It’s possible to find books that cover just about any interest or subject matter, but some books are known to contain particularly controversial material. Certain authors have decided to write controversial books for different reasons, and some of these authors have put their reputations and livelihoods at risk and even jeopardized their safety to publish their works.
These 10 books are considered by many to be among the most controversial books ever written.
1. The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie
Published in 1988, this novel draws upon parts of the Islamic prophet Muhammad’s life and combines magical realism with modern-day events. The book’s two main characters, Gibreel and Saladin, fall from the sky above the English Channel after the flight they were on explodes from a hijacker’s bomb. After washing up on the British coast, Gibreel and Saladin go on a surreal journey through dreams and spiritual events.
Some members of the Islamic faith consider the book a form of blasphemy that is contrary to their religious beliefs. Salman Rushdie even received death threats for writing his book and had to be placed under police protection to ensure his safety.
2. 1984 by George Orwell
Upon its release in 1949, readers got the chance to learn about a dystopian future that could prove to be true in their lifetimes. The novel introduces the concepts of the “Thought Police” and “Big Brother” and details a world where everything is controlled by a ruling government. In this grim novel, all statues have been torn down, streets have been renamed, and every other historical record has been destroyed or altered in the dystopian society.
Some readers found the book’s overall message of doom and government control too gloomy for their taste. There were readers who also believed that the book was anti-communist and attacked Joseph Stalin, while others found the book to be pro-communist.
3. The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels
When Marx and Engels published their revolutionary book in 1848, they hoped to challenge the notion of rulership and change what they felt were social class struggles in society. The book was written to lay down the rules of an ideal communist society where everyone would be considered equal. Workers were encouraged to unite and challenge the governorship that, according to the authors, had been imposed on them by the ruling class
The communist ideologies expressed in this book helped lay the groundwork for the Soviet Union and other communist nations, which add to the book’s controversy. Many people also believe that the principles of Marxism and other ideologies that spawned from this book have percolated throughout other societies and caused tremendous harm.
4. Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler
Hitler had his infamous manifesto published in two volumes in 1925 and 1927, before releasing an abridged version in 1930. The book discusses his ideas for National Socialism, which would soon be used to lay the groundwork for Nazi Germany. The book’s title is translated to My Struggle in English, and Hitler wrote the first volume while in prison for planning a revolt against the German government and completed the second volume after his release. Mein Kampf details Hitler’s disparaging views toward Jews, Slavs and other groups whom he deemed inferior, along with his desire to take vengeance upon France for Germany’s loss in World War I.
Even though Mein Kampf was viewed favorably after Hitler had ascended to power in 1933 and had sold more than five million copies by 1939, most people today recognize the vile nature of the book and view it as a roadmap to evil. The ideas that are expressed in the book helped lead to the deaths of millions of people who died on the battlefields and in concentration camps during World War II.
5. Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James
Known for its overtly sexual nature, Fifty Shades of Grey was first self-published in 2011 before being picked up by a mainstream publisher and selling more than 125 million copies worldwide. The story involves a college student named Anastasia Steele as she begins a relationship with Christian Grey, a young business professional who has a penchant for BDSM. The book also spawned the sequels Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed, along with movies with the same names.
In addition to the book’s graphic depictions of sexual situations, Fifty Shades of Grey aroused controversy among certain BDSM practitioners, some of whom believe that the book equated the sexual practice to abuse. Some critics also believe that the book presents incorrect BDSM techniques, which could be dangerous if tried in real life.
6. The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins
Evolutionary biologist and author Richard Dawkins wrote The God Delusion in 2006 to challenge religious dogma and the belief in a supernatural supreme being. In his book, Dawkins argues that there is no supernatural god and likens the belief in such a being to mental illness. He further states his opinion that morality can still exist among society without having to believe in any sort of god. Dawkins also expresses how religion has been used to justify human rights abuses throughout the centuries and how society would be better off without it.
Some critics view the book as an attack on religion, particularly the Christian and Islamic faiths. Many believe the book’s depiction of the God of the Old Testament is more of a caricature than an accurate depiction.
7. If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer by O.J. Simpson, Pablo Fenjves, Dominick Dunne, and the Goldman Family
Years after being cleared of charges for the murder of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman, O.J. Simpson wanted to release a book that detailed how he would have carried out the crimes had he been guilty. After public outrage and a lawsuit filed by the Goldman family, the book’s rights were transferred to the Goldmans. Edits were made to the final publication to include comments by the Goldmans, Pablo Fenjves and Dominick Dunne. The “If” in the book’s title was also reduced in size and placed inside the “I” on the book’s cover. The final version was released in 2007, and a portion of the proceeds go to the Ronald Lyle Goldman Foundation.
Many people believe that O.J. Simpson was actually confessing his guilt and how he flouted justice in this book. Further controversy arose from the idea that Simpson could profit from the book’s sales, but the Goldman’s lawsuit prevented that from happening.
8. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
This 1950s classic tells the fictional story of Holden Caulfield, a teen who fails out of prep school and leaves his hometown to spend time in New York City. Throughout the story, Holden experiences tumultuous relationships with people from his past along with depression and despair. Themes of society’s superficiality and other frank subjects are explored in this novel.
Even though the book’s subject matter is mostly tame by today’s standards, many of the themes involving sex, depression and loss of innocence were considered taboo in the 1950s, which made it one of the most controversial book releases of the decade. Even more controversy was sparked by the book’s depictions of prostitution and alcohol abuse.
9. Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak
Boris Pasternak, one of Russia’s most iconic novelists, poets and literary translators, wrote this classic work of fiction while living in the Soviet Union. The novel details the story of turmoil that the main character experiences because of the Russian Revolution and subsequent events that alter his life. The book introduces many characters and contains several intricate storylines that influence their lives.
Although highly praised throughout much of the world, the Soviet Union banned the book’s publication for its supposed anti-revolutionary sentiment. However, a copy of the manuscript was smuggled to Italy, where it was published in 1957 and soon earned worldwide acclaim. Even with its immense success, some critics have complained of the book’s lack of a coherent plot and its confusing chronology.
10. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Set in Alabama during the Great Depression, this classic was published in 1960 and tells the story of Tom Robinson, a black man who tries to prove his innocence after being accused of raping a white woman. The story is told from the perspective of six-year-old Jean Louise Finch and considered to be one of the most important literary works in American history that confronts the problem of racism.
Sexual themes including rape and incest are discussed in graphic detail, which makes the novel controversial among some readers. Offensive depictions of African-Americans that were used to showcase the realness of racism in the South have also upset some readers. The book has even been banned by some schools because of its disturbing details.
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