Banned Books

Banned Books takes a look at some of the most controversial books that have been banned throughout history. Using the examples in this book, the author shows that book banning and censorship in literature is not just something in current society but has been prevalent through the ages.

While this can be considered a sensitive topic itself, I found this book to be as unbiased as possible when explaining and defining the reasons for each of the books examined in this volume. Both the political and the religious climate are referenced at the time of each book's controversy. The book is written in a straightforward way, simple enough for any reader interested in the topic.

This is a very interesting book. It’s a great jumping off point for further study on the topic of banned literature. This would make a great addition to any library public or personal.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and DK!

Pros: I wanted to read this book because I love to purposefully read banned books. I think it’s one way nerdy bookworms can feel rebellious! I really liked the structure of this book—that it is arranged by time period of publication, that history/context is discussed, and that each book gets its own blurb. I was surprised (in a good way!) at how visual this book. I was also proud of how many banned books featured in this book that I’ve already read, and I love that I was able to add more books to my to-read list.

Cons: This isn’t a con but a note on formatting—because the book is so visual, I suggest reading a PDF version or reading it in print rather than reading it on Kindle.

Thank you to NetGalley and DK for the opportunity to read this book.

Banned Books was a good, interesting read. Enjoyed the insights and the information in the book. Interesting book!

Fascinating and generally even-handed, this is a good survey of the hypocrisy, harm, and ultimate fruitlessness of censorship. Good read.

ARC provided.

Thank you to NetGalley and DK for my advanced copy in exchange for my unbiased review!

"Banned Books" by DK looks at some of the most controversial books that have been banned. DK delves deep into history in order to illustrate that book banning isn't something unique to our current period, but something that has persisted throughout our history. This is easily shown in how the book is organized which is by the book's time of publication. Honestly, as someone who loves reading and works at a library, I was incredibly interested in this one. One thing that I found kind of irritating is something that has to do with the formatting of my digital copy. About halfway through, I ended up just downloading the NetGalley Shelf app to my iPad so that I could actually look at and see all of the visuals used in this. If you decide to read this, get a print copy or read from a PDF.

All in all, I enjoyed this book but that formatting is not very accessible, at least digitally.

This short book overviews some of the most commonly banned books throughout history. This included some of the books whose bannings frequently make the news, but there were several on this list that I hadn't realized were controversial and several I'd never even heard of.

While I really enjoyed this, note that this book is more of a "coffee-table" style book that just provides brief 1-2 page summaries of each banned book.

I found this to be an excellent and digestible overview and added many of the books to my to read list. Recommended for anyone wanting to learn more about banned books.

A must read for every book lover. Gave me many new additions for my reading list. Fascinating read that inspires one to not only read, but question those who want to censor what books we have access to.

I loved it! It’s a quick read that is very informative. I’ve added some books to my wishlist. It’s interesting to see what offends some people as I’ve read some of the mentioned books, and didn’t find anything to bother me.

***Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
I enjoyed reading this history of banned books and was introduced to some that I had never heard of.

Banned Books
by DK
Pub Date: August 23, 2022
Non-fiction *History
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
Banned Books explores why some of the world’s most important literary classics and seminal non-fiction titles were once deemed too controversial for the public to read – whether for challenging racial or sexual norms, satirizing public figures, or simply being deemed unfit for young readers. From the banning of All Quiet on the Western Front and the repeated suppression of On the Origin of the Species, to 1984, Fahrenheit 45, Catcher in the Rye and Huckleberry Fin, this must-have volume examines the astonishing role that some banned books have played in changing history. I found this book to be very interesting and have purchased one for our library.
Great book!~
4 stars

Quick Summary: Very informative and outlined well; introductory level resource

My Review: My first impression of Banned Books: The World's Most Controversial Books, Past and Present by D.K. Publishing was one of curiosity. I was intrigued by the title, and I wondered what books would be presented. I also wondered how the featured works would be portrayed.

The publisher did a great job with outlining the book's content. I appreciated how each period was labeled. Additionally, I really liked how the societal attitudes, temporal nuances, and audience responses and/or receptiveness were noted.

