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World Citizen Comics
Free Speech Handbook: A Practical Framework for Understanding Our Free Speech Protections
In this volume of the World Citizen Comics series, Ian Rosenberg and Mike Cavallaro create a practical framework for understanding and appreciating the First Amendment.
Freedom of speech is fiercely defended in America and has been since the First Amendment was written. But how does it work, and what laws shape it? Drawing on parallels between ten seminal Supreme Court cases and current events, Free Speech Handbook lays out the fundamentals of First Amendment law in an accessible and engaging way.
This book is part of the World Citizen Comics series, a bold line of civics-focused graphic novels that equip readers to be engaged citizens and informed voters.
Freedom of speech is fiercely defended in America and has been since the First Amendment was written. But how does it work, and what laws shape it? Drawing on parallels between ten seminal Supreme Court cases and current events, Free Speech Handbook lays out the fundamentals of First Amendment law in an accessible and engaging way.
This book is part of the World Citizen Comics series, a bold line of civics-focused graphic novels that equip readers to be engaged citizens and informed voters.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published November 30, 2021
7 people are currently reading
201 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
February 13, 2022
I'll give thumbs up to most anything that preaches to the importance of the freedom of speech, and this book touches on a lot of exciting topics in that regard. But at the same time, be aware that this graphic adaptation of the author's The Fight for Free Speech: Ten Cases That Define Our First Amendment Freedoms is a text-heavy slog. Soooo many lawyers and judges are crammed into the pages as cursorily drawn talking heads spouting leaden balloons of legalese from cases going back decades, a century even, that still hold sway over what free speech means today.
The art doesn't do much to make the material dynamic. Many of the images, especially the ones obviously referenced from Google searches, are just copied and pasted from page to page, so we often get to see the exact same talking head two or three times. The panels that aren't portraits look like they could be drawn from a stock image database or a high school kid's first PowerPoint presentation.
Still, important topic and lots of good information.
The art doesn't do much to make the material dynamic. Many of the images, especially the ones obviously referenced from Google searches, are just copied and pasted from page to page, so we often get to see the exact same talking head two or three times. The panels that aren't portraits look like they could be drawn from a stock image database or a high school kid's first PowerPoint presentation.
Still, important topic and lots of good information.
March 29, 2022
Great book to understand the 1st amendment, breaks down to much information that one could retain unless you have a personal experience with the events. However I did love the artwork and the analysis. I also think it’s a very important book to read with how much controversy freedoms of speech has faced lately.
September 22, 2021
Thank you to Teen Ink and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thinking you know your First Amendment rights? Think again. Thoughtful, detailed, and fascinating, Ian Rosenberg’s Free Speech Handbook dives into the complicated, the controversial, and the many grey areas of free speech protections under the First Amendment. Each chapter tackles a specific question of First Amendment rights centered around a modern example, including profanity in broadcasting, leaks of confidential information, hate speech, and the line between parody and libel. In explaining the precedent behind these cases, however, the book also explores a wealth of past cases that have shaped the continuing development of free speech protections in the US. Among this treasury of examples are Mollie Steimer’s fight against the Sedition Act, the Gobitas’ challenge against mandating the pledge of allegiance in schools, and New York Times Company v. Sullivan, a foundational decision for the limits of libel law.
I will admit that when I saw “graphic novel” and “First Amendment rights,” I was expecting a simple, illustrated walkthrough of free speech protections - most likely one I had heard before. Free Speech Handbook utterly defied my expectations. Far from a simple list of protected freedoms, the book delves fearlessly into the controversies and the thorny regions that inevitably arise with free speech, which is, of course, almost certainly the kind of information you really need to know about the First Amendment. Each area of protected speech is covered in impressive detail and through multiple case studies, with illustrations that help to break up what could otherwise be an intimidatingly complex subject. Despite Rosenberg’s best efforts to keep things clear and simple, Free Speech Handbook does deal with complex concepts and legal jargon, but readers up for the challenge will be rewarded with a genuinely fascinating look at free speech that is guaranteed to leave them more knowledgeable about their own rights.
