Stanley Fish is an American literary theorist and legal scholar, often associated with postmodernism, though he describes himself as an anti-foundationalist. His work focuses on the critical examination of texts and interpretations, exploring how meanings are constructed and how they shape our understanding of the world. Fish's approach is known for its provocative nature and emphasis on the idea that there are no universal truths, only interpretive communities.
Stanley Fish focuses on well-known movies (such as Anatomy of a Murder, Twelve Angry Men, or A Man for All Seasons) that take law as their subject, and explains how legal doctrine is made into the stuff of plot and character. A book for movie lovers written in an accessible and engaging style.
This 'graphic novel' takes the student on a scientific, philosophical and practical journey to understand nature in the modern world.
Exploring the complexities of freedom of speech and the First Amendment, this work provides a nonpartisan analysis of its protections and limitations. The author, a renowned public intellectual, delves into the types of speech that should be regulated versus those that should remain free, offering insightful observations that challenge conventional views. This timely examination addresses the current discourse surrounding free speech, making it a crucial read for anyone interested in understanding its implications in today's society.
“Fish’s points arrive in thoughtful, dense provocations.” —Kirkus Reviews From celebrated public intellectual and New York Times bestselling author, Stanley Fish, comes an urgent and sharply observed look at one of the most hotly debated issues of our time: freedom of speech. How does the First Amendment really work? Is it a principle or a value? What is hate speech and should it always be banned? Are we free to declare our religious beliefs in the public square? What role, if any, should companies like Facebook play in policing the exchange of thoughts, ideas, and opinions? With clarity and power, Stanley Fish, “America’s most famous professor” (BookPage), explores these complex questions in The First. From the rise of fake news, to the role of tech companies in monitoring content (including the President’s tweets), to Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling protest, First Amendment controversies continue to dominate the news cycle. Across America, college campus administrators are being forced to balance free speech against demands for safe spaces and trigger warnings. Ultimately, Fish argues, freedom of speech is a double-edged concept; it frees us from constraints, but it also frees us to say and do terrible things. Urgent and controversial, The First is sure to ruffle feathers, spark dialogue, and shine new light on one of America’s most cherished—and debated—constitutional rights.
Contrarian Reflections on Life, Culture, Politics, Religion, Law, and Education
This collection features thought-provoking essays from a prominent cultural critic, showcasing his most impactful work from the New York Times. Each piece has sparked significant discussion and debate, highlighting the author's insights on contemporary issues and cultural phenomena. Readers can expect a deep exploration of societal themes and a critical examination of American culture through the lens of a leading voice in the field.
“Fish mines cultural touchstones from Milton to ‘Married with Children’ to explain how various types of arguments are structured and how that understanding can lead to victory” — New York Times Book Review A lively and accessible guide to understanding rhetoric by the world class English and Law professor and bestselling author of How to Write a Sentence. Filled with the wit and observational prowess that shaped Stanley Fish’s acclaimed bestseller How to Write a Sentence, Winning Arguments guides readers through the “greatest hits” of rhetoric. In this clever and engaging guide, Fish offers insight and outlines the crucial keys you need to win any debate, anywhere, anytime—drawn from landmark legal cases, politics, his own career, and even popular film and television. A celebration of clashing minds and viewpoints, Winning Arguments is sure to become a classic.
"From 1995 to 2013, Stanley Fish's provocative New York Times columns consistently generated passionate discussion and debate. In Think Again, he has assembled almost one hundred of his best columns into a thematically arranged collection with a substantial new introduction that explains his intention in writing these pieces and offers an analysis of why they provoked so much reaction. Some readers reported being frustrated when they couldn't figure out where Fish, one of America's most influential thinkers, stood on the controversies he addressed in the essays--from atheism and affirmative action to plagiarism and postmodernism. But, as Fish says, that is the point. Opinions are cheap; you can get them anywhere. Instead of offering just another set of them, Fish analyzes and dissects the arguments put forth by different sides--in debates over free speech, identity politics, the gun lobby, and other hot-button topics--in order to explain how their arguments work or don't work. In short, these are essays that teach you not what to think but how to think more clearly. Brief and accessible yet challenging, these essays provide all the hard-edged intellectual, cultural, and political analysis one expects from Fish. At the same time, the collection includes a number of revealing and even poignant autobiographical essays in which, as Fish says, "readers will learn about my anxieties, my aspirations, my eccentricities, my foibles, my father, and my obsessions--Frank Sinatra, Ted Williams, basketball, and Jews."--Publisher's description
This collection showcases Stanley Fish's most significant writings, featuring a blend of his classic works alongside fresh content. It offers insights into his influential ideas and contributions to literary theory and criticism, making it a valuable resource for both scholars and enthusiasts of his thought. The new material enriches the existing texts, providing a comprehensive view of Fish's intellectual journey and the evolution of his perspectives.
If you know sentences, you know everything. Good sentences promise nothing less than lessons and practice in the organization of the world. This title offers both sentence craft and sentence pleasure, skills invaluable to any writer (or reader).
The book explores the longstanding debate in Milton studies regarding the poet's alignment, with one camp viewing him as aligned with the devil and the other with divine forces. Stanley Fish's work reconciles these opposing views by proposing that "Paradise Lost" reflects the transformation of its readers, explaining their divided responses. Three decades later, the discussions initiated in this analysis remain influential, shaping ongoing debates in literary criticism and interpretation of Milton's work.