The layout and soft illustrations were effective and did not detract from the informative content. They were appropriate and invited the reader to further engage with the material.

The one negative critique I have relates to the book's cover. I did not find it to be visually appealing. Although I understood the approach, I felt that it was too plain. It seemed to be out of sync with what was inside the book. I feel it may deter some readers.

My Final Say: As banned books have now, and it seems have always been considered to be a controversial topic, I believe that this book will be of interest to many. It is easy to follow and could, undoubtedly, be used as a classroom resource for upper middle to high school ages and up.

* I would love for this book to be the first in a series featuring banned books. It was a fantastic idea!

Rating: 4.5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: Upper Middle/High School to Adult
Keeper: Yes
Re-read: Yes

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley, who provided a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review. The words I have expressed are my own and were not influenced by the aforementioned in any way.

Banned Books, as the title suggests, gives an overview of the history of book banning. Extending back centuries this novel chronicles the practice of book banning. It's well structured, organized temporally by novel and provides insight into a series of fascinating works.

Banned Books: The World's Most Controversial Books, Past and Present, from DK Publishing, is an excellent overview of well-known books that have been, and in some cases still are, banned or censored in some places.

I think a lot of readers will know the bulk of these books, but it is really cool to get a brief synopsis of each book, and why it was banned. I also really enjoyed the way that it was organized. We got our pre-1900's all the way to the 21st century.

This is a nice-looking volume and I feel like it would make a wonderful coffee table book. I can't wait to get a physical copy. It can also be a good resource for younger folks when talking about censorship.

It's very visual, and I loved all of the colors and photos that are littered throughout. so much fun. and it's made me driven to read some of the ones I haven't read yet!

I'm always amazed - although by now should not be - at the fear and loathing underpinning book banning.... This is a nice summary description of a number of the books that have faced challenges over the years. It's more of a reference book than a book to read straight through. The individual descriptions are short, sweet, and to the point and the writing style is easy to engage with and provides just enough information to either satisfy your curiosity or peak your interest to hunt down more.

Do you think that books should be banned? Who should decide? Or…should readers themselves decide what they want to read? These questions have recently come to the forefront once again.

This book is fascinating. A perusal of its contents shows that book banning has been going on for centuries. It also informs the reader that books once banned are not banned for evermore.

For example, the first section of the book includes The Canterbury Tales, a title that is now often studied in schools and universities. Other examples of previously banned books include Frankenstein, Madame Bovary, Their Eyes Were Watching God, The Catcher in the Rye, To Kill a Mockingbird and in the 21st century, The Kite Runner and The Hate U Give. These are just a few of the many books included in this title.

The book begins with a short introduction. The perspective offered is that censorship is generally counterproductive and often controversial. Following this section each title is described and its history and reasons for censorship given.

Browsing through this book will be interesting as readers look at books that they have either read or not picked up. In the end, I think that it invites its readers to think and care about this important issue.

Many thanks to NetGalley and DK for this title. All opinions are my own.

This book provides overviews of some of the frequently books found around the world, and explains why they were/are contested. Most books have one or two pages dedicated to them, with some nice illustrations and quotations throughout. It's more of a book to use as an introduction to the topic, rather than an in-depth look, but as a coffee table-style book to dip into and learn from, it's very interesting. I liked that it was arranged chronologically, moving through time as the books were published, up to our current time (as depressingly, we are still having to deal with book bans today).

I received an electronic ARC from DK through NetGalley.
This book compiles books from all over the world that have been banned. DK breaks down the list via time periods. It's interesting to see some of the books on the list, and more, the reasons they have been banned. The book takes a neutral tone and presents straightforward information on where each book was banned and why it was banned. Well worth the read to reflect on these for myself.

Very informative read. Things I really enjoyed included grouping books by time period, including a brief description of the book and why it was banned, and the occasional photo of the author or original book cover. I found the writing dry, and it didn't really hook me to keep reading. This was a book I put down a lot and then came back to because of my own curiosity about which books were included, not necessarily because the writing keeps me reading. Overall I learned a lot and enjoyed the book.