Perhaps the book’s strongest element is its extensive repertoire of case studies. Not only do these ground what can be abstract concepts in specific situations, but the cases Rosenberg includes are truly fascinating in their own right. Each chapter looks at both a modern example and the legal precedent set by an older case, and this set ranged from Colin Kaepernick’s protests to the Pentagon Papers to the National School Walkout. While many of the modern examples will be familiar to readers, Rosenberg provides a clear and informed explanation through the lens of free speech that will almost certainly provide a new context for the reader. Similarly, the collection of old cases is both an intriguing glimpse into the evolution of free speech in the US and a critical piece in understanding the current state of First Amendment protections.
Though not a breezy read, Free Speech Handbook tackles the ins and outs of free speech protections in a clear, accessible format. Thorough, informative, and fascinating, this little graphic novel should be on the to-read list of everyone who benefits from the remarkable evolution of First Amendment rights.
Thinking you know your First Amendment rights? Think again. Thoughtful, detailed, and fascinating, Ian Rosenberg’s Free Speech Handbook dives into the complicated, the controversial, and the many grey areas of free speech protections under the First Amendment. Each chapter tackles a specific question of First Amendment rights centered around a modern example, including profanity in broadcasting, leaks of confidential information, hate speech, and the line between parody and libel. In explaining the precedent behind these cases, however, the book also explores a wealth of past cases that have shaped the continuing development of free speech protections in the US. Among this treasury of examples are Mollie Steimer’s fight against the Sedition Act, the Gobitas’ challenge against mandating the pledge of allegiance in schools, and New York Times Company v. Sullivan, a foundational decision for the limits of libel law.
I will admit that when I saw “graphic novel” and “First Amendment rights,” I was expecting a simple, illustrated walkthrough of free speech protections - most likely one I had heard before. Free Speech Handbook utterly defied my expectations. Far from a simple list of protected freedoms, the book delves fearlessly into the controversies and the thorny regions that inevitably arise with free speech, which is, of course, almost certainly the kind of information you really need to know about the First Amendment. Each area of protected speech is covered in impressive detail and through multiple case studies, with illustrations that help to break up what could otherwise be an intimidatingly complex subject. Despite Rosenberg’s best efforts to keep things clear and simple, Free Speech Handbook does deal with complex concepts and legal jargon, but readers up for the challenge will be rewarded with a genuinely fascinating look at free speech that is guaranteed to leave them more knowledgeable about their own rights.
Perhaps the book’s strongest element is its extensive repertoire of case studies. Not only do these ground what can be abstract concepts in specific situations, but the cases Rosenberg includes are truly fascinating in their own right. Each chapter looks at both a modern example and the legal precedent set by an older case, and this set ranged from Colin Kaepernick’s protests to the Pentagon Papers to the National School Walkout. While many of the modern examples will be familiar to readers, Rosenberg provides a clear and informed explanation through the lens of free speech that will almost certainly provide a new context for the reader. Similarly, the collection of old cases is both an intriguing glimpse into the evolution of free speech in the US and a critical piece in understanding the current state of First Amendment protections.
Though not a breezy read, Free Speech Handbook tackles the ins and outs of free speech protections in a clear, accessible format. Thorough, informative, and fascinating, this little graphic novel should be on the to-read list of everyone who benefits from the remarkable evolution of First Amendment rights.
December 20, 2024
Stumbled across this in the public library's "graphic novel" hideaway ;-) Not crazy about the pix, but on the other hand I kept asking myself if I'd have read a text-only version of the book, and I kept having to say, "No." The text is organized well -- the pix don't get in the way and do provide a kind of buoyancy for the argumentation.
The content was hugely helpful to me as someone interested in standing against the red states' tide of book bans.
The content was hugely helpful to me as someone interested in standing against the red states' tide of book bans.
December 3, 2022
A bit dense in places unlike the other books in the series. We are presented with a fairly comprehensive history of 1st amendment cases in the US. In light of what Twitter is going through, perhaps Elon Musk should have read this first.
