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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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About this listen

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 Politics & Government 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
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An excellent academic analysis of free speech as the foundation of liberal democracy. A worthy modern furtherance of J.S. Mill On liberty,

Very good

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Succinct argument for freedom of speech with playful overtones. I will gladly revisit this book.

Succinct argument and playful

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Many compelling reasons for free speech, but I was honestly a little underwhelmed. The book could use more ideological thought experiments, such as the fact that «free speech only exists in western constitutions to govern controversial speech. Established truths and kind speech don’t need protection». Also more historical references. Sophie Scholl is a powerful one.

Short and good. Well read by the VO.

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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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It's a very short book for Andrew Doyle dealing with a serious topic - so don't expected his usual jocular delivery.

We seemed to have reached a point where people are deliberately taking what others say in bad faith. This is a mistake. It is necessary for the derangement on the left and the right to fly a truce flag and come into the centre. In order to do that people must be allowed to express themselves freely, talk about their fears - no matter if they are unfounded - without judgement. We may not like everything that is to be heard but we will have a better understanding of another's viewpoint.

I wish folk would take a deep breath and stand back. Politics is as tribal as ever and I fear if the adults don't come into the room shortly we won't be able to go forward.

Some people have different viewpoints to you. Be offended if you want - but you did that to yourself no matter your politics.

Excellent essay by a very smart man. This needed to be written.

Wise Words -Take Heed No Matter What Your Politics

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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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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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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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Gives a good exposition of the value of our freedom to express ourselves. Worrying that the popularity of social censorship is higher than I thought. The best test of our ideas is to listen to opposing views. The best way to know what others are thinking is to hear their ideas and challenge them if they concern us. We do not all think the same about much, if anything. Ideas must be tested. Even good ideas can be improved. Our willingness to freely express ourselves does seem to be wilting as we see others hounded for saying off narrative things.

Concise, thoughtful, well articulated.

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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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