When I first looked at this book, seeing DK and illustrations inside, I assumed it would be a children's book, introducing the concept of banned books at an elementary school level.

Not only was I wrong, but I was also pleasantly surprised with the contents.

This books explores banned books from numerous countries in 6 distinct time periods. The books profiled are given a summary, an overview of the content that caused it to be banned - some including historical context as well -, along with when the respective bans were put into place and if they have since ended or continue to be challenged.

One of the things I most appreciated about this book was the inclusion of books from other countries. While I knew about quite a few of the banned books from the United States that were discussed, I knew of very few international banned books and enjoyed learning more.

This book presented the information in a non-biased and engaging way, for people to learn and understand more about the books profiled. For myself, I have been introduced to at least a handful of books I am now interested in reading.

'Read whatever they're trying to keep out of your eyes and your brain because that's exactly what you need to know.' - Levar Burton

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to DK and Netgalley for the advanced review copy.

Starting in the 15th century with The Decameron, this book proceeds chronologically trough the centuries, listing books that were written and then banned, briefly describing what they are about and what got the moral guardians upset, all the way up to books questioning the world in 2021.

Fiction, science texts, religious commentary, autobiographies, poetry and graphic novels - a wide variety of banned books are listed here with the common thread that, in one way or another, they dare to tell the truth, which makes those in power upset.

What a timely book! Loved learning about the reasons certain books were banned when almost everything seems to be at risk to be banned!

This was a great entry look at banned books across the world (mostly Europe and USA; with a few modern examples in Asia and South America). It expanded my TBR and knowledge of older controversial texts. But if you are looking for a more in-depth look or a deep dive I would find something else.

I found this to be an interesting topic since I have read of so many schools and libraries around the country banning books over the last few years. I have come to find out that this has really been going on since books or writing has been in existence. Some for a political reason others for different opinions in either the area or maybe country, or a dictator. All in all sad that there were books on the list that I read in the sixties and seventies that were considered classics that are now banned for whatever reason. Grateful to have kept the books from my mother who was a teacher from the fifties and my father who wanted us to also learn and have an open mind they both believed you could start by reading. Overall a good book.

This book is a nice chronological overview of some of the most banned books throughout history. Each book has a short paragraph about why and where it has been banned, the outcome and its literary impact. Many of the titles were familiar to me but there were some surprises. The book was informative and easy to read. I learned that the reasons for banning books differ but there will always be a reason. Add many of these books to TBR pile.

Banned Books is the ultimate reference guide to challenged books throughout history. Broken down by time, such as pre-1900, dating back as far as 1370s, to modern day 2021, each chapter reveals titles that have caused controversy. It reveals backstories of the authors, explains what the books (or articles) are about, and where/why they are banned. Readers will learn about the Index of Prohibited Books, as well as the many laws protecting and punishing Freedom of Speech. Some of these authors have mysteriously disappeared, one who had passed had his body dug up, burned, and tossed in a river. It talks about the punished people that read the books and tried to sell/share these titles.

Some books/authors are easily recognized, from Chaucer to Darwin, from Lee to Malcolm X. Some however will be new to readers, for instance, I had never heard of Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz or Etheridge Knight. There are pictures of books and authors, as well as quotes from the titles or those criticizing the work. I look forward to using this book as a reading challenge and see how many I can find in print.

This book can easily be devoured in one-sitting, or cherished overtime. It belongs on every bookcase in homes, schools, libraries, and bookstores.

Banned Books looks at controversial classics and modern books alike. This little tome is more important than ever, what with all the crazy conservatives trying to ban all manner of literature from schools.

From classics like The Great Gatsby to modern authors like Phillip Pullman and JK Rowling, banning books isn't a new thing. Some did surprise me, as did the reasoning behind some books. Some reasons seem silly to me today (Catcher in the Rye… *uugghhh*). Others I may choose not to teach, but certainly wouldn't strive for banning, or making a big deal about someone choosing to read for pleasure, even if I wouldn't. The Harry Potter books have sadly fallen into this category for me due to the author's stances on certain things.