November 4, 2022
This is an informative and densely packed graphic novel. Each of the ten chapters follows a historical case and relates it to current events. Each chapter is so densely packed that it could be ten books.
June 29, 2022
I'm a conservative, and this book seems like it was written by someone who is very liberal. I'm OK with that, because I appreciate free speech, even when you are discussing things I don't like or appreciate or in a way that I'm not 100% in agreement with. Free speech is an important protection, and I think this book does a good job of getting that across.
I like some of the book - I like some of the cases it presents and appreciate that it was in a graphic novel format... but I got totally sick of the anti-Trump stuff and "filth" generously sprinkled all over the place (with intended age group in mind). I agree with some of what the book was presenting about Trump (he's said some things about libel and restricting the media that I don't necessarily agree with even if I understand his feelings about it, etc.), but come on - how often do you have to bring him up? I get it that you seem to hate him, but it got to be over the top, in my opinion. It's not going to be long, and this book will be totally outdated due to all the Trumpity-trump-trump-trump crap. Some things were also (in my opinion) taken out of context. It's also my opinion that there were other "liberal" woke agendas in the book, as well (anti-gun, current day whites vs blacks, etc.). That's not uncommon nowadays, but for once, I'd like a book like this to be neutral and without glaring agendas. Teach the lesson without shoving your politics down my throat.
The 2nd thing I didn't like (for this age group - teens/preteens) are all the references to the multiple curse words. I get the point and I, as an adult, appreciate what is being conveyed, but I was comfortable with the flippant way it handled f*ck and the many, many other words of that nature. I think there were better ways to handle the subject. It seemed like the author was trying to desensitize the young reader and seemed to be conveying that "bad" words aren't bad at all - and anyone who is trying to censor them is wrong. I'm not against curse words in young adult books, but felt it was just over the top for my comfort level. I get what the book was trying to teach, but it was just too much for my liking.
The last thing that just threw it all over the top for me was the section about the Jerry Falwell parody in Hustler. I'm OK with parodies, but this section came across as very anti-Christian (and very intolerant of other viewpoints) and the frank discussion of and approach to pornography was something I didn't appreciate for the intended age group. I wouldn't want my kids reading lines like these in the book: "we do see the notorious Hustler cover of a naked woman being fed into a meat grinder...But we don't see another Hustler classic: the picture of a nude woman bagged like a deer and bound to the luggage rack of a car." and "January 1983 depicted a woman being gang raped on a pool table"...or such typical Hustler photo stories such as a naked woman in handcuffs who is shaved, raped and apparently killed by guards in a concentration camp-like setting."
Again, I'm not against sex in books, especially when it's serving a purpose, but I think there could have been a better choice of a topic for this book. I don't want to promote pornography or present it in such a way that "it" is seen as the "good guy". In my opinion, pornography ruins lives and degrades women. I believe in protecting free speech, etc. but I think the author could have found a better case than the Hustler Magazine v. Falwell case for this age group.
I seem to be in the minority as far as reviews are concerned, but that probably reflects the fact that I'm a conservative Christian and didn't like how one-sided the book was (nor the agendas it promotes on a constant basis). I like the message it conveys, just not the way it was done (but yay for free speech that I can share my review!) ;-)
I like some of the book - I like some of the cases it presents and appreciate that it was in a graphic novel format... but I got totally sick of the anti-Trump stuff and "filth" generously sprinkled all over the place (with intended age group in mind). I agree with some of what the book was presenting about Trump (he's said some things about libel and restricting the media that I don't necessarily agree with even if I understand his feelings about it, etc.), but come on - how often do you have to bring him up? I get it that you seem to hate him, but it got to be over the top, in my opinion. It's not going to be long, and this book will be totally outdated due to all the Trumpity-trump-trump-trump crap. Some things were also (in my opinion) taken out of context. It's also my opinion that there were other "liberal" woke agendas in the book, as well (anti-gun, current day whites vs blacks, etc.). That's not uncommon nowadays, but for once, I'd like a book like this to be neutral and without glaring agendas. Teach the lesson without shoving your politics down my throat.
