Wow, Julia, thanks for that. Amazon sometimes does stuff that makes me mad but that is really cool.

Simon,

Should nuclear physicists not be able to publish their research or their textbooks?

Ixan,

The Protocals of the Learned Elders of Zion is not illegal to own in the US. (It may be illegal in Germany.)
Also, Will Eisner did a graphic novel based on it. Here are two paragraphs from the review here, on Goodreads from Amazon.
April 6, 2000
As some readers may be aware, a hoax e-mail has been circulating widely that falsely claims Amazon.com has favorably reviewed this book. This allegation is, of course, absolutely untrue. Nevertheless, this rumor has become so widespread on the Internet that it's already a recognized "urban legend," just like alligators living in the sewers. Amazon.com obviously does not endorse The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion. This book is one of the most infamous, and tragically influential, examples of racist propaganda ever written. It may be useful to some as a tool in the teaching of the history of anti-Semitism, but it's unquestionably propaganda.

Does Amazon.com sell this book? Of course we do, along with millions of other titles. The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion is classified under "controversial knowledge" in our store, along with books about UFOs, demonic possession, and all manner of conspiracy theories. You can also find books in other sections of Amazon.com's online bookstore that analyze The Protocols' fraudulent origins and its tragic historical role in promoting anti-Semitism and Jewish persecution, including A Lie and a Libel: The History of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion.

Should Amazon.com sell The Protocols and other controversial works? As a bookseller, Amazon.com strongly believes that providing open access to written speech, no matter how hateful or ugly, is one of the most important things we do. It's a service that the United States Constitution protects, and one that follows a long tradition of booksellers serving as guardians of free expression in our society.
The Protocols of the Learned Elders of ZionThe Plot The Secret Story of The Protocols of the Elders of Zion

While politically I agree with your values, Simon, this group does not advocate the banning of any book. I believe that banning books only makes them more appealing and doesn't help the situation. Interesting that you are against Libertarianism when you gave 5 stars to the Moon is a Harsh Mistress, practically a Libertarian manifesto.

Many books should be illegal to own. Books that advocate libertarinism or anarchy or how to make atomic bombs should all be illegal to own.

Books encouraging bigotry make me mad. I do wish they wouldn't be published but I would never dream of banning them or preventing their authors from excercising their rights to free speech. I just won't have anything to do with them.

Chris wrote: "The only books that would be illegal to own in the US would contain images of child pornography. Possession of a book is not illegal unless one does something illegal with the knowledge gained."

Its also illegal to own The Protocols of the Elders, I think, probably because its a myth made up to engender anti-semitism.

Interesting, Impboy, thanks for sharing. Where did you hear about these books? I think it's great that books that have been banned still find the light of day somehow!

In terms of information given, I can only think of two books in particular - aside from some US Government titles that have been pulled because of info in them they don't want Thee Terrorists to read - that have been kept out of the public's hands intentionally:

-The Encyclopedia of Jihad: a massive 11-volume collection ostensibly cobbled together by Al-Qaeda in part by CIA manuals left over from the Afghani war in the '80s. This will teach you how to deliver babies, drive tanks, make bombs out of candy bar wrappers, you name it.

http://multimedia.belointeractive.com/at...

-The Paper Doctor: A Vibrational Medicine Cabinet by Don Gerrard: This book is a prime example of radionic healing, meaning that this deals with technology that depends on one's subjectivity to complete the circuit. In this case, the author declared that the images and instructions within the book itself could be used to heal. As you can imagine, health professionals threw a hissy-fit, and ordered whatever copies that weren't sold destroyed. If you can find an original copy, expect to pay $200-$700, as this is highly sought after in the psychotronic community.

the book is passe. i read it in 10th grade. it has nothing to do with anarchism or DIY culture-- it's just a list of semi-accurate options for getting yourself locked down for misplaced boredom's sake. its value is that it looks all badass and controversial to other high school kids when propped against Sex Pistols record stacks.

Although this book has some ideas and recipes that work, some of it is just plain bunk, such as the ability to smoke bananas. In fact here's a little blurb about the so-called "bananadine" for anyone interested.

http://www.avclub.com/content/feature/do...

The point is, don't believe everything that you read, banned or otherwise.

I read a copy of the cookbook, well, a cookbook. It did have actual recipes for meth among other things.
It also had a section for hacking and such. Basic stuff, but feature simple ways to attack a BIOS from within a DOS-based C program.
It had some other things. I believe it was the first place I heard of how to make TNT from animal fat and such (like in Fight Club).
I doubt it is illegal. Although to put any of that stuff into practice would be illegal.

haha we have a copy of that book.....

The only books that would be illegal to own in the US would contain images of child pornography. Possession of a book is not illegal unless one does something illegal with the knowledge gained.

I read up on this book a little while ago. As far as I recall, this book is not illegal in the United States - we even had a copy in our public school library when I was in middle school - but I think it has been made illegal in the UK. As for its contents, it's been widely recognized as false information. The author has denounced his own book as garbage he made up to "shock the system." There are several versions floating around the internet claiming to be the real deal, but as far as my research went they were all pretty much the same crap as before. If you really find yourself wanting to know how to make crazy things, just take a Chemistry class. You'll learn the facts and you probably won't accidentally lose a limb.

That is what I am saying this book has been out of print since like 1976 and somehow Amazon.com "not" one of the used dealers got their hands on sealed copies.

I purchased one isbn# 0974458902
reprinted in 2003
On the back it does print that this book is illegal to own. lol

How illegal could it be if you bought it on Amazon?

Well, that is a good piece of marketing.

Wikipedia says about the Anarchist's Cookbook:


Legality
In October 2007, a BBC news report alleged that a 17-year-old boy, charged with two counts of terrorism-related offenses, possessed a copy of the book.[5]

Later that month, PhillyNews reported a similar case in the Plymouth Whitemarsh school district in which a teenager planning a "Columbine-esque" school shooting was arrested and after a search warrant was executed was found to have a copy of the book along with numerous air powered weapons, black powder grenades, a 9mm rifle, a hand-painted Nazi flag, and a video related to the Columbine massacre.


I assume you are not too concerned about the legality of owning this book or you would probably not be announcing the fact on a public forum like this...

I purchased a book on amazon the other day called THE ANARCHIST COOKBOOK.
I read the book in about 2 or so hours because it is kinda short but it is a recipe book for drugs and anarchist distruction.
On the back of the book it states that
Warning this book is illegal to own.