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Free Speech and Why It Matters

Why It Matters

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Free Speech and Why It Matters

By: Andrew Doyle
Narrated by: Andrew Doyle
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Free speech is the bedrock of all our liberties, and yet in recent years, it has come to be mistrusted. A new form of social justice activism, which perceives language as potentially violent, has prompted a national debate on where the limitations of acceptable speech should be drawn. Governments throughout Europe have enacted 'hate speech' legislation to curb the dissemination of objectionable ideas, Silicon Valley tech giants are collaborating to ensure that they control the limitations of public discourse, and campaigners in the US are calling for revisions to the First Amendment.

However well-intentioned, these trends represent a threat to the freedoms that our ancestors fought and died to secure. In this incisive and fascinating book, Andrew Doyle addresses head-on the most common concerns of free speech sceptics, and offers a timely and robust defence of this most foundational of principles.

©2021 Andrew Doyle (P)2021 Hachette Audio UK Freedom & Security Political Science Politics & Government Freedom Thought-Provoking
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Critic reviews

"A fantastically timely book written by one of the smartest thinkers in Britain." (Piers Morgan)

"Impassioned, scholarly and succinct." (The Times)
All stars
Most relevant
Doyle succinctly modernises free speech principles for the social media age, which has forgotten them.

A voice of reason in troubling times

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Andrew Doyle is the Voltaire of our age. The quality, clarity, and precision of his powers of reason and his socially constructive critical thinking are of the highest order, academically, philosophically, and practically. A thoroughly educated and informed author who does humanity a great service in his ethical dissection of ignorant and wrong-headed (albeit often well-meaning) 'woke' ideologists and social justice warriors, while underscoring the incredible value and importance of hard fought-for rights of free speech and the need for younger generations to guard against its erosion by those who would happily and often unwittingly drive us towards the cliff edge of suppressive societies of totalitarian dictatorships and thought police. Absolutely essential reading/listening for anyone with a brain and an ounce of social conscience. This should be read by every politician and leader and be placed on the curriculums of every school and university in the world.

An incredibly important book

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In this wonderfully concise and clear book, Andrew Doyle makes the case for why we need to act to defend one of the foundations of a free society. Well-timed Andrew. (not sure what Titania McGrath will think of it though)

A must listen

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After reading my first book by Andrew Doyle, The New Puritans, I immediately was so impressed by his writing and analysis that I searched Audible for others by him. Thankfully, Audible has several titles by Doyle and I opted for a short book dealing with one of the pillars of western democracy that appears to be slowly eroding, freedom of speech.

if you're as old as me, you will likely have noticed the slow creep towards curtailing freedom of speech under the subjective guise of "hate speech laws". Some may believe that we must curb the opinions and invective ever present on social media, the 21st century town square as it were. What Doyle points out, is the difference between lack of civility and freedom of speech and how the two are often conflated by those seeking to limit what we are allowed to say.

Personally, given my age, I'd never have thought we'd have arrived at where we are now, having to fight back for the inalienable right of free speech. Doyle reveals how a sizeable proportion of people are fearful of airing their views in case of losing their jobs. Consider that as long as these views are not illegal and do not contravene existing slander and similar laws, it's chilling to be living in a world, a western democracy, that people are even remotely likely to lose their livelihoods because of their views. That's more characteristic of a totalitarian state than a free democracy.

If you don't think that our right to freedom of speech is slowly being limited, then read this book. If you have become aware of this, then this book will further shock you as to the extent of this creeping censorship of ideas and thoughts.

Hate Speech, or Speech Some Hate?

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A rational voice discussing perhaps the most violated right in the West at the moment. This in in its self should should be reason enough to read; especially, since my people cannot distinguish speech from violence when discussing this subject.
Overall, a very thoughtful and concise listen about one of our most pressing political issues, regardless of your ideology, it affects us all!!

Essential reading

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