The 2nd thing I didn't like (for this age group - teens/preteens) are all the references to the multiple curse words. I get the point and I, as an adult, appreciate what is being conveyed, but I was comfortable with the flippant way it handled f*ck and the many, many other words of that nature. I think there were better ways to handle the subject. It seemed like the author was trying to desensitize the young reader and seemed to be conveying that "bad" words aren't bad at all - and anyone who is trying to censor them is wrong. I'm not against curse words in young adult books, but felt it was just over the top for my comfort level. I get what the book was trying to teach, but it was just too much for my liking.
The last thing that just threw it all over the top for me was the section about the Jerry Falwell parody in Hustler. I'm OK with parodies, but this section came across as very anti-Christian (and very intolerant of other viewpoints) and the frank discussion of and approach to pornography was something I didn't appreciate for the intended age group. I wouldn't want my kids reading lines like these in the book: "we do see the notorious Hustler cover of a naked woman being fed into a meat grinder...But we don't see another Hustler classic: the picture of a nude woman bagged like a deer and bound to the luggage rack of a car." and "January 1983 depicted a woman being gang raped on a pool table"...or such typical Hustler photo stories such as a naked woman in handcuffs who is shaved, raped and apparently killed by guards in a concentration camp-like setting."
Again, I'm not against sex in books, especially when it's serving a purpose, but I think there could have been a better choice of a topic for this book. I don't want to promote pornography or present it in such a way that "it" is seen as the "good guy". In my opinion, pornography ruins lives and degrades women. I believe in protecting free speech, etc. but I think the author could have found a better case than the Hustler Magazine v. Falwell case for this age group.
I seem to be in the minority as far as reviews are concerned, but that probably reflects the fact that I'm a conservative Christian and didn't like how one-sided the book was (nor the agendas it promotes on a constant basis). I like the message it conveys, just not the way it was done (but yay for free speech that I can share my review!) ;-)
July 17, 2025
Free Speech Handbook is a graphic novel adaptation of Ian Rosenberg's prose non-fiction book The Fight for Free Speech: Ten Cases That Define Our First Amendment Freedoms. As such, it is full of text and doesn't necessarily take advantage of its graphic medium. But like all the entries in World Citizen Comics, the book conveys a ton of information about an important topic.
The free speech protections established by all the court cases presented in this book are still in effect and just as important today.
I like how each chapter starts with a recent (to 2021) event that involves free speech, then dives back into history to establish why the event resolved the way it did. Knowing why Samantha Bee can curse on her show because it's on cable instead of broadcast television is an important nuance. Again and again, the reader is reminded that the type of speech that must be protected is usually the speech that upsets people precisely because that speech upsets people.
As usual in World Citizen Comics, the illustrations are serviceable. Most of the people depicted aren't really celebrities. The notable exceptions are people like Donald Trump and Larry Flynt. Unless you consider Supreme Court Justices to be celebrities, but even then the only one most people will likely recognize is Ruth Bader Ginsburg. It's mostly private citizens and lawyers. And a book packed with court cases isn't going to contain a lot of action panels. I also wasn't a fan of black text on blue word balloons, which made the small text hard to read at times. Otherwise the art flow was easy to follow and the words were clear to read.
There's a lot of important information in Free Speech Handbook. Every responsible citizen should be knowledgeable of our free speech protections. This is a good, compact way to get educated.
The free speech protections established by all the court cases presented in this book are still in effect and just as important today.
Right to advocate for illegal actionsYou might not agree with all the protections, but it's good to know what is protected and why. It can sometimes be a little difficult to keep track of that "why" given how much of the reasoning is simply quoting Supreme Court opinions.
Right not to speak
Right to criticize public figures and make mistakes
Right to nondisruptive protest in school
Right to offend
Right to publish without being stopped
No right to curse on broadcast television and radio
Right to parody
Right to espouse thoughts people hate
Right to use social media as a public forum
I like how each chapter starts with a recent (to 2021) event that involves free speech, then dives back into history to establish why the event resolved the way it did. Knowing why Samantha Bee can curse on her show because it's on cable instead of broadcast television is an important nuance. Again and again, the reader is reminded that the type of speech that must be protected is usually the speech that upsets people precisely because that speech upsets people.
