My Literature is Radical
Sat, Apr 7th, 2007
I know I’m a rad dude. But am I radical?
Apparently, the Bucks County Public Library thinks so.
A branch of the Bucks County Public Library recently refused the donation of two copies of Vegan Freak: Being Vegan in a Non-Vegan World, the book I co-authored with my wife Jenna. In returning the books to the donor, they explained that the library doesn’t accept “radical literature.” As a result, the donor is now sitting on two copies of our book that he doesn’t need, and I’m wondering about censorship and what, exactly, constitutes “radical literature.”
Though I wouldn’t argue that sales mean much in terms of the value of a book intellectually, it might help you to know that our radical little book sells pretty well. Vegan Freak has sold thousands of copies since it came out in 2005, and it continues to be a strong performer today. In addition, our book isn’t a stranger to library shelves. To take just one example, our book is available for loan at the Seattle Public Library. Their catalog lists all copies as held or checked out, with holds pending. (They must like radical ideas in Seattle better than in the ‘burbs of Philly.)
What I find interesting isn’t that the library won’t stock our book — libraries no doubt refuse to stock both radical and non-radical books all the time — but the reason they provide. I wonder: what constitutes “radical literature,” and how does one know where to draw the line? Is it radical to advocate veganism? To advocate for a change in the status quo? To argue that animals are sentient and that the way we treat them is wrong? Or, is trying to delineate what a “radical” book is a question that is so fraught with censorship that one shouldn’t even bother trying?
Apparently, the Bucks County Public Library knows radical when it sees it, and they also apparently feel comfortable with a vague blanket policy to reject “radical” ideas in their hallowed stacks. I find this depressingly odd for a library. Growing up, I spent a lot of time hanging out in various public libraries in Philadelphia. I saw the libraries as a refuge where I could find information on a variety of ideas without being mocked for the questions I was asking. What I learned in those libraries shaped the person I am today. Because of some librarian that wasn’t afraid of “radical” ideas, I was able to educate myself about communism and atheism at a young age, to be exposed to ideas that challenged me, and to think critically about the world around me through compelling books.
Our book is radical, but not in the way that the uptight prigs in Bucks County imagine. In my forthcoming book, I discuss what I mean by “radical:”
The Latin root of the word “radical†is “radix,†which means “root.†What I propose here is radical. I want to get at the root of the problem, to put forth a systemic approach that examines root causes rather than simply putting weak salves on a deep wound. It is my belief that the only way we’ll begin to solve the deep problems of modern capitalism is by attacking the root cause of the problems. The longer we maintain a narrow, myopic and singular vision of what the struggle for social justice means, that’s all the longer we’ve condemned the oppressed to their oppression.
Of course, the kind of analysis that I’m doing in my forthcoming book isn’t terribly different in spirit than the kind of analysis that we did in Vegan Freak, particularly in the chapter on the systemic aspects of animal exploitation. In this way, I proudly own the idea of being radical. I want to get to the root of the problem, get underneath it, and figure out how to overturn it. But when the public library that rejected our books said they were “radical,” I suspect they thought of it as more of a dismissive epithet.
What’s most laughable about being rejected for radicalism is that right-wing hatemongers like Ann Coulter who have no problem vilifying their enemies as “faggots” find space on the shelves in the venerable Bucks County Library system (don’t believe me? Check their catalog). Regardless of how repulsive I find her ideas, I actually think that as a matter of principle, her books should be on library shelves — but they should be joined by other books from across the spectrum of political and social thought.
In the end, I’m not sure why a public library — ostensibly, an institution in the business of the free exchange of ideas — would have a policy that as a rule forbids “radical literature.” This raises so many complex questions about what constitutes “radical” that such a blanket prohibition essentially boils down to anything that the library doesn’t like. Isn’t that a bit too vague when ideas are at stake?
# Comment by Chris on Sat, Apr 7th, 2007 at 10:28 pm:
Don’t feel bad…your banned book is in good company.
Here’s an irony-laden link to cheer you up:
http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/bannedbooksweek/bannedbooksweek.htm
I guess the librarians only care when ~other people~ ban books. When they do it, it must be okay.
