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Free Speech: And Why You Should Give a Damn
In America we like to think we live in a land of liberty, where everyone can say whatever they want. Throughout our history, however, we have also been quick to censor people who offend or frighten us. We talk a good game about freedom of speech, then we turn around and deny it to others. In this brief but bracing book, historian Jonathan Zimmerman and Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Signe Wilkinson tell the story of free speech in who established it, who has denounced it, and who has risen to its defense. They also make the case for why we should care about it today, when free speech is once again under attack. Across the political spectrum, Americans have demanded the suppression of ideas and images that allegedly threaten our nation. But the biggest danger to America comes not from speech but from censorship, which prevents us from freely governing ourselves. Free speech allows us to criticize our leaders. It lets us consume the art, film, and literature we prefer. And, perhaps most importantly, it allows minorities to challenge the oppression they suffer. While any of us are censored, none of us are free.
120 pages, Hardcover
Published April 1, 2021
9 people are currently reading
204 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Zimmerman
13 books18 followersJonathan Zimmerman is professor of education and history, New York University. His previous books include Innocents Abroad: American Teachers in the American Century and Whose America? Culture Wars in the Public Schools. He lives in Narberth, PA.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 1, 2021
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
This was a very informative and easy to read book on the importance of free speech. Jonathan Zimmerman writes a very compelling argument on we cannot have a truly just and democratic society without it. This is backed up by the many events in America's history where the first amendment has either been challenged or defended. The history presented is comprehensive and concise. It's very detailed without being hard to read. The political cartoons drawn by Signe Wilkinson really add to the idea and drive the message home. They are fun and witty while not taking away from the seriousness of the topic.
We are currently living in a world where people are doubtful of how well protected our first amendment rights are. This book is a great reminder of why we must pay attention to the world around us and watch out for suppression of free speech. This includes speech that we may find controversial and not agree with as well. It's well-researched and does a fantastic job of demonstrating why free speech is so important to our liberty.
This was a very informative and easy to read book on the importance of free speech. Jonathan Zimmerman writes a very compelling argument on we cannot have a truly just and democratic society without it. This is backed up by the many events in America's history where the first amendment has either been challenged or defended. The history presented is comprehensive and concise. It's very detailed without being hard to read. The political cartoons drawn by Signe Wilkinson really add to the idea and drive the message home. They are fun and witty while not taking away from the seriousness of the topic.
We are currently living in a world where people are doubtful of how well protected our first amendment rights are. This book is a great reminder of why we must pay attention to the world around us and watch out for suppression of free speech. This includes speech that we may find controversial and not agree with as well. It's well-researched and does a fantastic job of demonstrating why free speech is so important to our liberty.
March 18, 2021
A brilliant historian, in "Free Speech (and why you should give a damn)", Jonathan Zimmerman, with delightful cartoonist, Signe Wilkinson, write a thorough, yet easy to read, review of the controversies and history of the First Amendment's granting free speech, how it has been challenged and why it is so important to remember, pay attention and implement its intent.
May 8, 2021
Super short read about an important subject
March 3, 2022
“Every champion of the poor and dispossessed in United States history,” writes Jonathan Zimmerman, “has also been a champion of free speech, which allowed them to critique inequality and oppression.” Free speech is a necessary, vital, essential tool for groups of people who want to make informed decisions. Decisions that — in the face of global warming, pandemics, invasions, racial hatred, and the relentless attacks on our liberties and standard of living — must be made, and made correctly, if the world is to survive.
In Free Speech: And Why You Should Give a Damn, Jonathan Zimmerman gives a riveting, succinct summary of the history of free speech in the U.S., showing over and over that laws against free speech demanded by any particular group can and will, when that group is out of power, be turned against the very group that demanded them. The banning of free speech is a double-edged sword that not only can cut in both directions: it inevitably does cut both ways. To demand government censorship is to give government (and others) a weapon to use against you.
Free Speech is a must-read for everyone. It succinctly examines one of our most fundamental rights in clear prose, enhanced by the trenchant cartoons of Signe Wilkinson.
In Free Speech: And Why You Should Give a Damn, Jonathan Zimmerman gives a riveting, succinct summary of the history of free speech in the U.S., showing over and over that laws against free speech demanded by any particular group can and will, when that group is out of power, be turned against the very group that demanded them. The banning of free speech is a double-edged sword that not only can cut in both directions: it inevitably does cut both ways. To demand government censorship is to give government (and others) a weapon to use against you.
Free Speech is a must-read for everyone. It succinctly examines one of our most fundamental rights in clear prose, enhanced by the trenchant cartoons of Signe Wilkinson.
January 16, 2022
3.5 stars, Metaphorosis Reviews
Summary
A detailed, well-cited argument for the value of free speech, along with a quick history of the many times we've ignored that value.
Review
Just like it says on the box. That’s what you get with Free Speech – an argument for why free speech is important, why you should care, and how many people on all sides get it wrong these days.
It’s a slim book, but it manages to cover the highlights of the history of US free speech, along with a cogent argument for why it’s important – though seemingly without ever quoting two key principles of the free speech movement: “the remedy to be applied is more speech, not enforced silence”, and “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”. He does refer to Justice Brandeis (author of the former), and perhaps doesn’t get to Voltaire (author of the latter) due to the US focus. These principles, however unspoken, do permeate the book.
Zimmerman’s argument, while impassioned, researched, and literate, is also fairly scattershot in presentation He jumps from point to point and time to time with abandon, and the nominal chapters are generally more guideposts in his writing than clear pathways. Happily, his central point comes through clearly – free speech is important, and it’s one that is important to make, in these days of content warnings, easily hurt sensibilities, and false claims of ‘cancelation’ or censorship.
