How to Speak Freely
- Author
- Plato Plato
- Narrator
- Edoardo Ballerini
- Publisher
- Blackstone Publishing
- Publish Date
- 1 December 2026
- Run Time
- 2 hours 7 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
What to expect
A vivid and timely new translation of Plato’s Apology, in which Socrates defends his pursuit of truth, no matter the consequences
Free speech is back at the center of political and cultural debate, amid intense arguments over censorship on campus, in government, and in everyday life. How to Speak Freely offers a timeless and essential exploration of free speech through a lively new translation of Plato’s Apology, perhaps the most famous and important work on the subject in all of Western history. In it, Plato recounts the trial of Socrates in 399 BCE—one of the most powerful defenses of freedom of thought and speech ever written.
In Plato’s Apology, Socrates embodies the archetype of a person who thinks independently: a figure of conviction who pursued curiosity honestly, became convinced of unpopular truths, spoke candidly about them, and refused to grovel, pander, or recant—even to save his life. By insisting on his freedom and accepting the consequences, Socrates became the most famous martyr to free inquiry in history—and raised enduring questions about the value, dangers, and limits of free speech in a democracy.
How to Speak Freely supplements Plato’s Apology with a delightful fable on free speech told from a different angle. In the short dialogue The Gods in Council, Lucian (c. 125–180 CE) satirizes the concept of “platforming,” showing how free speech ideals are truly tested only when they’re truly applied.
Featuring an enlightening introduction, How to Speak Freely is a powerful and thought-provoking examination of the rewards and risks of speaking one’s mind.
User Reviews
No reviews yet.
Details
- Author
- Plato Plato
- Narrator
- Edoardo Ballerini
- Duration
- 2 hours 7 minutes
- Release Date
- 1 December 2026
- ISBN
- 9798228969650
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Blackstone Publishing
- Genre
- Ancient Greek and Roman philosophy, Social and political philosophy, Social and political philosophy, Self-help, personal development and practical advice
Synopsis
<p><strong>A vivid and timely new translation of Plato’s <em>Apology</em>,<em> </em>in which Socrates defends his pursuit of truth, no matter the consequences</strong></p><p>Free speech is back at the center of political and cultural debate, amid intense arguments over censorship on campus, in government, and in everyday life. <em>How to Speak Freely</em> offers a timeless and essential exploration of free speech through a lively new translation of Plato’s <em>Apology</em>, perhaps the most famous and important work on the subject in all of Western history. In it, Plato recounts the trial of Socrates in 399 BCE—one of the most powerful defenses of freedom of thought and speech ever written.</p><p>In Plato’s <em>Apology</em>, Socrates embodies the archetype of a person who thinks independently: a figure of conviction who pursued curiosity honestly, became convinced of unpopular truths, spoke candidly about them, and refused to grovel, pander, or recant—even to save his life. By insisting on his freedom and accepting the consequences, Socrates became the most famous martyr to free inquiry in history—and raised enduring questions about the value, dangers, and limits of free speech in a democracy.</p><p><em>How to Speak Freely</em> supplements Plato’s <em>Apology</em> with a delightful fable on free speech told from a different angle. In the short dialogue <em>The Gods in Council</em>, Lucian (c. 125–180 CE) satirizes the concept of “platforming,” showing how free speech ideals are truly tested only when they’re truly applied.</p><p>Featuring an enlightening introduction, <em>How to Speak Freely </em>is a powerful and thought-provoking examination of the rewards and risks of speaking one’s mind.</p>
About xigxag
xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.
There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.
Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.
Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.