As usual in World Citizen Comics, the illustrations are serviceable. Most of the people depicted aren't really celebrities. The notable exceptions are people like Donald Trump and Larry Flynt. Unless you consider Supreme Court Justices to be celebrities, but even then the only one most people will likely recognize is Ruth Bader Ginsburg. It's mostly private citizens and lawyers. And a book packed with court cases isn't going to contain a lot of action panels. I also wasn't a fan of black text on blue word balloons, which made the small text hard to read at times. Otherwise the art flow was easy to follow and the words were clear to read.
There's a lot of important information in Free Speech Handbook. Every responsible citizen should be knowledgeable of our free speech protections. This is a good, compact way to get educated.
October 25, 2021
How much do you know about free speech? The First Amendment? What speech is actually free and what is not? In 2021, Ian Rosenberg wrote The Fight for Free Speech: Ten Cases That Define Our First Amendment Freedoms which as been adapted into a graphic format by First Second Books as the first volume in a series about the US Constitution.
In both The Fight for Free Speech and Free Speech Handbook, Ian Rosenberg takes up current events to use as a lens on particular aspects of free speech. Chapter one opens with the Women's March of 2017 and focuses on the marketplace of ideas. Chapter two takes kneeling during the Pledge of Allegiance and the history of the Pledge of Allegiance in First Amendment case law. Chapter three covers the concept of libel vs actual malice and the role this played in the Civil Rights Movement. Chapter four walks out of school with student speech from the Vietnam War until now. Chapter five talks Stormy Daniels, prior restraint and the Pentagon Papers. Chapter six has a flipped-off President and the Draft. Chapter seven brings up the role of the FCC with Samantha Bee, seven dirty words, and indecency. Chapter eight powers up parody, Saturday Night Live, and Hustler. Chapter nine listens to speakers we dislike or hate, the freedom of assembly, and funeral protests. Chapter ten dives into social media, public parks, and "the Vast Democratic Forums of the Internet."
In these ten chapters, the Afterword, and list of sources, Ian Rosenberg provides a very understandable summary of First Amendment right that we all, I hope, hold dear. Take a look, pay attention, and practice your free speech rights!
In both The Fight for Free Speech and Free Speech Handbook, Ian Rosenberg takes up current events to use as a lens on particular aspects of free speech. Chapter one opens with the Women's March of 2017 and focuses on the marketplace of ideas. Chapter two takes kneeling during the Pledge of Allegiance and the history of the Pledge of Allegiance in First Amendment case law. Chapter three covers the concept of libel vs actual malice and the role this played in the Civil Rights Movement. Chapter four walks out of school with student speech from the Vietnam War until now. Chapter five talks Stormy Daniels, prior restraint and the Pentagon Papers. Chapter six has a flipped-off President and the Draft. Chapter seven brings up the role of the FCC with Samantha Bee, seven dirty words, and indecency. Chapter eight powers up parody, Saturday Night Live, and Hustler. Chapter nine listens to speakers we dislike or hate, the freedom of assembly, and funeral protests. Chapter ten dives into social media, public parks, and "the Vast Democratic Forums of the Internet."
In these ten chapters, the Afterword, and list of sources, Ian Rosenberg provides a very understandable summary of First Amendment right that we all, I hope, hold dear. Take a look, pay attention, and practice your free speech rights!
May 28, 2021
This is my first World Citizen Comics graphic novel, and I'm here for it!! Overall, I enjoyed this graphic novel. I was familiar with many of the cases from my high school journalism days. One of our pre-reqs dealt heavily with understanding free of speech precendent in schools.
I would recommend this book primarily to adults, and I will order it for the library as part of our adult graphic novel collection. I feel journalists, tech industry people, writers, law students, & activists will be especially interested in this title.
