The Soul of the First Amendment Audiobook By Floyd Abrams cover art

The Soul of the First Amendment

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The Soul of the First Amendment

By: Floyd Abrams
Narrated by: James Foster
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A lively and controversial overview by the nation's most celebrated First Amendment lawyer of the unique protections for freedom of speech in America

The right of Americans to voice their beliefs without government approval or oversight is protected under what may well be the most honored and least understood addendum to the US Constitution - the First Amendment. Floyd Abrams, a noted lawyer and award-winning legal scholar specializing in First Amendment issues, examines the degree to which American law protects free speech more often, more intensely, and more controversially than is the case anywhere else in the world, including democratic nations such as Canada and England. In this lively, powerful, and provocative work, the author addresses legal issues from the adoption of the Bill of Rights through recent cases such as Citizens United. He also examines the repeated conflicts between claims of free speech and those of national security occasioned by the publication of classified material such as was contained in the Pentagon Papers and was made public by WikiLeaks and Edward Snowden.

©2017 Floyd Abrams (P)2017 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved. Published with assistance from the foundation established in memory of Philip Hamilton McMillan of the Class of 1894, Yale College. Civil Rights & Liberties Constitutions Freedom & Security Law Political Science Politics & Government Social Sciences US Constitution
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This is a challenging book for people, like me, who are upset with the Citizens United decision. But it is necessary to examine all views, especially per something as vital as the First Amendment. Highly recommended.

Much food for thought

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There were many places in which the narration was uncomfortably rapid and the cadence frustrating in staying with the flow of information.

Short Book - why Rapid Speech

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Well read, well argued. A must listen for anyone involved in public communication, in the US or elsewhere.

Essential Listening

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Narration: Clear and well paced.

Content: Lots of interesting, informative material. For instance, the contrast between Canadian and U.S. First Amendment law is revelatory, as is the discussion of Democracy being premised more on "freedom from" infringement more than "freedom to do."

Highly recommended.

Informative and Interesting.

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You can definitely tell which side of the political spectrum the author is on. The right leaning mood of the book oozes from the adjectives used to describe different cases and situations.

Political

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