Why are certain books banned and who is behind the book banning?

Question

It amazes me that their is such thing as a banning of books. I can only agree with books that promote concotions for disaster such as the "Anarchist Cook Book", should not be allowed. However, many books that I enjoyed reading during my school years were some of the best pieces of literature I have read, and are now being banned. It seems like a great force of control by religious zealots and the "politically correct" fanatics suppressing free thought.

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Too many great answers! Thanks! I will put this one to a public vote.

Answer 1

Books are banned by people who have the power to limit the access others have to books. That includes dictators such as Hitler, as well as librarians and politicians who control the funds used to purchase books for libraries. Also, you may have noticed newspaper articles in which the presence of books in the home of a person who has been arrested was used to help justify arresting the person. If you own certain books and you ever cause trouble such as protesting, you may find the books you own as justification for your arrest, or your accidental death. For an example check out Irv Rubin and what happened to him. http://www.jdl.org/information/chairman/hero.shtml

Answer 2

In the UK no one can ban a book. Up until 1968 the Lord Chamberlain could ban any play that was to be performed and therefore published. This being said the publishers are the ones who choose what is published and they are influenced by investors and shareholders as to what they will and will not publish.
In the US is depends upon the State you live in as to the legislation relating to censorship. Most European governments do not censor literature. An adult is within their rights to read whatever they like and a child's reading should be guided by their parents, as with anything they do.
Personally I think no books should be banned; the point being freedom of thought. Surely if an person is capable of reading a book they have the right to make their own minds up as to the merit of the content and what to believe; especially if there is always a balance of opinion available.

Answer 3

It's not just the "religious zealots." The Bible is one of the most widely banned books in the world. Still, your point is well taken. Most of the books that people object to and try to ban are books that challenge the reader to think outside the norm. When the reader is a child or teenager, this can upset the parents who have very strict ideas about what their children should be learning. Don't get me wrong. I'm not condoning book banning. What these folks should do is take the time to explain to their children why a particular book does not agree with their values, instead of trying to force their beliefs and values on an entire community.

Answer 4

Books are banned by people who believe that they have the right to restrict others from reading what they think should not be read. Generally, they do not succeed because the majority of public libraries know that if a person does not want to read something they do not have the right to prevent others from reading that item.
School libraries and small town public libraries are a different story. The censors tend to use fear to push their opinions on others and often do frighten the schools and/or the small public libraries into doing as they say.

Answer 5

I guess no matter what society we live in there will always be Nazi's and burning books. Not that they are burning books but it is the same priciple. So what wdo we do? Go to the counsil and point out that this is against our constitutional rights to read books that we want to read. Present your case also get a pole started to show that the people are in favor of having these books.

Answer 6

yes, i asked a question about what people think of the list of banned books this year...

"According to the The 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books, Challenges by Initiator, Institution, Type, and Year, parents challenge materials more often than any other group."

so parents "challenge" the books and they will file a complaint but i don't know who actually bans them...

Answer 7

i think that after reading all the answers above i thought that may be this solution would work. how about having some restrictions on books that can be read in schools and the books that can be borrowed from library which may have some content that may be able to influence kids negatively then person above the age of 18 can check the book out. In this way, the book is available to all the adults and not to kids. im not suggesting that we restrict their reading, im just suggesting one solution to present problem.

Answer 8

Idiot parents,. Religious zealots and people who don't understand the word FICTION