Grimly Fiendish

In the good old days, when one disagreed with the contents of a book, the thing to do was to burn it. In this more enlightened age it seems more sensible to pulp the offending tomes and recycle them as educational materials for the children and adults of Developing Nations, or for other humanitarian ends.

My question to you all is this; which books, in their entire print runs and their previous editions, do you feel it would be best to destroy and recycle in the manner outlined above. Should you have particular reasons for selecting a certain title or titles then please explain them. Please also suggest the type of educational materials you would like to see your chosen books recycled as.

Thank you for your time.

Respectfully,

Grimly Fiendish.

Toto

I don't see a church state separation issue here, and this is not what we mean by "secular activism."

I think that this topic would do better in MD.

As to the substance of the question, I would nominate the Protocols of the Elders of Zion.

Sakpo

None. And especially not The Protocols of The Elders of Zion. While that book is absolutely disgusting, and has done a lot of damage, I don't think wiping it of existence would do much good. For starters, I think it's already done most of its damage already. Secondly, to eliminate it would probably be seen by some as confirmation that it had the truth but was suppressed. Thirdly, like it or not, it is an important and influential document, and should be preserved for study.

PopeInTheWoods

Another (reluctant) vote for none. But Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus and the other thousands of pop-psychology scams over the last few decades sure are tempting....

Andy

Sakpo

Agreed. Perhaps I shouldn't admit this, but a part of me would like to see everything by Thomas Hardy vanish too.

Godless Dave

When I don't like a book, I stop reading it and return it to the library.

Rusting Car Bumper

I find it funny that some people treat books as sacred objects.

If my ass was cold and I needed fuel for the fire im sure a few books would be plopped right on it.

DC

Rhaedas

Sure, in a pinch I'd burn a book or two for firewood, if I was cold. They aren't sacred.

A book is a method of permanently recording someone's idea, and we all have great ones and terrible ones. But all should be kept, for even the bad ideas can spark discussion leading to good ideas. A few quotes come to mind to illustrate this, such as "standing on the shoulders of giants" or "those who forget history are doomed to repeat it".

So I would concur with others, and say none. If the book is so bad in its idea or just in its writing, then that will be represented in both being able to read it for yourself, and from any critics of the work. And that may help prevent the repeating of the same errors.

Comquirk

For me, there are few things worse than the willful destruction of information. Carl Sagan had a great quote about that:

"History is full of people who, out of fear, or ignorance, or lust for power have destroyed knowledge of immeasurable value which truly belongs to us all. We must not let it happen again."

Even utter bullshit like The Protocols have too much value to destroy.

Flyboy

I hold the same sentiment, and thus must post my vote for none.

Of course you must keep in mind that I am a bit of a bibliophile. In a pinch my books would be about the last thing I would burn.