Books for high school age kids really shouldn't be banned for reasons such as *gasp* LGBTQ+ representation, or mild sexual situations. Or even more extreme if it's necessary to the story (The Kite Runner). This aren't young kids. They know about sex. And banning books with positive depictions of LGBTQ+ characters denigrates and dismisses an entire subset of the population.

****Many thanks to Netgalley and DK for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

It is extremely interesting to know what books are banned and for what reasons. We are seeing even more books banned now for much more extreme things so some of these books seem most laughable.

I loved reading this book!! There are so many titles that I knew but even more I didn’t know and we’re surprised by! Definitely a must read for book lovers!

This book was really fascinating. It's crazy how much literature has been banned throughout history, even recently. I think it's really important to learn and read these books because there are so many different reasons people have tried to ban various books.

This book did a great job of explaining why books are banned. It was an objective overview of each book and did not get political. Did exactly what it was set out to do.

This book was very good, but very, very, disheartening. To see all the books that have been [and continue to be] banned is upsetting and frustrating. I have never understood why books get banned. IF you don't like a book or the idea of a book, THEN DO NOT READ IT. It is not rocket science. Sigh.

I grew up in a home where I was allowed to read whatever I wanted. I was never, ever censored [though there are books I read more or less in "secret" because I was fairly sure that if I was found out, my mother would not have approved and would take the book away from me. I am not sure why I thought that because she never, ever did that] and my mother encouraged the library visits I made and the heaps of books I dragged home every 4 - 5 days [if only because it kept me quiet - I was, and still am, rather inquisitive]. Maybe that is why I am so frustrated by people who short-change their children by trying to think for them and to force their ideas and ideologies on them.

Of the 87 books on this list, I have read [and mostly liked, though there are a few that I absolutely did not like and that is totally okay] 28 of them. I have 15 of them on my TBR list. I will be getting to them sooner rather than later. As should everyone who has ANY of them on their reading lists.

IF you want to know more about banned book and why they were/are banned then this book is for you. IF you know about banned books and want to introduce others to the knowledge about them, then this is the book for you. If you just need reminded how hard we all need to fight against this nonsense and how difficult it will be, then this is ABSOLUTELY the book for you. I highly recommend this book to everyone and anyone.

Thank you to NetGalley, and DK Publishing and all who worked on this book for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I ended up reading this shortly after the recent attack on Salman Rushdie, so my reading of the book was quite timely., I love reading about banned books in general and this was a quick and easy read. But just quick and easy as it was, the book was just as short. I wanted more. But also, the quick read was enjoyable. There was no outline of reasoning behind the selection of books. That would have been nice.

I picked this up one evening thinking that I would read just a few of the stories as I sat and relaxed. Instead, I read through the entire book (and was up past bedtime on a school night) because it was so very interesting. With the latest wave of challenges, bans, and even burnings, this review puts things into an historical perspective.

The books are arranged chronologically and grouped into Pre 1900, The 19th Century, Between the Wars, The Postwar Years, The Late 20th Century, and The 21st Century. If anyone were looking for information about book bans and challenges for a particular era, that would make it very easy to find examples. The content of each book is described, along with the reasons for why it was banned. Every entry lists the author and the year of publication. Some also feature quotes from the author or from critics.

With titles ranging from <i>The Decameron</i> and <i>The Canterbury Tales</i> to <i>Persepolis</i> and <i>The Hate U Give</i>, there are examples of books banned for their frank discussion of sex, their questioning of class and church hierarchy, or their advancement of scientific ideas. A few titles have sidebars about related topics; for example, under <i>Wycliffe's Bible</i> there is information about smuggling Bibles into the Soviet Bloc in the 1950s and details of the Scopes Monkey Trial accompany the entry for <i>On The Origin of Species</i>.

Anyone interested in where and why books are banned will appreciate this look across the centuries.

A brief overview of 87 banned books (including Salmon Rushdie's "Satanic Verses," which gave the book a whole new level of meaning this week) with a brief synopsis of each book and a little about where, when, and why the book has been challenged. Very quick, very interesting reading. I've read 23 of the books, btw.