Areopagitica by John Milton

"Areopagitica" is a powerful 17th-century polemic against censorship and a passionate defense of the freedom of speech and expression. The author argues against the Licensing Order of 1643, which allowed the British government to censor literature and other forms of expression. He asserts that censorship is a form of tyranny and that in a true republic, freedom of thought and discussion should be promoted, not suppressed. The author also contends that exposure to a wide range of viewpoints, including those that may be false or harmful, is necessary for intellectual and moral growth.

The 1854th greatest book of all time


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Total Points: 201

Since this book was first published in 1644, there is a penalty of 0%. The age adjusted score is 201.0.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.