Non-Fiction & Biographies

HATE: Why We Should Resist it With Free Speech, Not Censorship by Nadine Strossen

A former ACLU president's argument for the importance of free speech, even when it involves hateful or offensive ideas, and why censorship is often counterproductive and ineffective. 

She believes that the best way to address hate speech is with more speech and explains why protecting speech ultimately protects the most vulnerable.

Freedom for the Thought That We Hate: A Biography of the First Amendment by Anthony Lewis

This book is a journalist's account of the history of the First Amendment, tracing its development and application in various cases, with key legal battles and cultural shifts that shaped our understanding of the Constitution.

Lewis shows that protecting unpopular speech is the very thing that keeps democracy alive.

Liar in a Crowded Theater: Freedom of Speech in a World of Misinformation by Jeff Kosseff

This timely book unpacks the legal and moral tensions around misinformation, asking where we draw the line between protecting speech and protecting truth.

Kosseff explores modern threats to expression, from social media to disinformation, while defending the principles of free speech.

On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder

A guide that draws from history to offer lessons on how to resist authoritarianism and defend democratic freedoms.

Snyder reminds us that tyranny often begins with the silencing of speech and that everyday citizens must stay alert and vocal in order to defend and protect our liberty.