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Speechless: Controlling Words, Controlling Minds Paperback – June 7, 2022
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“Every single American needs to read Michael Knowles’s Speechless. I don’t mean ‘read it eventually.’ I mean: stop what you’re doing and pick up this book.”
—CANDACE OWENS
"The most important book on free speech in decades—read it!” —SENATOR TED CRUZ
A New Strategy: We Win, They Lose
The Culture War is over, and the culture lost.
The Left’s assault on liberty, virtue, decency, the Republic of the Founders, and Western civilization has succeeded.
You can no longer keep your social media account—or your job—and acknowledge truths such as: Washington, Jefferson, and Columbus were great men. Schools and libraries should not coach children in sexual deviance. Men don’t have uteruses.
How did we get to this point?
Michael Knowles of The Daily Wire exposes and diagnosis the losing strategy we have fallen for and shows how we can change course—and start winning.
In the groundbreaking Speechless: Controlling Words, Controlling Minds Knowles reveals:
- How the “free speech absolutists” gave away the store
- The First Amendment does not require a value-neutral public square
- How the Communists figured out that their revolution could never succeed as long as the common man was attached to his own culture
- Where political correctness came from
- How, comply or resist, political correctness is a win-win game for the bad guys
- Why taking our stand on “freedom of speech” helps put atheism, decadence, and nonsense on the same plane with faith, virtue, and reality
- The real question: Will we shut down drag queen story hour, or cancel Abraham Lincoln?
- For 170 years the First Amendment was compatible with prayer in public school
- How the atheists got the Warren Court to rule their way
- To this day, there’s a First Amendment exception for obscenity. What exactly is the argument that perverts’ teaching toddlers to twerk is not obscene?
Read Speechless: Controlling Words, Controlling Minds if you want to learn how to take the fight to the enemy.
- Print length362 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherRegnery
- Publication dateJune 7, 2022
- Dimensions5.5 x 1.2 x 8.5 inches
- ISBN-101684513359
- ISBN-13978-1684513352
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- Publisher : Regnery (June 7, 2022)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 362 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1684513359
- ISBN-13 : 978-1684513352
- Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
- Dimensions : 5.5 x 1.2 x 8.5 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #131,855 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #100 in Civil Rights & Liberties (Books)
- #183 in Censorship & Politics
- #302 in Political Conservatism & Liberalism
- Customer Reviews:
About the authors

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Michael Knowles is the celebrated host of “The Michael Knowles Show” at the Daily Wire, “The Book Club” at PragerU, and “Verdict with Ted Cruz.” In 2017, Michael published the #1 national bestselling treatise Reasons to Vote for Democrats, which President Donald Trump hailed as “a great book for your reading enjoyment.” In late 2020, after an appearance guest-hosting “The Rush Limbaugh Program,” it was announced that Michael’s daily podcast would be syndicated to terrestrial radio.
Michael has appeared regularly on Fox News Channel and other major networks, and his writing has been featured on the Daily Wire, the American Mind, Fox News, and the Daily Caller. Michael is a graduate of Yale University and has lectured at colleges and universities around the country.
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Customers find the book well-written and engaging. They appreciate the insightful commentary and thorough research. The writing style is described as eloquent and concise. Overall, customers find the book thought-provoking and eye-opening.
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Customers find the book well-written and engaging. They describe it as an informative, educational read that is well-thought-out and worth the wait.
"...Controlling Words, Controlling Minds by Michael Knowles is a very highly recommended, intelligent, thoughtful, and engrossing examination of how..." Read more
"...Great read. Unless you have an advanced degree in English vocabulary, be ready to use a dictionary throughout." Read more
"...Important book that offers a very different perspective than others on the serious challenges our nation and in fact western civilization is..." Read more
"...It worked!The book is epic. I bought the hardback version so I can mark in it and make notes...." Read more
Customers find the book insightful and informative. They appreciate its thorough research, footnotes, and interesting insights from history and literature. The book provides a clear understanding of today's reality and historical aspects. Readers say it provides a solid understanding of the world we live in.
"...Controlling Minds by Michael Knowles is a very highly recommended, intelligent, thoughtful, and engrossing examination of how political correctness..." Read more
"...humor, political/historical/cultural references, and philosophical analysis into this one book...." Read more
"...Important book that offers a very different perspective than others on the serious challenges our nation and in fact western civilization is..." Read more
"...This book gives an objective perspective on how both sides of the political & ideological parties use speech to control what we think and therefore..." Read more
Customers find the book well-written and enjoyable. They appreciate the author's clear, concise language that provides insight into the history, development, and ongoing process. The book is described as an amazing descriptor of how words are used and modified. Readers praise the author's direct rhetoric and thorough research.
