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Trigger Warning: Is the Fear of Being Offensive Killing Free Speech? Paperback – 18 Jun 2015

by Mick Hume (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars 33 customer reviews
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Review

‘Superb…This is a first-rate polemic and the most important political book of the year so far’ Rod Liddle

‘This is an important book, and couldn’t be more timely. It’s strong-minded, unafraid, determined to knock down all the various specious arguments against free speech, unapologetic about insisting on the value of free expression, and terrifically well argued. In these weak-minded times it’s good to have so uncompromising a defence’ Salman Rushdie

‘What this book does tremendously is pull off the neat trick of summing up just what the hell is going on out there on the great frontiers of speech, offence, liberty and people shouting at each other’ The Times

About the Author

Mick Hume is a journalist and author. He is editor-at-large of Spiked and writes regularly on free-speech issues. He had a weekly column in ‘The Times’ for 10 years, and was described as ‘Britain’s only libertarian Marxist newspaper columnist’. More recently he has written in defence of freedom of speech and a free press in ‘The Times’, the ‘Sunday Times’, the ‘Independent’ and the ‘Sun’.

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Top Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 starsThink you are a supporter of free speech? Think again.
By quidenham on 10 Aug. 2015
Format: Paperback
Like I am sure most people will, I approached this book thinking that I already believed in free speech and was looking forward to seeing all the non-free speechers getting a good kicking. Mick Hume certainly dishes out a satisfying number of thrashings but, uncomfortably, I found myself on the receiving end of one or two. This is for the simple reason that the author confronts you with the unpalatable reality that free speech is an all or nothing and that if it means anything at all then it means allowing others the freedom to say things that you hate. To that extent the book is a real consciousness-raiser and eye opener and I enjoyed all the stories and examples.

Only two criticisms. There is a massive amount of repetition within chapters and across chapters. At times I felt subjected to several pages containing a dozen different ways of saying the same thing and, indeed, sometimes just saying exactly the same thing over and over. The paperback runs to 295 pages but I think it could have been cut to 250 or less. I was racing just to get through it in the end. Second criticism: the author seems to accept that free speech must have some restrictions (I think he mentions threats of direct violence and child pornography) but this all gets a bit lost and the difficult dividing lines are not adequately explored.

Okay, you have twisted my arm, one more criticism: he gives plenty of attention to social media, particularly Twitter, but in my opinion doesn't sufficiently address a feature of this that marks it out from other media - anonymity.
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5.0 out of 5 starsThe free speech bible & overcoming fear
By WORLDwrite on 9 July 2015
Format: Paperback
I thoroughly enjoyed this timely and rather brilliant new book and have now bought a few more copies for our education charity's shelves. I think it has restored my belief in both how important free speech is and how and why it must be possible without the 'buts'. I would recommend it to every student, professor and campus out there- the chapter on the University front is both compelling and shocking in the detail it provides. It is quite a resource too with its terrific short history of free speech heretics and more, very well researched indeed. The book certainly provides all the arguments you need in a contemporary debate. It reads so well as witness testimony in a court hearing with free speech in the dock, which it rather is today and all the complaints from 'words hurt' to ideas that some people should not be heard are considered in detail. I think it pretty much should be seen as the free speech bible. It deals with so many of the fears we need to overcome. Brain food to make us all more resilient indeed.
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5.0 out of 5 starsEssential Reading
By Peter J. Holmes on 29 Aug. 2015
Format: Paperback
This is a very important book giving a detailed analysis of the current threats to free speech. To quote the opening sentence of the book: Free speech is threatened on two fronts: occasionally by bullets, and every day by buts.

There are many examples of the idiocy that follows from people saying "You can't say THAT" or "YOU can't say that". There are also plenty of examples of people who stupidly think they have a right not to be offended.

Two of my favorite sections deal with trigger warnings and the idea that there is no right to shout fire in a crowded theatre. Trigger warnings were originally conceived as an online therapeutic tool to help victims in discussion forums for sufferers from PTSD. They were part of a process for enabling people to deal with and get over the traumatic material not to help them avoid all mention of such material. Now trigger warnings are widely misused in America to warn people that books like The Great Gatsby contain allegedly traumatic material.

The chapter on shouting Fire! is a revelation. The whole concept is based on a misquotation from a 1919 American court case. It is taken completely out of context, the judge later retracted his decision and the court case was itself overturned in 1969! Yet it is still misquoted and misused by various politicians and other idiots e.g. David Miliband who defending the decision to ban Geert Wilders from entering Britain said: "...there is no freedom to cry "fire" in a crowned theatre ...". What not even if the theatre is on fire?

I urge everyone to read this book.
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5.0 out of 5 starsThe author gives a fantastic account of the historical struggles for free speech
By Jade Currie on 9 July 2015
Format: Paperback
The author gives a fantastic account of the historical struggles for free speech, explaining why it remains so crucial. He identifies the broad range of contemporary threats to free speech - from top-down government restrictions to the army of 'reverse-Voltaires' in the media and Twittersphere - and dismantles their arguments one by one. In particular, he brilliantly points out their hypocrisy in paying lip service to free speech while aiming to restrict it in practice, exemplified by the all-too-familiar phrase: 'I believe in free speech, but...' He also identifies free speech issues which are often completely ignored, most notably the treatment of football fans. The most useful part of the book is the final chapter, where all the most common methods used to shut down debate (e.g. 'That's X-phobic!') are listed and responded to concisely and convincingly.

An important and timely book, undoubtedly the most thorough account of contemporary free speech issues, and a great how-to guide for defeating the censors.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 starsAn inspiring read on the modern complacency of free speech issues

I bought and read this after reading Thomas Paine's 'Rights of Man', becasue I wanted to learn more about the ridiculousness of Trigger Warnings, which are primary being used by... Read more

Published 16 days ago by Tinnitus Tim
5.0 out of 5 starsEveryone should read this

Hopefully the start of the pendulum swinging back to centre

Published 1 month ago by John M. Healey
4.0 out of 5 starsA bit mild

Excellent book, well written support for free speech, if anything a little too mild, some more fire and brimstone i think would really have set it on fire.

Published 2 months ago by Dave
4.0 out of 5 starsQuestions that should matter to everyone who wants to be able to think...

This book raises questions that should matter to everyone who wants to be able to think and speak freely, or just wants to be able to hear opinions from outside the... Read more

Published 2 months ago by Legal Vampire
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Happy with product and turnaround time

Published 3 months ago by Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 starsFour Stars

Good stuff, but a bit repetitive.

Published 3 months ago by Baz the Pedant
5.0 out of 5 starsEssential reading for anyone concerned about...

Essential reading for anyone concerned about professional victims, mollycoddled cry-babies who need safe spaces to hide from ideas they disagree with, knee-jerk censors who claim... Read more

Published 3 months ago by c l p
5.0 out of 5 starsThe new heresies and blasphemies. Required reading for all who value...

This important book is in essence an attack on those who pay lip service to free speech but then undermine their fine principles with all manner of hedging and qualifications so as... Read more

Published 3 months ago by Bluecashmere.
5.0 out of 5 starsArm your free speech with solid argument.

Great book. It's a tricky subject to tackle philosophically, but he does it with just the right depth to maintain a brisk read.

Published 3 months ago by nevpalmer
3.0 out of 5 starsA vital subject and there is much that is valuable ...

A vital subject and there is much that is valuable here, particularly covering neglected areas such as football. Read more

Published 4 months ago by hardtruth

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