Discuss the theme of freedom in Salman Rushdie's autobiography, Joseph Anton: A Memoir. What is freedom? How does freedom appear in the book? Why does Salman Rushdie risk his life to defend the idea of freedom? Is this a worthy reason to risk his life? Why or why not? Defend your claim.

In Chapter 5, on page 285, Rushdie writes, "As you are fighting a battle that may cost you your life, is the thing for which you are fighting worth losing your life for? And he found it possible to answer: yes. He was prepared to die, if dying became necessary, for what Carmen Callil had called 'a bloody book.'" What battle is Rushdie referring to? What is he defending? Is this worth his life? Why or why not?

Why is Islamic opposition to Salman Rushdie's novel The Satanic Verses so stiff? What is...