"...I love how he never backs down from true conservatism or tries to play libertarian on certain issues the way too many so-called “conservatives” do..." Read more
"...For me this has been one of the most persuasive political books I have read...." Read more
"...The citations throughout the book are so thorough that the Work Cited page is literally 50 pages long with each reference numbered to its specific..." Read more
"Knowles writes in clear, concise language the history, development and ongoing process of destruction being waged by the falsely named "progressives..." Read more
Customers find the book thought-provoking and insightful. They appreciate the author's eloquence and knowledge about current events. The book is described as refreshing and original, not a rehash of what we already know. Readers also describe it as charming and well-written.
"...Minds by Michael Knowles is a very highly recommended, intelligent, thoughtful, and engrossing examination of how political correctness has..." Read more
"...somewhat more challenging read, I still found it to be an extraordinarily insightful work on the history of Cultural Marxism." Read more
"Knowles delivers trademark wit & insightful commentary on the state (and history) of political correctness then and now...." Read more
"Such an eye opening book to what is going on in the country! Very informative and intriguing book! Also inspiring" Read more
Customers appreciate the book's time spent on modern issues and historical context.
"...It gives you the modern issues and takes the time to review the history with you to give you context and understanding of how we got here...." Read more
"...Very timely, very interesting, and I think a bit more historically grounded than you might expect from such a young author." Read more
"...A very fun read and it goes quick. Lots of good information to use in your discussions with misguided leftists and ignorant squishes...." Read more
"Very timely and a wake up call." Read more
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Michael Knowles' Speechless is Vital
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Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2021Speechless: Controlling Words, Controlling Minds by Michael Knowles is a very highly recommended, intelligent, thoughtful, and engrossing examination of how political correctness has distorted our use of language resulting in a change in our culture and how we view the world. This change in language and meaning did not come about through natural linguistic development. It has been a cultural assault planned and carried out by liberal academic and bureaucratic extremists who created the new words, there meaning, and how we should react. Then the new acceptable term and our expected reactions have been repeated verbatim by almost all journalists. Watching this and noticing the repetition of the same exact wording by so called journalists has been eye-opening and frightening. Decades of incompetence on both sides has permitted political correctness to invert our culture. The Culture War is over, and we have all lost.
The right are criticized because they allowed this to happen. All cultures cancel some ideas and things over time. The current problem is with what is canceled and why, along with who establishes the standards. The problem is a very small percentage of the population is radically trying to changing the culture without any sort of cultural agreement on these changes or set agreed upon standards. Conservatives need to summon the courage to speak up for the enforcement of their own standards of speech minus the politically correct standards set by the liberals.
There is so much more to Knowles discussion which will be appreciated by anyone who is an intellectual, appreciates a dense discussion with a plethora of quotes, footnotes, and sources, and can think for themselves about current cultural changes. Knowles provides in the appendix a glossary of jargon, a list of works cited, a copious section of notes, and a helpful index. This would make a great gift.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2024Insight from a brilliant mind exploring many rabbit trails for how Democrats have employed revisionist history and mutually exclusive claims, coining and redefining words to control narrative. Great read. Unless you have an advanced degree in English vocabulary, be ready to use a dictionary throughout.
- Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2021Michael Knowles is one of the few political commentators out there that I actually like, and after reading this book, it makes me even more of a fan of him. I felt so reassured after finishing the book that Knowles really is one of the few true conservatives out there these days, and it made me glad that I’ve supported the real deal with him. I love how he never backs down from true conservatism or tries to play libertarian on certain issues the way too many so-called “conservatives” do nowadays. Knowles brilliantly exposes the evil origins of various leftist ideologies, but also highlights how conservatives have failed by playing into leftist tactics themselves. Too many conservatives nowadays have fallen for the harmful, nonchalant “live and let live” or “absolute free speech” philosophies that have wreaked so much havoc on our culture today, and Knowles calls them out for it. He explains why bumper sticker slogans won’t win the battle for conservatives, how trite and reductive those ideas are, and how it ultimately winds up giving more power to the left for them to continue furthering their evil regimes. I’m so thankful for Michael and all of his work to not only expose the lies of the left, but equally important, he calls out cowardly, ignorant right-wingers who are losing the battle for conservatives. A must-read that will inspire conservatives to know and be better.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2021Michael combines an amalgam of class, humor, political/historical/cultural references, and philosophical analysis into this one book. He elaborates on key points of speech, show how for decades our culture has been slowly numbing itself with poisonous tendencies, digging itself down deep; only to finally begin waking up in a state where the waterline is right around our noses. The book highlights the influence that speech has on culture, and the influence culture has on speech; as well as people in positions of power have abused such an observation. The book goes into detail about the potentially dreadful directions these ideas could go, as well as the where the state of our culture is, and is headed, (referencing other previous cultures/some modern ones which have also implemented similar ideas) while consequently giving some potential solutions as to how we can begin to suture the tears, and again fight for a culture that we once as a majority we had agreed was worth preserving.
Although "Reasons to Vote for Democrats" was a good read ;), I'd argue this book has a lot more to offer. Considering the current state of our political spheres, communities and culture as a whole. Speechless collects a large swath of references at the end, and Michael does a great job including them in his analysis. He offers insight as to how the issues facing the world today need to be highlighted and addressed. Although many of the points addressed target USA in specific, the points referenced as a whole, tend to the western influenced world in its entirety, exclaiming the necessity to wake up and take action if we wish to fight against many of the corrupted ideas and institutions implemented to breed the very antithetical culture that has lead to downfall of the Western world.