There’s a certain Constitutional illiteracy among not just today’s sides, but among historical leaders, judges, and even Supreme Court justices. This seems to be a country incapable of learning from its mistakes, and so we make them over and over and over – particularly with respect to speech. We’re at a low point of speech protection, which may get worse before we come to our senses again, and books like this can – I hope – slow our fall.
Summary
A detailed, well-cited argument for the value of free speech, along with a quick history of the many times we've ignored that value.
Review
Just like it says on the box. That’s what you get with Free Speech – an argument for why free speech is important, why you should care, and how many people on all sides get it wrong these days.
It’s a slim book, but it manages to cover the highlights of the history of US free speech, along with a cogent argument for why it’s important – though seemingly without ever quoting two key principles of the free speech movement: “the remedy to be applied is more speech, not enforced silence”, and “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”. He does refer to Justice Brandeis (author of the former), and perhaps doesn’t get to Voltaire (author of the latter) due to the US focus. These principles, however unspoken, do permeate the book.
Zimmerman’s argument, while impassioned, researched, and literate, is also fairly scattershot in presentation He jumps from point to point and time to time with abandon, and the nominal chapters are generally more guideposts in his writing than clear pathways. Happily, his central point comes through clearly – free speech is important, and it’s one that is important to make, in these days of content warnings, easily hurt sensibilities, and false claims of ‘cancelation’ or censorship.
There’s a certain Constitutional illiteracy among not just today’s sides, but among historical leaders, judges, and even Supreme Court justices. This seems to be a country incapable of learning from its mistakes, and so we make them over and over and over – particularly with respect to speech. We’re at a low point of speech protection, which may get worse before we come to our senses again, and books like this can – I hope – slow our fall.
June 24, 2021
“'If you have no doubt of your premises or your power and want a certain result with all your heart you naturally express your wishes in law and sweep away all opposition.'”
I first encountered Mr. Zimmerman when he was a guest on a recent episode of the Joe Rogan podcast. I thought he was extremely reasonable and spoke with a sort of intellectual integrity, so I figured I'd check out this essay. I'M SO GLAD I DID.
This was a very well-written, easily digestible treatise on the importance of free speech and America's historically tenuous relationship with our most fundamental liberty.
While I'd love for every reader to agree with Mr. Zimmerman, I certainly think every reader would benefit from reading through his points and comparing them with your own personal morals and ethics.
I first encountered Mr. Zimmerman when he was a guest on a recent episode of the Joe Rogan podcast. I thought he was extremely reasonable and spoke with a sort of intellectual integrity, so I figured I'd check out this essay. I'M SO GLAD I DID.
This was a very well-written, easily digestible treatise on the importance of free speech and America's historically tenuous relationship with our most fundamental liberty.
While I'd love for every reader to agree with Mr. Zimmerman, I certainly think every reader would benefit from reading through his points and comparing them with your own personal morals and ethics.
October 28, 2021
A direct book that makes you rethink how we understand free speech and from a historical perspective why we should maintain free speech in the Unites States. Definitely gave me a new perspective when being critical of "free speech" and the responsibility individuals hold when practicing free speech.
May 11, 2021
Reminded me of my high school US history class, referencing all the Supreme Court cases concerning free speech.
The book essentially makes the point of “I disagree with what you say, but I’ll defend your right to say it” in a modern context, supporting the argument with historical events.
The book essentially makes the point of “I disagree with what you say, but I’ll defend your right to say it” in a modern context, supporting the argument with historical events.
September 20, 2021
Still essential to democracy
I enjoyed the historical context of the freedom of speech and stories of the struggles we've had in America to protect it. I hope more people read this book before attempting to sensor opinions and positions of those they disagree with.
I enjoyed the historical context of the freedom of speech and stories of the struggles we've had in America to protect it. I hope more people read this book before attempting to sensor opinions and positions of those they disagree with.
June 26, 2021
Free speech is not cheap or easy
The book did a wonderful job of getting g one to think and realize the importance of free speech cor all and what that truly means
The book did a wonderful job of getting g one to think and realize the importance of free speech cor all and what that truly means
July 23, 2021
I 100% agree with the message of this book. But several of the examples the author uses, since the time of writing, have been proven to be either true or false since then, which is annoying. It would have been better if the author had presented them as alleged examples rather than FACTS. The government has admitted it colluded with Facebook to censor individuals and organizations, for instance, despite the author's assertion that this claim was absurd. So, read it, for sure, but read it with an eye toward doing your own fact checking. The important thing here is, of course, that he can say whatever he wants, because he has that right. As do we all.
December 9, 2021
A very short essay on free speech from the absolutism side, with some nice historical notes. However, I would have preferred a more in-depth approach, especially given Zimmerman's willingness to cover the 2020-2021 political and epidemiological issues. Fun illustrations from Signe Wilkinson (which I why I picked up the book in the first place).
May 25, 2025
You must be extremely careful about what you say here in Britain.
Saying you don't like the current government on social media could result in 43 armed cops kicking in your front door ; or if you are in Britain 43 armed cops kicking in someone else's door by mistake.
Saying you don't like the current government on social media could result in 43 armed cops kicking in your front door ; or if you are in Britain 43 armed cops kicking in someone else's door by mistake.
June 5, 2021
All American examples (obs I guess)
September 28, 2022
A very short and concise read about the importance of free speech. Illustrations were wonderful! I appreciated the author including current events.
April 1, 2024
Very US-centric but still a good overview of why free speech mattes and how it has been limited through the ages and still is limited...
May 15, 2021
A short, concise, well-written, humorous, informative, robust, and persuasive defense of free speech from a liberal Democrat. Zimmerman does a masterful job making his argument, and Wilkinson's cartoons are insightful and hilarious.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews