Reading with Mandy

There are numerous books I’ve read over the years that had an impact on my thinking and values and even making decisions on how to live my life. One of particular importance was Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. It also regularly finds its way onto banned books lists. I also think it’s a must read for a variety of reasons. One being the themes it discusses. It’s also a science fiction novel without being too out there (although Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams is definitely a must read too but for different reasons). It’s also short for people who don’t like to read long books. It’s a book about how censorship is evil which makes it interesting that it finds its way onto lists that are attempting to censor books. I always found it important to recognize that the books that always make their way onto the banned lists are books that should be read. They explore complex ideas and themes. They also very often attempt to appeal to the better nature of humanity. I’m not in favor of censorship in any way. Trigger warnings or age limits yes. I highly recommend waiting to tackle Nietzsche until you’re at least in your mid 20s or have a firm grounding of your belief systems because he can wreck you if you don’t. Ideas can be dangerous in the wrong hands. There’s no doubt about that, but I do find it interesting which ideas are deemed “dangerous” and which are not. For instance, Mein Kampf by Hitler is not currently banned in the United States (it is in Germany). So apparently it’s dangerous to read a fiction novel set in the future where Firefighters start fires instead of putting them out and what they are burning are books but a book that led to an ideology that resulted in World War II is not. I also always question who are these people that get to make these decisions about what is deemed acceptable and what is not. What are their credentials? What’s their agenda? Also it has the opposite effect on me. I feel that if a book is banned, that makes it move up on my list as a must read rather than discouraging me from reading it. Like what are they hiding? I also think it’s important to read the books that people are always talking about, especially the Bible. It’s very often quoted except after reading it a lot of people don’t really understand what it’s saying (and a lot of times they quote without having read it for context). I also enjoy going back and reading things I read a while ago because I find a new interpretation or I remembered something a little different than what it actually said. The mark of good literature is that reading a beloved story feels different every time because you pick up on something you missed the first time or something else that didn’t resonate the time before or there’s a new angle or more nuance to explore. At this point the books to invest money in might just be the ones that end up on the banned list in case they end up being hard to come by which I think is money well spent. Will include some links for banned books to buy. Also interestingly enough Mein Kampf doesn’t make the list or the list of Top 100 books challenged in past decades. Curious isn’t it? This has always led me to the conclusion that reading is an act of rebellion. Why? Because it opens you up to new worlds and ideas without ever having to leave your house which makes you much harder to control because you can think for yourself. So pick up a banned book and be a rebel. Happy Reading!