Free Speech: A History from Socrates to Social Media
- Downloads：7146
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2022-02-10 19:21:35
- Update Date：2025-09-08
- Status：finish
- Author：Jacob Mchangama
- ISBN：1541600495
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
Reviews
Jeff
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One Of The Most Thorough Histories Of The Field I've Come Across。 This is exactly what the title here says - easily one of the most thorough histories of the concepts of free speech I've ever seen， from their earliest incarnations into where the two competing versions came into their own in Athens - more unlimited， though not without certain hypocrisies - and Rome - more elite controlled and even， as the title notes， into the realm of social media， Donald Trump， and even （with a few scant senten One Of The Most Thorough Histories Of The Field I've Come Across。 This is exactly what the title here says - easily one of the most thorough histories of the concepts of free speech I've ever seen， from their earliest incarnations into where the two competing versions came into their own in Athens - more unlimited， though not without certain hypocrisies - and Rome - more elite controlled and even， as the title notes， into the realm of social media， Donald Trump， and even （with a few scant sentences） COVID-19。 Timed a bit interestingly （and without any way to know beforehand） so close to the Neil Young / Joe Rogan spat over Spotify， this is truly a strong history for anyone who claims to promote the ideal， one that shows that pretty well everyone who does or ever has has been a hypocrite to some degree or another regarding the topic。 Indeed， if any real critique can be had here， it is that Mchangama， even while noting the cenorious actions of social media giants of late， fails to note that corporations can have a chilling effect on the free speech of their employees and those they do business with （hello， Spotify and too many businesses to list here）。 Though he does at least touch on the idea as it relates to modern academia and yes， cancel culture。 There are also a few throwaway lines late re: "fact checkers" and COVID "misinformation" that are more YMMV level on， but which in the end aren't substantial enough to warrant a star deduction over。 This is， again， absolutely a book that anyone who claims to love free speech should absolutely read。 Very much recommended。 。。。more
TimetoFangirl
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I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review。Actual Rating = 3。5 stars， rounded up to 4。Free Speech is an exhaustively researched history of free speech throughout human history， from ancient days through to modern。 The author presents all the times the ideals of free speech has popped up in society and， sadly， how often those ideals have been crushed。 Mchangama also does an excellent job highlighting that free speech is essential to tolerance and how free speech has histori I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review。Actual Rating = 3。5 stars， rounded up to 4。Free Speech is an exhaustively researched history of free speech throughout human history， from ancient days through to modern。 The author presents all the times the ideals of free speech has popped up in society and， sadly， how often those ideals have been crushed。 Mchangama also does an excellent job highlighting that free speech is essential to tolerance and how free speech has historically been the primary tool available to oppressed groups seeking an end to tyranny。If I had a complaint about this text， it would be that the writing is a bit dense。 This is a book that you read slowly， sitting with the information， versus rushing through。 I'll be interested to see if they end up making an audiobook version， as I could see that being a good format for the content。 。。。more
Aaron Brown
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