SKU: 10010252235

The Great Dissent: How Oliver Wendell Holmes Changed His Mind--And Changed the History of Free Speech in America

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The Great Dissent: How Oliver Wendell Holmes Changed His Mind--And Changed the History of Free Speech in AmericaNo right seems more fundamental to American life than freedom of speech. Yet well into the twentieth century that freedom was still an unfulfilled promise, with Americans regularly imprisoned merely for speaking out against government policies. Indeed, free speech as we know it comes less from the First Amendment than from a most unexpected source: Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes. A lifelong skeptic, he disdained all individual rights,

No right seems more fundamental to American life than freedom of speech. Yet well into the twentieth century that freedom was still an unfulfilled promise, with Americans regularly imprisoned merely for speaking out against government policies. Indeed, free speech as we know it comes less from the First Amendment than from a most unexpected source: Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes. A lifelong skeptic, he disdained all individual rights, including the right to express one's political views. But in 1919, it was Holmes who wrote a dissenting opinion that would become the canonical affirmation of free speech in the United States.

Why did Holmes change his mind? That question has puzzled historians for almost a century. Now, with the aid of newly discovered letters and confidential memos, Thomas Healy reconstructs in vivid detail Holmes's journey from free-speech opponent to First Amendment hero. It is the story of a remarkable behind-the-scenes campaign by a group of progressives to bring a legal icon around to their way of thinking and a deeply touching human narrative of an old man saved from loneliness and despair by a few unlikely young friends.

Beautifully written and exhaustively researched, "The Great Dissent" is intellectual history at its best, revealing how free debate can alter the life of a man and the legal landscape of an entire nation."

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Picador USA
Published: 09/09/2014
ISBN: 9781250058690
Pages: 322
Weight: 0.80lbs
Size: 9.10h x 6.00w x 1.00d

Review Citations: New York Times Book Review 10/19/2014 pg. 28

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SKU: 10010252235

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Material Type: Recycled Polyester, Color: Dark Navy, Size: X-Large
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Material Type: Recycled Polyester, Color: Red Stripe, Size: XX-Large
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Los Angeles, US
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For work or casual wear, this polo is a great choice.
Material Type: Recycled Polyester, Color: Port Stripe, Size: X-Large
I really like this polo. I've been wearing it once a week or every other week since November. Its very comfortable and breathable. This polo feels like it should last a while. The fit is good. I typcally wear XL and this XL fits great. I've pruchased it in both burgundy and black so far. I definitely recommend this shirt. For work or casual wear, this will look good.
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Tech Dad
Dallas, US
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Material Type: Recycled Polyester, Color: Blue, Size: X-Large
I’ve been pleasantly surprised by these shirts and wear them weekly for Zoom calls, since I’m still working from home these days. I figured at the price point it was worth trying them out, and now I’ve bought several in different colors. They aren’t super soft, but they are comfy and look nice. I’m 6’1” ~220 pounds, and the XL slim fit still has plenty of room. I imagine the regular cut is incredibly boxy and oversized. The difference between polyester vs recycled polyester is inconsequential. I typically buy expensive golf shirts, and these definitely aren’t as nice. They are a fraction of the cost though and a great “beater” work shirt / hang out shirt. It’s nice wearing something that looks and feels decent, but if something happens to it, you can toss and it and pick up another for the cost of a chipotle burrito.
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Simple, straight forward all black polo. I am a size medium woman (with some room since I don't like form-fitting) and bought a men's small. Fits perfectly for my frame. Long enough to tuck in for my part-time extra weekend job uniform. Also suitable for the golf course. A little thin, and if you hold it up to light you can sort of see through it. *Not* flowy, soft and smooth fabric like a rash guard/sun shirt - more structured than that. But it's cool and does the job for the price under $10.
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