our public life. ... Norris's memoir is excellent ... He gives us a complete picture, in a fluent and highly readable account. ... raises important questions, such as the power of the media ... The good senator is redeemed by his bravery and wit." -- Eamonn Delaney Irish Independent "Norris emerges in these pages as a figure who feels a passionate engagement with the world and is in possession of great moral seriousness. He is also very funny. ... A Kick Against the Pricks is more than the account of an interesting life well lived. ... He wishes to speak up for the idea of a life led by conscience, a life that made a difference to the world. ... His autobiography is ...a way of suggesting and evoking what a lone voice can do by remaining fearless and dutiful, by speaking up again and again, by learning to fail better, by losing neither a sense of humour nor a sense of purpose nor the skill, displayed with relish in this book, of taking real pleasure from life." -- Colm Toibin The Irish Times "Much like the man himself, it's a witty, erudite, entertaining and provocative read." -- Olaf Tyransen Hot Press