Review: Freedom of Speech: Mightier Than the Sword
David K. Shipler
Alfred A. Knopf
2015
Shipler is no novice to reporting or writing, and he holds a
Pulitzer Prize for General Non-fiction from 1987. In this book he takes a look at freedom of
speech in books, secrets, stereotypes, politics, and plays, the parts that he
choose as division for his focus areas.
It’s my opinion that each section can stand alone, but in combination
round out the discussion effectively.
He attempts to present opposing views as he moves through
the sections, but clearly tends to the left of center. That’s OK. This is freedom of speech we’re
talking about here. We don’t need to
agree eye to eye to have the discussion.
His idea is to promote the discussion and his closing chapters illustrate
that well. Civility, financial support,
and truth suffer in the debates related to the offerings a theater chooses to present. His introduction (yes, they need to be read.
They are important.) says it best. “When
it comes to either legal limits or cultural limits, the real answer to
offensive speech is more speech, not retribution. Truth is the best response to propaganda. Hate festers in places where speech is
suppressed, where unwelcome ideas are consigned to darkness.” (10-11). Yes, it
does. And he does have more to say in
that vein. I appreciated his inclusion
of cultural limits in the debate since that can and does differ from the legal
limits in several cases he discusses afterward.
I do recommend this book.
It is challenging to read, but not difficult style-wise. I promise he will make you think about what
he presents and how that squares with your own opinions and beliefs. End notes are included. The copy I received was awaiting the addition
its index from the publishers. That should help the reader, too.
This book was provided by the publisher.
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