Can I Say That? Why Free Speech Matters and How to Use It Fearlessly

Psychologist Carmichael (Nervous Energy) argues in this slanted polemic for the value of speaking one’s mind, even when it means being politically incorrect. According to the author, the increasing blowback to questioning “accepted” wisdom—whether on masking during Covid, or gender identity—reinforces groupthink that makes it harder to “solve problems as individuals and on a societal level” and precludes genuine connections with others, which require “true self-expression” to form. To facilitate honest communication, readers can work on listening attentively, reflecting back what they hear (when others feel heard, they’re more likely to return the favor), and planning what they’ll say about a touchy subject. Carmichael is clear she’s not advocating that everyone should “always say everything on their minds” and recommends exercising “judicious self-restraint,” particularly in sensitive environments like the workplace. Though she asserts that censorship is not “a Democrat versus Republican issue,” Carmichael only cites examples of censorship on the left. Her failure to reference right-wing efforts to suppress pro-Palenstinian protests on university campuses, for instance, weakens the cogent points she makes about the importance of frank discussion for societal and individual mental health. Despite some trenchant observations, it’s a missed opportunity to reach across the partisan divide. (Nov.)