"Paxton focuses on six key areas: freedom of expression and its limits, wartime media, books, visual and performing arts, sexually explicit material, and regulation of student expression. The final chapter explores the future of censorship in each of these areas, given recent changes in society and technological advances. Writing in clear, accessible language, Paxton highlights the prevalence of censorship in today's society by juxtaposing censorship's historical context with more contemporary issues. Sadly, not much has changed. In its numerous manifestations, censorship remains an outgrowth of governmental and societal attempts to control and regulate behavior in the name of protecting society as a whole. The delicate balance between freedom and protection informs Paxton's approach to the topic. The volume includes a brief time line of censorship and an extensive bibliography of books, articles, and relevant court cases. This is an excellent resource for undergraduates starting their exploration of this topic or readers looking to place censorship in a historical context.

Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates and general readers." -- Choice.