Turner, a veteran attorney who has appeared on popular TV and radio news shows, profiles people who intentionally or accidentally became First Amendment heroes or villains, recounting controversial First Amendment cases from the 1950s through the present to show how we've arrived at our contemporary understanding of free speech. The colorful cast of characters includes communists, Jehovah's Witnesses, Klansmen, pornographer Larry Flynt, war protestors, and comedians, as well as prison wardens, reporters, and federal judges. Of special interest is the author's description of a case in which he represented prisoner/journalist Dannie Martin, who over a period of several years wrote numerous articles for the San Francisco Chronicle from prison. The book includes b&w photos. Turner practiced law for 45 years and has taught a course on the First Amendment at the University of California-Berkeley. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)