History's Most Banned Books

Discover the untold stories behind five banned books! From Orwell's critique of totalitarianism to Nabokov's controversial Lolita, delve into the censorship battles shaping literature's legacy. Watch now for a captivating journey through literary history!

[byronic-heroine]

I'm glad you described Lolita as a challenge to the reader. If you feel uncomfortable while following Humbert throughout the book, especially when you find yourself getting drawn into it and empathizing with him, it did was it was meant to. You've seen how easy it is for monsters to walk among us. They have human faces.

[anthonyperno]

When Mark Twain heard that his Huckleberry Finn had been "banned in Boston" literally, he sent the Massachusetts State Legislature a two word telegram. It read: "Thank you."

Sales skyrocketed across the nation.

[simhthmss]

banning animal farm and 1984 is incredible irony.

[vonneely]

The other common denominator of all these books is that they're referenced the most by people who've never actually read them, and thus understand their content the least.

[George-fuvu]

Hilarious, slightly but not completely off topic but, Graham Chapman, one of the members of Monty Python. When asked what he was most proud of, he replied: “I made three out of four films banned in Ireland.”

[deddy]

If your faith can't be questioned, is it really faith?

[CapAnson]

Orwell meant his books as warnings. He never expected they would become how-to manuals.

[p.bckman]

I've read a couple of books on this list, and the book by Rushdi is actually very well written, entertaining and with a deep cultural understanding of Middle Eastern Muslim culture. It _is_ an attack, but not on Islam. Rather it is an attack on people seeking political power thorough religion. I can see why Khomeini felt threatened by it, but from a religious point of views it is hardly more damaging than most other speculative religious fiction.

[davidjernigan]

Banning that anarchist cookbook would be pointless since one can buy US army manuals covering improvised weapons and guerrilla warfare, etc.

[rajanogray]

Any ideology, whether political or religious, that is so offended by a book that it seeks to ban it sort of gives the game away and demonstrates it cannot withstand the criticism.

[ignitionfrn]

1:00 - Chapter 1 - Animal farm
4:20 - Chapter 2 - 1984
7:35 - Chapter 3 - Lolita
10:10 - Chapter 4 - The anarchist cookbook
13:05 - Chapter 5 - The satanic verses

[yesiamsharon]

The timing of this video is incredible for me. I’ve been ordering used books so I have the unedited versions. I especially went after classics that have been on banned lists.

[robinlandry]

Banning books is ridiculous, all they do is make the books more desirable. Most of these books were part of required reading lists when i was in school. They helped develop my love of reading.

[matthewhodgson]

What happened to Salman Rushtie is disgusting

[lesliewells-igdl]

Rushdie was in hiding for many years, but in recent years he was not. And then the horrible attack. I'm so glad he survived. He said he is going to write a book about that whole incident.

[nickfoster]

In my opinion, "1984" is one of the most important books ever written. Growing up in Canada, it was assigned reading when I was in high school in the early 90's. I recently re-read it, and it is just as provocative and profound and incredible as ever.

"The Satanic Versus" is SO good; convoluted as it is, I found it immensely entertaining. The fact that fanatical, fundamentalist Muslims are so deeply offended by this book, makes it that much more of a compelling read.

[knightsnight]

Animal Farm was initially de facto banned in the UK because the author could not find a publisher. At the time, the Soviets were our best buddies, and no one wanted to upset them. However, that soon changed, and publishers stepped forward.

[bradlevantis]

11:58 what is truly ironic is sending someone to jail for possessing a book because you may be thinking about a crime….

[stevencarrollscorpio]

I'm a fan of yours and a life long resident of Bay co. FL. The ban on Animal Farm was lifted shortly after thanks to a Federal lawsuit launched by a group of students, teachers, others. Being 53, I believed I actually learned about Animal Farm possibly shortly after the ban (9th or 10th grade, a little difficult to remember, been a long time). Something to think about, thanks and carry on.

[EEsmalls]

I can understand maybe not having SOME books available in grade/middle schools, even less unavailable in high schools, but in college and at public libraries EVERYTHING should be available. Honestly though, at least in many countries, book bans are pointless because of the internet. "Removed from the internet" is basically impossible lol