# Comment by noixtoc on Sun, Apr 8th, 2007 at 2:20 pm:
Wow. As a future librarian I find this highly offensive *and* problematic. Particularly in light on other books that they have on veganism, animal rights, animal testing, etc. They may not have a great collection, but they have a number of books that I find more “extreme”.
Were I the donor, I would be very tempted to ask them to clarify what they meant by “radical” and what they thought was “radical” about your book.
# Comment by Drasch23 on Sun, Apr 8th, 2007 at 9:10 pm:
This is pretty scary. I also would have asked for a definition of what is deamed radical. I know you probably wouldn’t have done any better here in Green Bay as I can’t find ANY animal rights books in our libraries.
Fuck Bucks County
# Comment by Bob Torres on Sun, Apr 8th, 2007 at 9:39 pm:
@Chris: Thanks — indeed, that is pretty good company. Also, your blog entry that referenced this post was pretty damn funny, if I say so myself.
@noixtoc: I should encourage the donor to ask — I’m kind of surprised that he didn’t. Next time I’m in touch, I’ll encourage him to do so.
@Drasch: Fuck Bucks indeed!
Thanks, everyone, for the thoughtful comments so far!
# Comment by noixtoc on Sun, Apr 8th, 2007 at 10:25 pm:
@Bob - Definitely he should ask. The public library is meant to serve all of the public and ideally should offer books on all sides of each debate (pro-vegan, anti-vegan, etc.). They may have misunderstood what the book was about or they may have read just those two pages about sex related stuff.
He should consider asking for a short meeting with whoever is in charge with making such decisions at his library and he should go in armed with the books, reviews, reasons why they should include the book in their collection, etc.
A short list of a few like-minded books that he deems to be just as or more radical which the library **already has on the shelf** (and, why they are more radical) could be helpful, too. He could also add a few books that are more explicit to the list, in case it is because of the sex stuff.
No point in being confrontational, but it’s a good idea to be prepared.
If he feels like he is getting the run around he could also ask for them to show him what part of the Collection Development Policy states that veganism is a radical topic that should not be included.
It is possible that they are censoring the book because of all the “naughty” stuff at the end of chapter 5… public libraries are notorious for being conservative but claiming that they don’t censor sex (I met a collections librarian from a relatively liberal library that claimed that they don’t carry Playboy because there isn’t a demand for it - because apparently men stopped enjoying looking at naked women).
Anyway, yeah, sorry for the long response, but it’s stuff worth considering.
# Comment by Matt Hastings on Mon, Apr 9th, 2007 at 11:00 am:
Bob, I was very surprised to read this. Like you I always thought that library’s were places we could go to find information on a variety of topics, whether they be from the from the far left or far right. No matter the Liberian’s personal bias it seems imperative that in such a establishment they set this bias aside and make selections in the interest of public access to information. I would love to hear why this library did not want to carry your book if you ever find out the reason.
-Matt Hastings
P.S. On the show you requested that people send you links to their blogs, so here it is: http://askavegan.blogspot.com . It’s still new, and not that good, but I have no idea what you like to read so check it out.
# Comment by Mindy on Tue, Apr 10th, 2007 at 12:20 am:
That is amazingly ridiculous! I’m glad to be here where our library has 5 copies and 3 holds.
# Comment by Bryce Erlandson on Wed, Apr 11th, 2007 at 3:32 am:
Hey Bob,
Since your just sitting on Two Copies that you Don’t Need. My hometown’s library in Kennewick, WA doesn’t have a copy either. If it would suede you, it is even a group of shared resource libraries spanning several counties. It’s the Mid Columbia Library Kennewick Branch if you’re interested. Could be good for a conservative town with only a fistfull of Vegans (including Vegan Lunchbox).
# Comment by Bob Torres on Wed, Apr 11th, 2007 at 9:53 pm:
Hey Bryce,
I’m not sitting on the copies — the donor is. But if you are serious about needing copies, drop me an email with an address. I’d send some to a library, as long as I could be certain that they’d end up there (rather than banned, burnt, or thrown out).
@noixtoc: (btw, how the fuck do I *pronounce* that?) I’ll pass on your points to the donor and see. I suspect he isn’t interested in taking it further, but if he is, you certainly laid out the way to go!
@Matt: I’d love to hear too. Thanks for the link as well. I’ve added you to my feed reader.