As a teen services librarian, I hoped this book would be more palatable for high school students. Unfortunately, I believe many of the students I serve will be bogged down by the level of complexity of the cases and the amount of detail provided. However, I will still recommend it to teens who writing or producing for school media outlets, engaged in activism, or have interest in law.
Overall, this book is a great addition to available nonfiction graphic novels, and the topic is extremely relevant, especially given Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L. case. However, it was very dense in some parts, which lead to confusion and needing to reread. I understand that when discussing legal precedents that accuracy & completeness outweigh brevity, but I worry it might lead to readers not finishing.
I would love to see another book in this series that focuses on students' rights on campus! Just putting it out there!
I would recommend this book primarily to adults, and I will order it for the library as part of our adult graphic novel collection. I feel journalists, tech industry people, writers, law students, & activists will be especially interested in this title.
As a teen services librarian, I hoped this book would be more palatable for high school students. Unfortunately, I believe many of the students I serve will be bogged down by the level of complexity of the cases and the amount of detail provided. However, I will still recommend it to teens who writing or producing for school media outlets, engaged in activism, or have interest in law.
Overall, this book is a great addition to available nonfiction graphic novels, and the topic is extremely relevant, especially given Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L. case. However, it was very dense in some parts, which lead to confusion and needing to reread. I understand that when discussing legal precedents that accuracy & completeness outweigh brevity, but I worry it might lead to readers not finishing.
I would love to see another book in this series that focuses on students' rights on campus! Just putting it out there!
November 6, 2025
Ian Rosenberg takes on the vast and ever-relevant topic of free speech under the First Amendment and delivers it in an unexpected format — a graphic handbook that’s both accessible and deeply informative. Through ten core themes such as parody, hate speech, prior restraint, and broadcast regulation, Rosenberg shows how legal precedents and landmark cases continue to shape what “free speech” really means today. Each chapter links a modern controversy — from national anthem protests to leaked documents — with the historic rulings that set the foundation for today’s rights.
This isn’t a typical graphic novel; the illustrations serve more to clarify complex ideas than to entertain. While they help break up dense material, the text remains detailed and packed with legal context. It’s not a quick or simple read, and those new to constitutional law may find it demanding, but the effort pays off.
In a time when debates around hate speech, cancel culture, social media regulation, and protest are at the forefront, “Free Speech Handbook” stands out as a thoughtful, timely exploration. It reminds readers that free speech isn’t fixed — it’s a living, evolving principle shaped by courts, culture, and citizens alike.
This isn’t a typical graphic novel; the illustrations serve more to clarify complex ideas than to entertain. While they help break up dense material, the text remains detailed and packed with legal context. It’s not a quick or simple read, and those new to constitutional law may find it demanding, but the effort pays off.
In a time when debates around hate speech, cancel culture, social media regulation, and protest are at the forefront, “Free Speech Handbook” stands out as a thoughtful, timely exploration. It reminds readers that free speech isn’t fixed — it’s a living, evolving principle shaped by courts, culture, and citizens alike.
August 14, 2022
I recently found "Free Speech Handbook: a practical framework for understanding our FREE SPEECH PROTECTIONS" on display at a local library. The book is part of World Citizen Comics, a series designed to provide information on various civics topics in graphic novel format. Given the current political climate, refreshing my memory regarding free speech seemed like a good idea. As a result, I checked out the book.
Ian Rosenberg and Mike Cavallaro, the book's authors, use the graphic novel format to discuss ten U.S. Supreme Court decisions dealing with the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment and free speech. The book's appealing visual design and informative accompanying text are an excellent guide to the various aspects of free speech and are worth reading.
Ian Rosenberg and Mike Cavallaro, the book's authors, use the graphic novel format to discuss ten U.S. Supreme Court decisions dealing with the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment and free speech. The book's appealing visual design and informative accompanying text are an excellent guide to the various aspects of free speech and are worth reading.
