The Soul of the First Amendment

“Thoughtful and concise. . . . Abrams assumes little prior knowledge from the reader. . . . Many readers will find the most value in Abrams’s discussion of Citizens United. . . . Even those troubled by the Citizens United decision, which allowed more corporate money into U.S. elections, are likely to emerge with a greater understanding of the Supreme Court majority’s logic in that controversial case.”—Publishers Weekly

“This book provides a powerful, much needed response to mounting criticism of the robust freedom of speech enshrined in US culture and law. Individuals from many sectors of our society that have traditionally championed free speech—including academics, students, writers, and liberals/progressives—have increasingly advocated curbs on speech by certain disfavored speakers or that conveys certain disfavored messages. Abrams convincingly shows the adverse consequences of such an approach, with examples from other countries as well as US history. While fairly recognizing that speech can and does cause harm to individuals and society, he demonstrates that government censorship causes immeasurably greater harm.”—Nadine Strossen, Former President, American Civil Liberties Union

“A great book about the soul of the first amendment by its most distinguished and enduring defender. Floyd Abrams didn’t write the first amendment but he has done so much to protect it—and us all—from those who would curtail it in the false names of security, sensitivity and political correctness.”—Alan Dershowitz, author of Taking the Stand: My Life in the Law 

“Floyd Abrams is the greatest free speech advocate of modern times—he is to the First Amendment what Muhammad Ali was to boxing—and his book explaining and defending the First Amendment’s soul, like his advocacy, is elegant, concise, and profoundly persuasive.”—Rodney A. Smolla, Dean, Delaware Law School

“Floyd Abrams is one of America’s greatest constitutional lawyers and defenders of the First Amendment. In this inspiring book, he reminds us why it’s important to protect the speech we hate even on platforms where the First Amendment doesn’t formally apply—from tech platforms to college campuses—and why the future of democracy depends on our willingness to resist growing calls from all sides to suppress unpopular speech.”—Jeffrey Rosen, author of Louis D. Brandeis: American Prophet