New Books Network Greg Lukianoff and Nadine Strossen, "The War on Words: 10 Arguments Against Free Speech—And Why They Fail" (Heresy Press, 2025)
Oct 2, 2025
Greg Lukianoff, an attorney and CEO of FIRE, teams up with Nadine Strossen, a former ACLU president and law professor, to discuss their co-authored book, 'The War on Words.' They tackle flawed claims like 'words are violence' and emphasize the importance of free speech for empowering minorities. The duo delves into the realities of campus deplatforming, counter-speech, and the historical context of censorship, arguing for the preservation of viewpoint diversity and the fundamental principles of free expression.
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How The Collaboration Began
- Greg Lukianoff and Nadine Strossen began collaborating after Greg published a piece on common speech arguments and Nadine was working on similar material.
- They converted their Q&A series into a concise book when Heresy Press sought a manuscript in 2024–25.
Misconceptions Drive Anti-Speech Arguments
- Strossen and Lukianoff emphasize that many anti-speech claims rest on caricatures of free speech rather than its real principles.
- Explaining actual First Amendment standards often converts skeptics by correcting misunderstandings.
First Amendment As Practical Model
- Both authors align largely with First Amendment law but note legitimate doctrinal disputes, like obscenity rules.
- They view U.S. First Amendment jurisprudence as the most developed practical framework for free speech protections.
