by Noah Feldman
First published 2022
Noah Feldman stands before the Supreme Court, preparing to argue a case that will reshape how Americans understand free speech. As a constitutional lawyer specializing in First Amendment disputes, he faces clients whose rights hang in the balance. Religious groups clash with secular authorities over public displays of faith. Journalists fight government attempts to silence their reporting. Students challenge university speech codes that threaten academic freedom. Each case forces Feldman to weigh competing values: individual liberty against community standards, truth against tolerance, order against expression. The courtroom becomes his battlefield as he defends the principle that even unpopular speech deserves protection. His opponents wield political pressure and public opinion against him. Feldman must convince judges that constitutional principles matter more than popular sentiment. The stakes grow higher with each ruling, as the very meaning of American freedom comes under scrutiny.
Genres: american, non-fiction, law, academic
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: courtroom-drama, underdog
862 pages · Hardcover · Foundation Press