Basically what I learned from writing this post is, if you want your book to go down in history, as great, it needs to be banned. Every book on this list was banned, and is still getting banned. Authors should start putting a disclaimer on their books telling people it was banned, they would sell a lot more copies. People would read more classic’s. Because hey lets face it.. We like the juicy stuff don’t we. One other note from this list is pretty much every book on this list is either a national book award winner, or New York Times best seller..

I do not believe in censorship to the masses no matter how bad the book. Information should flow freely. It should never be stopped because of the views of one person, or a group. So here is a list of the ten most banned books ever. And also a list of some of the greatest books ever written!

The adventures of Huck Finn by Mark Twain, was banned in 1885. Not even a year after it was published, for its “course language” (manly slang words) and not for its use of the N word 200 times. Seems to me people had their priorities messed up in 1885. This book has been banned many times since. The most recent being a Tempe Arizona high school having it banned from its reading list in 1998.

My advice and opinion: This book is pretty tame by today’s standards, as far as slang goes. I mean we do live in the land of “LOL” and “OMG” and as far as the N word goes, listen to almost any rap song. My advice is too read this book if you haven’t already.











Lolita by Vladmir Nabokov Is a story about a pedophile… French officials banned this book for being “obscene.” The author almost destroyed his manuscript, by fire in disgust. You know this book was bad if the books own author wanted to destroy it. But still…

My advice and opinion: Ya, it’s a despicable story, about a despicable person, but its fiction. And if you can’t tell the truth when you write, then you should not write. My advice give it a look, if you can’t make it through there’s always the fireplace. Although I think you’ll read it all the way through.













The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger Is a New York Times bestseller, and a classic, but back in 1960 an English teacher in Tulsa Oklahoma was fired for assigning the book to a 11th grade English class…. What is this Footloose! Another community in Columbus Ohio, said it was “anti-white” Need I say more. The book was also criticized for its use of the slang word “screw up.” And by the way that Holden Caulfield is a bad influence!

My advice and opinion: By todays standards, Holden Caulfield would just be a shy kid, but this book is still getting flack! Give it up people! My advice Read this book! If you haven’t read this book, I would seriously have to ask you if you even like reading.











Harry potter series by J.K. Rowling, Yup! You heard me correctly. Apparently people in Lewiston Maine found that J.K. Rowling was promoting violence, witchcraft, and devil worship. But they did not get to burn Harry Potter at the stake because of fire codes, so they had to resort to a pair of scissors. Didn’t these Northeastern people learn anything from the Salem witch trials. I think Harry Potter promotes imagination, oooohhhhh what a bad thing to have!

My advice and opinion: These people couldn’t find their patronis if it was attached to there hogwart! Maybe they should read the books and get some pleasure out of life….? These books are harmless. Your kids video games are going to mess up their brains a lot more than Harry ever could!









The Anarchist cookbook by William Powell, angered government officials, as well as anarchist groups. This book was banned by just about everyone. The really doesn’t have anything in it you can’t google now a days. Powell tried to censor his book later, after he converted to christianity. In 2000 he wrote on Amazon.com that his book was a “misguided product of my adolescent anger at the prospect of being drafted and sent to Vietnam to fight in a war that I did not believe in.”

My advice and opinion: My opinion is nothing should be censored. Yes this book shows you how to make pipe bombs. And it seems the people who buy this book tend to be a little off. But most of those people are not smart enough to use the recipe’s in this book. My advice is leave this book alone, you’ll blow your arm off…







I know why the caged bird sings by Maya Angelou, This book was a National Book award winner. People did not like it because Maya pretty much told the truth about racism, sex, and rape. I guess the truth hurts sometimes. She read a poem from the book, for president Bill Clinton’s inauguration, this is something that hadn’t been done since Robert Frost read one of his poems for the Kennedy inauguration in 1960, but this book was banned…

My advice and opinion: If you don’t like the truth don’t read Maya Angelou. But if you don’t read her, your missing out. Don’t deprive yourself of this great writer. Maya Angelou writes about ugly things in this book, but she shows you there is poetry in despair. Her poetry is beautiful and thought-provoking. Shes one of those writers that can show you something so ugly, and make it look beautiful in the end.





Candide by Voltaire, was written in the 18th century, and was not immune to criticism. This book basically makes fun of everyone. Armies, church’s, and philosophers. Probably the most recent banning, would be in the 1930s, when US customs agents seized copies of the book. And then once again in 1944 when the US post Office demanded the book be dropped from the Concord books catalog.

My advice and opinion: It’s a good thing to laugh at subjects that take themselves to seriously. I’m amazed this book was banned as late as 1944, it was written almost 300 years ago! It is a book that is relevent in this day and age. The modern political system of today, mirrors the past. And it’s still fun to laugh at. Buy this book, read it, and give it to someone else so they can have a good laugh to. Maybe you’ll get the 18th century humor better than I did.









Nineteen eighty-four by George Orwell Is an ironic story of a banned book. Considering the subject matter of the book. It’s about censorship, totalitarianism, a society robbed of its free will, privacy, and truth. Hmmm, how similar to modern society. I consider it George’s last warning to mankind, since he was dying while he wrote it. This book was banned in 1981. The people behind the ban, said the book was “procommunist.” Showing that they had never read the book. Orwell coined the name “Big Brother.”

My advice and opinion: George Orwell predicted the future in my opinion. If you read this book, and then look around at your surroundings, you will see that this is true. With our Facebook and twitter, and cameras on stop lights. Do all these things really make the world a better place? Or are we selling our freewill one post or comment at a time. My advice… Read this book! This book should be read by everyone who values thought and free expression. He shows what can happen when people stop thinking for themselves, and solely let their government to make their decisions for them. Very important book…



The Satanic Verses by Salmon Rushdie, No book in the history of books was more banned, and criticized than the Satanic Verse’s. Rushdie lived in hiding for 10 years because of this book. It sparked riots, and death threats to any one that owned it, or sold it. In Venezuela they put you in prison for 15 months just for possessing it! Walden books and Barnes and Noble stopped selling it because of death threats. You think christians get mad when someone takes a jab at Jesus, well don’t ever make a jab at the prophet Mohammed…

My advice and opinion: The riots and craziness this book sparked, just makes you want to read it even more. If you truly want a book to go away, just ignore it! The title is explosive on its own, but the subject matter is even more so. The publicity people gave this book, in there arguing and for crying out loud.. Rioting! Made it what it is. I would say most of the people who hate this book, have never read it. As is the case with most banned books…. Find your own opinion. Read this book.





Brave new world by Aldous Huxley, This is another one of those ironic case’s of people banning a book that mirror’s the society of today. The book speaks of a boring, drugged up, and over stimulated population….. Sex, drugs and suicide run through out this book. The main character is just trying to find a life worth living. This book had censors flicking there Bic lighters, just waiting to set on fire! Why? Because it spoke the truth… In Corona-Norco California people banned it because the book “centered around negativity.” Really…..!

My advice and opinion: I remember reading this book when I was 20 years old, and thinking how much it mimicked the world I lived in. I put the book down, and got ready to go out with my friends to play a gig at a seedy little bar in Las Vegas. I walked into the bar, and the first conversation I overheard, was a girl telling her friend how she couldn’t function unless she took a Soma before she went out. A grin passed my face, and I got on stage to play the show. Read this book. It will change your perspective on prescription drugs, and what you view as a successful person.

Don’t ever let anybody tell you what you should read, or how you should think! Read and become powerful! Once again all of these awesome thought-provoking books can be purchased at www.jamulbookandmusic.com