Free Expression Under Fire - by Stuart N Brotman (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

How can we rebuild a culture of free expression?

As America approaches its 250th anniversary, free speech and press freedom face unprecedented threats from campus censorship, social media content moderation, and government pressure campaigns. From college students afraid to voice opinions in class to journalists facing investigations, the First Amendment foundations of American democracy are under multiple threats in ways the Founders never imagined.

Stuart N. Brotman, America's leading public scholar on free expression, takes complex constitutional issues out of academic ivory towers and makes them accessible to everyday Americans navigating these turbulent times. Having served on the faculties of leading universities at home and abroad, and on legal teams in notable Supreme Court cases, Brotman provides insider insights into how campus speech policies backfire, why tech platforms make controversial content decisions, and what happens when governments attempt to regulate on-air and online expression.

Perfect for readers of The Constitution of Knowledge by Jonathan Rauch and The Fight for Free Speech by Ian Rosenberg, this urgent examination reveals why protecting constitutional rights requires more than legal victories--it demands rebuilding a durable free expression culture that values open debate.

From landmark Pentagon Papers to contemporary social media controversies, from campus free speech conflicts to global internet freedom battles, Brotman shows how historical lessons can guide us through current challenges. As America 250 celebrations begin, discover why free expression isn't just about protecting rights--it's about safeguarding the democratic experiment itself for future generations.

Review Quotes

"A major contribution to understanding the most quoted but least understood words of our Constitution."

-- Floyd Abrams, author of Speaking Freely, Friend of the Court, and The Soul of the First Amendment

"At a time when free expression faces threats from across the political spectrum, Stuart Brotman draws on decades of experience to help us better understand and defend the free expression culture essential to democracy."

-- Nadine Strossen, Former President, American Civil Liberties Union; Professor Emerita, New York Law School

"Stuart Brotman reminds us that our experiment in democracy survives only so long as the freedoms of speech and press endure. Free Expression Under Fire is passionate, provocative, and deeply thoughtful."'

-- Edward Felsenthal, Executive Chairman, TIME

"Thorough, insightful, and incredibly timely...everyone should read Free Expression Under Fire before it's too late."

-- Robert M. McDowell, Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute; Former FCC Commissioner

"Engaging, lively, and readily accessible... Stuart Brotman offers insightful and challenging analyses about one of the most essential rights in our nation--free expression--a right that is now very much under attack! This is an important read."

-- Geoffrey R. Stone, Edward H. Levi Distinguished Professor of Law, University of Chicago

"Free expression is never a given, in America or anywhere, and it is particularly under siege at this moment. Stuart Brotman's thoughtful and illuminating book offers context and clarity as we grapple with the challenges of the moment and seek to understand them within the framework of American history and contemporary society."

-- Margaret Sullivan, US columnist, The Guardian, and the author of Ghosting the News: Local Journalism and the Crisis of American Democracy

"Our universities are essential to our national future. Academic freedom is essential to our universities. Free Expression Under Fire is essential to understanding academic freedom--an indispensable book for this moment."

-- Lawrence H. Summers, President Emeritus, Harvard University

"Stuart Brotman's invaluable book arrives at a crucial time, guiding us as we reflect on America's 250-year journey toward liberty."

-- Rufus Friday, Executive Director, Center for Integrity in News Reporting

"Free Expression Under Fire traces how campus 'shout-downs, ' social media deplatforming, and ideological signaling have tested longstanding legal and ethical defenses of expressive freedoms. Stuart Brotman effectively reframes our freedoms of expression as matters of collective cultural responsibility rather than partisan slogans."

-- Nikhil Moro, Editor, Journal of Media Law & Ethics

"Stuart Brotman continues his fearless approach to vigorous public discourse and reporting, engaging others' ideas on controversial issues with integrity. This book stands out for its commitment to substantive dialogue as American society debates the boundaries of free expression."

-- Thomas A. Mascaro, coauthor, Assault on the Media: The Nixon Years

"Stuart Brotman has captured the essence of today's free expression crisis, eloquently underscoring how the loss of these rights will undermine the principles that have served our country well for 250 years."

-- Jane E. Kirtley, Silha Professor of Media Ethics and Law, University of Minnesota

About the Author

Stuart N. Brotman is America's leading public scholar on free expression and Digital Media Laureate at The Media Institute. He served in four Presidential administrations on a bipartisan basis, and was the first Visiting Professor of Entertainment and Media Law at Harvard Law School, with concurrent appointments at Harvard's Berkman Klein Center and MIT's Program in Comparative Media Studies. An elected member of The American Law Institute, Brotman has participated in several First Amendment Supreme Court cases and provided expert counsel to government agencies and major media companies. His expert commentary has reached over 500 million readers globally, along with audiences on major networks such as ABC, NBC, CNN, C-SPAN, and NPR.