A disturbing revealing book about the new challenges to freedom of literature in the social media era, where anyone with an identity and an internet connection can be a censor. In That Book Is Dangerous!, Adam Szetela examines how good intentions and often successful attempts at diversity in American literature have created serious problems for literary freedom.

While progressives are right to focus on the right’s efforts to impose censorship, Szetela advocates paying attention to how left-wing censorship controls speech within the publishing industry. The author draws from interviews with presidents and vice presidents at the five largest publishing houses, literary agents at prestigious agencies, award-winning authors, editors, marketers, sensitivity readers, and other industry professionals to explore the new landscape of book publishing.

What he finds is concerning: mandatory sensitivity readings, ethical clauses in authors’ contracts, and even censorship of controversial books in the name of anti-racism, feminism, and other social justice causes. These changes in acquisition practices, editing policies, and other aspects of literary culture are direct consequences of the culture of online protests on platforms like X, Goodreads, Change.org, and others, where users rightly or wrongly accuse authors of racism, sexism, homophobia, and other violations.

But instead of genuinely addressing economic inequalities in literary production, this current moral crusade for literature only serves to entrench the regime. "While the right redefines the world in its image," writes, "the left finds itself in a circular firing squad." With compelling arguments and sharp writing, the book is a much-needed wake-up call for anyone interested in reading, writing, publishing, as well as for new generations of readers growing up today.

Pages: 280, Dimensions: 15.2x15.2cm