September 22, 2024
This book was, something. It was a great way to be introduced to what constitutes the rights that we mean when we say “My first amendment rights”. I didn’t know that these rights were shaped more so by court cases than the original First Amendment itself, and so it was very interesting to go through each of the cases mentioned and little by little understand what made free speech what it is today. Funnily enough, when searching for the cover of the book online for a personal blog, I found that it was being banned in certain school districts, which one of the scenarios mentioned in the book itself. It’s funny how now, going through everyday motions, I have been able to see the way in which Free Speech is violated at times, sometimes even by ourselves.
October 17, 2024
I keep buying this series hoping that teens will check them out. Not always happening, but I keep trying. This one is a pretty adult level to follow the case arguments out, so don't know if my teens will be interested, but I found it extremely well done. It follows both older Supreme Court case rulings and also modern applications of ten different free-speech difficult points. I really liked the careful, close examinations of cases and issues. The author/narrator who leads us through the cases brings up all the sore points, and helps readers question and reason their way through the cases without always giving all the answers--sometimes because there are none. I liked that open endedness that helps a reader discover whether they agree with how the case turned out or not. Well done.
April 4, 2022
tons of information, just chock-full of facts, but this makes it a liiiittle bit dry. this book is an adaptation of the fight for free speech: ten cases that define our first amendment freedoms, and i wish they would have kept that title or used it as a subtitle or something, because that title gives a much better idea of how the book is laid out. it's ten chapters, each focusing on a different court case related to free speech. i didn't realize there would be so much focus on specific court cases, and as someone who knows very little about law, it was hard to keep up with all the lawyer's names and dates and laws and legal precedents etc etc.
October 11, 2023
This was a really informative and interesting read. I enjoyed how they modernized a lot of the references to make even the historic cases and seminal cases around free speech feel relevant to things that are going on today. It was also surprising to see how recent some of these battleground cases have taken place or these precedents have been set! I really enjoyed learning about the foundations of free speech - especially because you hear it weaponized so often by the politically conservative, and it was great to get a real backing in what the real goals and intentions of these protections are.
June 13, 2023
This is a great book providing a real word interpretation of what the first amendment actually means. Ian Rosenberg does a great job of explaining the stories behind various precedents which resulted in the understanding of the First Amendment we currently have Each case he explained is well thought out. Each story is explained clearly but never devolves into overly simplistic terminology.
A great book and well worth your time!
A great book and well worth your time!
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May 17, 2022
Another book in this series down, and more learned. While these are not quick reads, by any means, they are incredibly informative, and I've really gained a lot from reading them. I have my favorites, of course, but each one is well done, well researched, and I'm glad I purchased them for my library system's nonfiction graphic novel collections.
March 7, 2022
This book was informative while also being so engaging. I loved how the chapters started off with a current case then went back in history and broke down previous Supreme Court cases. Everyone should read this book!
April 9, 2025
This will likely need updating with the new administration and its Supreme Court making changes, but this is an excellent read! It discusses the cases brought before the Court that led our free speech laws to be what they are.
Want to read
April 8, 2021Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
Read
September 9, 2021Reviewed for Booklist - find full review there in upcoming month(s)
December 23, 2021
Sooooo dense! Well done, but dense.
Almost cried laughing at the caricature of Sarah Huckabee Sanders and omg, Trump as the Twitter bird.
Almost cried laughing at the caricature of Sarah Huckabee Sanders and omg, Trump as the Twitter bird.
February 4, 2022
High level reading but still accessable! Completely blew my mind... Very detailed storytelling of the history behind our current free speech philosophy.
April 14, 2022
Like an illustrated textbook of all the important court cases around this topic. Super informative!
August 12, 2022
Great overview of some important First Amendment cases and how they relate to other issues.
August 21, 2022
Great nonfiction explanation about democracy and politics in general that comes from an unbiased place. These are books that belong in libraries.
November 5, 2022
An interesting viewpoint; yet I hope there is an update with possible inaccuracies and stuff that didn’t age well. For instance on the matter of politics; it is seemed very one sided.
December 21, 2022
A graphic novel that covers 10 SCOTUS decisions that define how the 1st amendment works today.
January 8, 2023
This was informative and interesting, if a bit dry at times. I did appreciate the details that went into describing precedents of court cases regarding the First Amendment.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews