Stuart N. Brotman - Böcker

Hugh M. Hefner’s legacy of enduring free speech and free press values is embodied in the Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Awards, established in 1979, which honor leading First Amendment scholars and advocates. Hefner also had a lifelong interest in film censorship issues and supported teaching about them at the University of Southern California for 20 years. His deep commitment to these values was confirmed when the author was granted unrestricted access to over 3,000 personal scrapbooks, which Hefner had kept in order to track free speech and press issues during his lifetime.  The format of the book is an homage to the in-depth conversational interviews Hefner pioneered as the editor and publisher of Playboy magazine. Stuart Brotman conducted in-person interviews with eight persons who in their lifetimes have come to represent a “greatest generation” of free speech and free press scholars and advocates.

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.