The Tolerant Society [Paperback]

Bollinger provides a masterful critique of the major theories of freedom of expression, finding these theories persuasive but inadequate. Buttressing his argument with references to the Skokie case and many other examples, as well as a careful analysis of the primary literature on free speech, he contends that the real value of toleration of extremist speech lies in the extraordinary self-control toward antisocial behavior that it elicits: society is strengthened by the exercise of tolerance.

Very nice overview. --John Peters,University of Iowa

Challenging and thought provoking. Ideal collateral reading. --Joseph E. Schuster,Eastern Washington University

A welcome addition to the literature on the first amendment. --D. Grier Stephenson, Jr., Franklin and Marshall College

A novel and imaginative perspective on the role of freedom of speech in our society. --New York Times Book Review

Elegantly written....Rich in perceptive observations. The analysis is balanced and never hackneyed....As interesting on the third reading as on the first. --Columbia Law Review