Human Speech

Forty years after his first book, David McCullough wrote and presented his speech, The Course of Human Events, in the 2003 Jefferson Lecture in the Humanities, in which he divulges his philosophy on writing, speaking, and history in his masterful storytelling style. In this Jefferson Lecture in...

“The best history of free speech ever written and the best defense of free speech ever made.”—P. J. O’Rourke Hailed as the “first freedom,” free speech is the bedrock of democracy. But it is a challenging principle, subject to erosion in times of upheaval. Today, in democracies and...

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A “visionary” (The Guardian) exploration of freedom—what it is, how it’s been misunderstood, and why it’s our only chance for survival—by the acclaimed Yale historian and author of On Tyranny “[Snyder’s] deep political and philosophical examination...

Bloomsbury presents The Descent: Witnessing Russia's Spiral into Madness Under Putin, written and read by Marc Bennetts An extraordinary first-hand account of Russia’s descent into totalitarianism, paranoia and madness. Marc Bennetts, foreign correspondent for The Times and The Sunday Times...

What makes us human? Why are we the only animals who wear clothes, drive cars, trawl the internet, and fly helicopters on Mars? It’s all because we’ve learnt to talk, yet remarkably, we still don’t know how we did it. Speech! suggests an answer that’s been hiding in plain sight - the simple yet radical shift that turned our analog grunts and shrieks into words. But, its consequences are far from simple: being able to share ideas through language was an evolutionary tipping point - it allowed us to link up our minds.

Two leading behavioral scientists argue we should reject “nudge” policies and stop blaming personal failure for society’s failures "Excellent. A master class on how to blend individual psychology with institutions, so that people are encouraged to get involved and develop solutions to our...

A brilliant examination of history and language that explains why AI, for all of its wonders, cannot truly speak. For all of history, the only creature on earth that could speak was man. Then suddenly, with the dawn of artificial intelligence, a machine could talk back. AI seems to do the very...

An invaluable guide to understanding how the internet has broken our brains—and what we can do to fix it. "Vivid and unforgettable.” ―Jonathan Haidt, New York Times bestselling author of The Righteous Mind The original internet was not designed to make us upset, distracted, confused, and...

In The Most Human Right, Eric Heinze explains why global human rights systems have failed. International organizations constantly report on how governments manage human goods, such as fair trials, humane conditions of detention, healthcare, or housing. But to appease autocratic regimes, experts have ignored the primacy of free speech. Heinze argues that goods become rights only when citizens can claim them publicly and fearlessly: free speech is the fundamental right, without which the very concept of a “right” makes no sense. 

Storytelling, a tradition that built human civilization, may soon destroy it Humans are storytelling animals. Stories are what make our societies possible. Countless books celebrate their virtues. But Jonathan Gottschall, an expert on the science of stories, argues that there is a dark side to...

Can free speech coexist with an inclusive campus environment? Hardly a week goes by without another controversy over free speech on college campuses. On one side, there are increased demands to censor hateful, disrespectful, and bullying expression and to ensure an inclusive and nondiscriminatory learning environment. On the other side are traditional free speech advocates who charge that recent demands for censorship coddle students and threaten free inquiry.

Using anecdotes, commentaries, and scholarly articles, Rabbi Dov Peretz Elkins conveys the merits of speaking positively, or Leshon Hatov, and the unfortunate results of negative speech, or Leshon Hara, in "The Power Of Human Speech - From The Jewish Perspective". More than 50 scholars and writers address the virtues of speaking positively verses using improper negative speech. Written from the Jewish perspective, Rabbi Elkins, the compiler and editor of this book, opens with the five categories of speech as defined by the Rambam: Required speech, Forbidden speech, Repulsive Speech, ...

Brought to you by Penguin. A fresh and exciting approach to one of the most controversial subjects of our time ‘Free Speech!’ is a clarion call all over the world, yet what it means today is more contested than ever. Many cultures regard it as dangerous: in China, India, and across the...

Aphantasia is described as a benign variation in human consciousness. How do we know? What if the absence of mental imagery means more than the inability to visualize voluntarily? Why was effortless imagery—the mental representation that appears automatically—never included in the definition? Drawing on scientific research, historical sources, and decades of lived observation, this book explores aphantasia, anauralia, and anendophasia through rarely asked questions: What exactly is absent? How can a deficit be just a curiosity? Why did neuroscience surround these definitions with ...

The Words That Shook the World: 50 Speeches That Defined History "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat." "I have a dream." "Tear down this wall." Behind every great movement, every monumental shift in human rights, and every triumph of the human spirit, there is a voice. From the sun-drenched amphitheatres of Ancient Greece to the digital stages of the 21st century, The Words That Shook the World brings together the most consequential oratory ever delivered. This isn't just a list of speeches—it’s a journey through the hinge points of history. You will stand in the ...

Introducing "Revolutionizing Human-Computer Interaction through Speech and Audio Processing" - a groundbreaking eBook that dives deep into the world of human-computer interaction, providing a comprehensive and insightful guide to the history, science, and future possibilities of speech and audio technologies. Ever wondered how the voice controls on your smartphone work? Curious about the technology that allows us to communicate, work, and connect with ease? This incredible resource explores the evolution and development of speech and audio processing, setting the stage for an immersive, ...

With a foreword by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg of the U.S. Supreme Court. An Engaging, Accessible Guide to the Bill of Rights for Everyday Citizens. In The Bill of Rights: A User's Guide, award-winning author and constitutional scholar Linda R. Monk explores the remarkable history of the Bill of...

In einfachen, nachvollziehbaren Schritten zeigt uns die Sexualtherapeutin und Autorin, wie man mit dem Partner eine erfüllte Sexualität leben und dabei die Sensibilität steigern kann. Die Reise in ein neues Verständnis der Sexualität beginnt dann, wenn wir zu unseren innewohnenden männlichen und weiblichen Polaritäten Kontakt aufnehmen und sie wiedererwecken. Wenn wir unsere Polarität annehmen, entwickelt sich eine Anziehungskraft, eine organische magnetische Intelligenz zwischen Penis und Vagina, die mit der Zeit stärker wird.

Saving Free Speech…from Itself sets the tone for the fractious discussion of how the First Amendment should be interpreted in today’s society and how the free speech aspect of it should not be weaponized by individuals and groups whose agenda includes causing harm to innocent people. In an era of political correctness, race-baiting, terrorist incitement, the "Danish" cartoons, the shouting down of speakers, and, of course, "fake news", liberals and conservatives are up in arms both about speech and its excesses, and what the First Amendment means. Speech has been weaponized.

“If we are going to moderate (exclude) some things, then let’s moderate. If we are going to allow (include) everything, then let’s include EVERYTHING…or else…” Discover the Hidden Forces Shaping Our Digital World…How Humans Became Robots! In an era where digital platforms dominate our lives, Millennials and Gen Z face the challenge of navigating a complex online landscape. With political discourse increasingly shaped by algorithms and censorship, understanding these dynamics is crucial for those who wish to engage meaningfully in today's world. How Humans Became Robots offers ...