Dangerous Ideas: A Brief History of Censorship in the West, from the Ancients to Fake News

‘In his captivating sprint through two millennia of censorship, Eric Berkowitz chronicles some of the more bizarre and egregious episodes, while explaining that the human instinct to suppress speech has rarely waned. Indeed, the issue is possibly as fraught now as it has ever been.’ --John Kampfner, Financial Times

‘Compendious and pacy … Few books on the topic are either as entertaining or salutary as this. The onward rush illustrates Berkowitz’s central point more amply than any polemic could. Censorship in one form or another is, and always has been, all around us: just because it is futile does not mean we can afford to ignore it.’ --Sunday Telegraph

''Lively, engrossing … Dangerous Ideas shows that conflicts between free speech and censorship are rarely simple or settled for long.'' --The Economist

‘Compendious and pacy … Few books on the topic are either as entertaining or salutary as this.’ --Sunday Telegraph

‘This entertaining history of more than two millennia of Western censorship is a level-headed, salutary intervention in today’s overheated rows over free speech.’ --A Telegraph Best Book of the Year (2021)

‘In this vibrant and important book, Eric Berkowitz tackles one of the major issues facing society today and warns of the severe threats that come with the suppression of free ideas.’ --Richard Ovenden, author of Burning the Books: A History of Knowledge Under Attack

''Absorbing and comprehensive ... The sweep of Berkowitz’s lively account emphasizes that the fight for freedom of expression has never been won.’ --Jo Glanville, The World Today

‘With impressive scholarship and erudite humour, Eric Berkowitz guides the reader through mental spaces that have been declared off-limits. Read this book if you dare.’ --Christopher Ryan, author of Civilized to Death: The Price of Progress

‘Berkowitz untangles censorship’s maddening complexities to reveal core truths behind every book burning, every silencing of dissidents and every removal of online content ... A hugely entertaining and urgently important book.’ --Nadine Strossen, former president of the ACLU

A fascinating examination on how restricting speech has continuously shaped our culture, and how - regardless of political leanings - every individual can act as both the suppressors and the suppressed.

• | Author: Eric Berkowitz
• | Publisher: Saqi Books
• | Publication Date: May 06, 2021
• | Number of Pages:
• | Language:
• | Binding: Hardback
• | ISBN-13: 9781908906427
• | ISBN-10: 1908906421