Thank you Michael for the necessary role you play in the fight,
Ryan
5.0 out of 5 stars Michael Knowles' Speechless is VitalMichael combines an amalgam of class, humor, political/historical/cultural references, and philosophical analysis into this one book. He elaborates on key points of speech, show how for decades our culture has been slowly numbing itself with poisonous tendencies, digging itself down deep; only to finally begin waking up in a state where the waterline is right around our noses. The book highlights the influence that speech has on culture, and the influence culture has on speech; as well as people in positions of power have abused such an observation. The book goes into detail about the potentially dreadful directions these ideas could go, as well as the where the state of our culture is, and is headed, (referencing other previous cultures/some modern ones which have also implemented similar ideas) while consequently giving some potential solutions as to how we can begin to suture the tears, and again fight for a culture that we once as a majority we had agreed was worth preserving.
Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2021
Although "Reasons to Vote for Democrats" was a good read ;), I'd argue this book has a lot more to offer. Considering the current state of our political spheres, communities and culture as a whole. Speechless collects a large swath of references at the end, and Michael does a great job including them in his analysis. He offers insight as to how the issues facing the world today need to be highlighted and addressed. Although many of the points addressed target USA in specific, the points referenced as a whole, tend to the western influenced world in its entirety, exclaiming the necessity to wake up and take action if we wish to fight against many of the corrupted ideas and institutions implemented to breed the very antithetical culture that has lead to downfall of the Western world.
Thank you Michael for the necessary role you play in the fight,
Ryan
Images in this review
- Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2024All great.
Top reviews from other countries
Joseph MyrenReviewed in Canada on March 4, 20245.0 out of 5 stars AWESOME
AWESOME
YDiazReviewed in Italy on November 24, 20225.0 out of 5 stars bring back free speech.
a must read.
Hugo PestanaReviewed in Spain on October 6, 20215.0 out of 5 stars Great book and undispensable to Understand how to fight Woke movement
Michael Knowles shows us the obvious flaws of Political correctness or language Control movement and the direct connection with the Radical left plans to takeover our Culture and afterwards target the Control of the All Society in the near Future.
In order to prevent that, we must be firm in dennouncing the ridiculous of adhering to this Language control rules and the dangerous threats underneath. Also important is to fight the organizations that push this Agenda forward, such as the BLM Marxist movement and the American Democrat Party, specially their extreme left ideologues, also known as the Squad.
RickyReviewed in the United Kingdom on July 7, 20215.0 out of 5 stars Words Fail Me
Michael Knowles has produced a substantial rebuttal to the world of Political Correctness. Delving into the origins of the concept, he appreciates that it is about more than simply censorship or curtailing individual freedom. PC does not allow for compromise between different viewpoints. Instead, it aims for mastery in defining everything according to its own terms. It aims to impose ‘Cultural Marxism’ on society, a collective view of the human being that decries the concept of the Individual and views everything through a prism of Orwellian ‘Newspeak’.
The battleground is in the words themselves, words that often fail to convey traditional meanings, resulting in a battle of competing narratives that cannot find common ground. He contends that it is the failure by conflict-averse conservatives to really understand PC, that has allowed many to fall for its traps while in has installed itself in our culture. He states that the aim of PC is to destroy the standards that have traditionally held the West together. Without standards, many of which were derived from Christianity, society has opened it gates to “the thought that stops thought”, as G K Chesterton once wrote. Like Chesterton, Knowles believe that free speech has to have limits, and that civilisation has to be civil.
PC is in keeping with the Aquarian times we now live in. PC first demanded the right to criticise conventional standards. Then it put forward new standards or eschewed standards altogether. Lastly, it installed replacement standards which it then protected, by denying the right to debate and criticise. This is what George Orwell called ‘Doublethink’. First, it presented itself as a Liberal advocate of ‘free speech’, demanding the right to be heard. Nowadays, it is an illiberal movement that censors conservative voices and anyone who defends traditional mores.
The redefinition of words has been the means by which PC has attained its power in culture, politics, law and history. Words have been weaponised to destroy society and civilisation from within. In effect, debate has been drowned out by changing the meaning of words we all used to agree on. Nowadays, it is more important for some that their definitions are accepted than it is for them to self-reflect on whether there is any consistency and common sense in the standards they hold. For instance, Michael Knowles quotes from Feminist and Trans ideologies which frequently are based on opposing mantras.
The book concludes with a plea that conservatives wake up to the real challenges they face in standing up to the insidious culture of PC and its modern formulation of Woke ideology. It is the weakness in standing up for traditional values that has allowed the Left to infiltrate and impose itself in the culture wars.
Tully WilliamsReviewed in Australia on September 2, 20245.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant book - a must read.
Brilliant book - a must read.

