Un-banning Mein Kampf

This article from Time asks whether Hitler’s Mein Kampf should be un-banned in Germany or not. As a librarian I am of the mind that the people of Germany should have access to this book.  But, I also recognize that it was used by the Nazis as a way for them to disseminate their vitriol [...]

Banned Book: The Grapes of Wrath

I’m going to try to continue pointing out banned and challenged books on this blog. I believe it’s important to know that what many people consider classics of literature others consider indecent.
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck is about the Joad family from Oklahoma who, during the Dust Bowl & Great Depression of [...]

Banned Books: Video Sampler

Here are some videos that I found that I thought were quite good. They all discuss banned books, and also touch on the theme of free speech.
What are your thoughts on banned books? What about censorship of speech? How much is too much? What role does the First amendment play in [...]

Banned Book: The Autobiography of Malcolm X

The Autobiography of Malcolm X is probably one of my favorite books of all time. I read it in high school and also in college. It surprised me when I found out it had been banned from many schools and libraries on the basis that Malcolm X was overly critical of white society [...]

Banned Book: The Hoax of the Twentieth Century

Not all banned books are literature, like 1984. One such banned book is The Hoax of the Twentieth Century. This book is about the Holocaust in Europe. The author of this book disputes the claim that 6 million Jews were killed by the Nazis or that the Holocaust really happened as [...]