Customer Reviews

The Death of Free Speech: How Our Broken National Dialogue Has Killed the Truth and Divided America

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As a Ziegler talk-radio listener, I picked up this book somewhat on a whim -- and then read it in one sitting, riveted and unable to put it down. The clarity and wit of his writing make it a real joy to read. By exposing and exploring the eruptions of 'speech punishment' that have occurred over the past 25 years or so, Ziegler builds an incontrovertible case for his assertion that America's beloved 'Free Speech' is being choked to death. You don't have to be a political geek to enjoy this book -- you just have to be a person who would like to be able to express your opinion without fear of retribution. It is a terrific read -- even a necessary read.

This book covers some very important ground about the media's role in crafting and enforcing the rules of political correctness; and how fear of "speech punishment" mutes our own free speech rights and makes a genuine and productive national dialogue impossible. Anyone interested in free speech should read this book.

The only criticisms I have is the book is written in *exactly* the same voice as the author's radio show. I was expecting a bit more academic approach.

I've lived in Southern California my whole life and oddly enough, the first time I heard John Ziegler wasn't on the radio, but rather over my home telephone when he called to request that my mom be a guest on his program. I listened that night on KFI-640 as he grilled my mother, Judy Ahrens, over her vote to not allow cross-dressing teachers or students in public schools because he thought it broke the law. My mom disliked him for his aggressive interview style and refused to listen for months, but I was immediately hooked (and my mom is now). I decided to order the book (through his website www.johnziegler.com) and finished it in one week. Ziegler is the most honest and quick-witted radio broadcaster I've heard to date. He makes a strong and depressing argument for why our nation's dialogue is broken, taking equal shots at liberals (Clinton) and conservatives (Hannity). He draws examples from speech double-standards he has witnessed in the world of sports (golf & football), TV commentary shows (Larry King), music (Dixie Chicks), entertainers (Whoopi Goldberg), and political commercials (Swift Boat Vets). He often jokes on his radio show that "we broadcast every day as if it could be our last, because it often has been." I hope this book is not his last because his passion and knowledge of the issue will be a needed voice if those of us who want to protect free speech ever hope to survive.

I found the book intersting mostly re-hashing of the last 10 years of the slow encroachment of political correctness. Zeigler is a libertarian and agrees with the conservative world view. Anyone who is engaged in politics would recognize many of the examples from the book.

I think the first 100 pages could have been sumerized into about 10 because they are all high profile cases. From Fuzz Zeller to Howard Cosel to Clinton to many other examples.

I do think the depth of the book is thin. Yes, there is a free speech problem in the country but it is much older than the mid 80s. There was all kinds of censorship as far back as we have had mass media and there is nothing new going on. There was all kinds of intimidation and censorship as far back as the first outlawing to dirty movies when film was invented. I think looking at the history censorship would have been useful back to FDR using the IRS to go after hostile papers and the slow encroachment of censorship in the 30s as well as the FEC pulling licencs of those stations critial to Roosevelt.

There are good point in the fact that those on the left and right work from different premices. He called is fratured media where people self segregate into information they like and seldom expose themselves to information they don't like. There is no single outlet from his point of view that takes all sides serously. He goes into many of the reasons that news is hardly more than entertainmant because too little time is allocated to importan issues. Each outlet focuses on its niche and is more conserned with targeting a specific demographic for advertising.

The book is informative and generally accepts many of the premices of the right but there are also comment on how the right has gone after free speech so really this book does take on all sides but generally sees ore fault on the left and thier inconsistand enforcment of political correctness.

We live in a society dominated by people who believe the purpose of government is to coddle us from cradle to grave. This book points out the fact that no matter how much we try and get the truth out to the masses, the politically correct media (in their eyes) will make sure the realities of the socialist line of thinking is never questioned.

Buy this book and educate yourself! Buy this book and lets start educating our fellow citizens.

America should always remain the place where different points of view can be expresse without fear of retribution. As we have seen from Joe the Plumber; don't follow the beaten path and you will be attacked!

May God bless.
And see ya next review!


The Running Girl

THE DEATH OF FREE SPEECH: HOW OUR BROKEN NATIONAL DIALOGUE HAS KILLED THE TRUTH AND DIVIDED AMERICA comes from a radio talk-show host and TV commentator who considers how the news media has created biased, illogical rules for determining the framework of free speech itself. This is no individual's opinion: Ziegler uses high-profile incidents from modern media reporting to confront conventional wisdom and adds his own experience of being fired numerous times for his on-air comments. It's his background in the industry which allows a particularly insightful seasoned examination an outside researcher couldn't achieve, making DEATH OF FREE SPEECH one of the most important books of our times.

Diane C. Donovan, Editor
California Bookwatch

John Ziegler has written a book about a subject which is very important to him as it should be to every American. He starts by telling the reader about his own experiences of what he calls "speech punishment" for being outspoken and speaking the truth. He continues with examples from sports, entertainment, news, and education giving not just the little bits of the story that our local "news" services have given us, but also the other side of the issue that no one bothered to look into or report. He illustrates how our society has let "political correctness" evolve into the ridiculous notion that some people in society can speak their minds, while others will be censored, fined, etc. This book will undoubtedly anger some people--and it should. No American can afford to take free speech for granted.

John Ziegler speaks what's on his mind -- and for many others who are too PC to say it!! As Dr. Seuss said: "Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and whose who matter don't mind!"

John is a mighty force and needs to be heard loud and clear... Because what we do not fix NOW will be left to fix LATER -- and it's going to be even worse THEN...

BUY THIS BOOK -- READ THIS BOOK -- THIS BOOK MATTERS!!!!!!!!!!!

John Ziegler brilliantly opens the eyes of his readers to the realities of our fragmented national dialogue by exploring, with expert analyses and commentary, various examples of "speech crimes", political correctness, public ignorance, and an increasingly sensationalistic and ratings driven media that seems to perpetuate it all by forgoing truth for the sake of entertainment. A fantastic read. Highly recommneded. A perfect reminder to us all of how truely special and unique are the liberties we enjoy, and yet how we do so very little to preserve them.

A swift, enlightening and very enjoyable read for anyone who cherishes free speech by a brilliant author with a quick wit and amazing knowledge and insight. John Ziegler is arguably one of the top lightening bolts in talk radio today. His show is a must-listen and his book is a must read. Highly recommended. Will be watching for his next one!