Why Voice Matters

One of the best books I have read in years about what it means to engage neoliberalism through a critical framework that highlights those narratives and stories that affirm both our humanity and our longing for justice. It should be read by everyone concerned with what it might mean to not only dream about democracy but to engage it as a lived experience and political possibility. - Henry Giroux, McMaster University "An important and original book that offers a fresh critique of neoliberalism and its contribution to the contemporary crisis of ‘voice’. Couldry’s own voice is clear and impassioned - an urgent must-read." - Rosalind Gill, King’s College London For more than thirty years neoliberalism has declared that market functioning trumps all other social, political and economic values. In this book, Nick Couldry passionately argues for voice, the effective opportunity for people to speak and be heard on what affects their lives, as the only value that can truly challenge neoliberal politics. But having voice is not enough: we need to know our voice matters. Insisting that the answer goes much deeper than simply calling for ′more voices′, whether on the streets or in the media, Couldry presents a dazzling range of analysis from the real world of Blair and Obama to the social theory of Judith Butler and Amartya Sen. Why Voice Matters breaks open the contradictions in neoliberal thought and shows how the mainstream media not only fails to provide the means for people to give an account of themselves, but also reinforces neoliberal values. Moving beyond the despair common to much of today′s analysis, Couldry shows us a vision of a democracy based on social cooperation and offers the resources we need to build a new post-neoliberal politics.

In this book, Nick Couldry passionately argues for voice, the effective opportunity for people to speak and be heard on what affects their lives, as the only value that can truly challenge neoliberal politics. But having voice is not enough: we need to know our voice matters. Insisting that the answer goes much deeper than simply calling for ‘more voices’, whether on the streets or in the media, Couldry presents a dazzling range of analysis from the real world of Blair and Obama to the social theory of Judith Butler and Amartya Sen. This book breaks open the contradictions in neoliberal thought and shows how the mainstream media not only fails to provide the means for people to give an account of themselves, but also reinforces neoliberal values.

The creator of the groundbreaking Fearless Living program shows readers how to overcome unrealistic expectations and live a life based on instinct and intention rather than fear, clinging, and regret. Reprint.

Our inner voice is a powerful compass that helps us navigate the world. At its worst it can seem like a demoralising critic, hellbent on sabotaging our potential; but if it is positively harnessed, it will become an inspiring coach and lifelong guide. In this book, psychology professor Ethan Kross brings more than 20 years of research to demystify the voice inside our head. Weaving cutting-edge science with compelling true stories, he shares powerful but simple tools to make your brain's musings work for you.

What is free speech and why is it so special? Your Voice is Your Superpower tells you why your voice matters and how you can use it and also why we must protect everyone’s right to free speech. Everyone loves superheroes. Who doesn't? They're super! Some of them can fly. Some are strong. Some can become invisible. And some wear capes. But the thing that really makes them super is that they help people and change the world. And guess what? You have a superpower inside you. Your VOICE is your superpower. And because of a thing called freedom of speech, with that voice, you can express yourself, you can help people, and you can change the world. Now, more than ever, teaching children the value of free speech is essential to raising smart, engaged citizens. Knowing the value of free speech allows children to courageously share what they think and believe, whether it’s with their family, friends, or their elected officials. Learning about the value of free speech also teaches children the importance of being good listeners, even if it means listening to points of view that differ from their own. In Your Voice is Your Superpower, father-daughter duo Jessica and Sandy Bohrer team up to teach children the importance of free speech and why it is essential for maintaining a functioning democracy. Your Voice is Your Superpower provides the perfect stepping-stone for parents looking to teach their children more about their First Amendment rights in an easy, appealing way. This fun, colorful book proves that the first step to raising engaged, courageous children–and in turn, raising a new generation of superheroes–starts at home. A portion of proceeds will be donated to the Committee to Protect Journalists. "The First Amendment gives us superpowers! What a terrific way to help kids understand why they are free to say and write what they think. This engaging story is perfect for young readers and maybe a few parents, too." --Kathleen Carroll, Chair of the Board of the Committee to Protect Journalists

Publisher Description

How communication technologies meant to empower people with speech disorders—to give voice to the voiceless—are still subject to disempowering structural inequalities. Mobile technologies are often hailed as a way to “give voice to the voiceless.” Behind the praise, though, are beliefs about technology as a gateway to opportunity and voice as a metaphor for agency and self-representation. In Giving Voice, Meryl Alper explores these assumptions by looking closely at one such case—the use of the Apple iPad and mobile app Proloquo2Go, which converts icons and text into synthetic speech, by children with disabilities (including autism and cerebral palsy) and their families. She finds that despite claims to empowerment, the hardware and software are still subject to disempowering structural inequalities. Views of technology as a great equalizer, she illustrates, rarely account for all the ways that culture, law, policy, and even technology itself can reinforce disparity, particularly for those with disabilities. Alper explores, among other things, alternative understandings of voice, the surprising sociotechnical importance of the iPad case, and convergences and divergences in the lives of parents across class. She shows that working-class and low-income parents understand the app and other communication technologies differently from upper- and middle-class parents, and that the institutional ecosystem reflects a bias toward those more privileged. Handing someone a talking tablet computer does not in itself give that person a voice. Alper finds that the ability to mobilize social, economic, and cultural capital shapes the extent to which individuals can not only speak but be heard.