Monday, January 14, 2013

Books Are Dangerous

Well, good books are. Ones that have something to say, that make you think. Inane books can be fun or   help us take a break, but they aren't dangerous.

In The Giver, Lois Lowry asks us to imagine a "safe" society. Much has been taken away ... choice of spouse, choice of work, weather, color, love....and books. Each household has only three books: a dictionary, a practical guide to the community and a book of rules. In school, students are taught precision of language, science and technology, and civics. No history, no literature. Risk has been reduced, but at a price. There is no depth to life, no feelings. Things are always predictable, calm, the same. The community seems wrong, even before its darker side is revealed.

Taking away books and history is the only way for the community to function. If they had those things, the order of life would almost inevitably be challenged. If people could think for themselves, they would insist on choices and inevitably some would make the wrong ones. People generations back had chosen safety over freedom.

As we let our children read books, we expose them to new ideas and new ways of thinking. It's a risk. They may grow up to be different from us, perhaps in ways that will break our hearts. They may choose wrong paths.

But, if we keep them on the right path by limiting what they read too far, they aren't actually choosing the right path. They are just following, without really understanding what they are doing and they might do that all their lives..... a frightening thought.

Beyond that, being dangerous isn't the same as being evil. Here's a quote from one of my favorite books:
Gimli said, "But you speak of him as if he were a friend. I thought Fangorn was dangerous."
    "Dangerous!" cried Gandalf. "And so am I, very dangerous: more dangerous than anything you will ever meet, unless you are brought alive before the seat of the Dark Lord. And Aragorn is dangerous, and Legolas is dangerous. You are beset with dangers, Gimli son of Gloin; for you are dangerous yourself, in your own fashion. Certainly the forest of Fangorn is perilous - not least to those that are too ready with their axes; and Fangorn himself, he is perilous too; yet he is wise and kindly nonetheless."
                                                                     J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers

The protagonists -- honorable folk --  are here described as dangerous. They are -- lethal shots, deadly fighters. But they are right and good, as well. Only evil need fear them.

Books are dangerous because they change us. They can upset the status quo, give voice to injustice, sound warnings about trends and systems. They do it by introducing realities to people who haven't been able to see them, by planting new ideas.

Yes, some of those ideas are wrong, even evil. One of the things we need to learn is how to distinguish between good and bad arguments, right and wrong patterns, acceptable and unacceptable ways of thinking.  As we encounter these things in books and stories, we learn to evaluate them in the real world. It's an important part of education and a good reason to study a broad array of literature.


What dangerous books have you encountered? 
How have they changed you?




I am participating in the January 2013 Ultimate Blog Challenge.

17 comments:

  1. What a good post. Your title had me I had to read what you wrote. I love books and think of them as treasures surely not dangerous. After reading your blog I understood where you where going with your thought process. To me I believe the Bible is the most dangerous book. It gives the answers and if we refuse to use it there are consequences.

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    1. Thanks. I agree the Bible is the most dangerous book -- as the Living Word it changes and challenges all who read it, even those who know it well. Glad you stopped by!

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  2. Books can teach us more then we can learn from one teacher. My older kids use to talk about people in books like they were the next door neighbor. Books build imagination too. Thanks for stopping by my blog. UBC

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    1. My son speaks of characters that way, too. Glad you came by.

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  3. The book of life is a "read" that coaxes too many to villainize one another without getting what Gandalf related to Gimli. Life is loaded, chock full of material that is dangerous in the sense Gandalf meant too and "safe" circumstances and conditions definitely aren't the moral to the story. Life as is most likely offers all that we need if we learn to read. I love other so-called "dangerous" books too! Stirring post!

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    1. Yes, life is full of a variety of dangerous people and situations. Thanks!

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  4. Growing up, when one of my parents gave me something to read, they also re-read it so that we could discuss its content - the ideas presented, our own thoughts and perspective, and lessons learned. The characters in fiction became real. The ideas presented in books like "Malcolm X" helped me understand my father. (And probably contributed to establishing my own philosophies). Yes, books are dangerous, but I'd rather we have dangerous books than "Fahrenheit 451."

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    1. We read a lot of books together, too, and discuss them. I couldn't agree more with your final statement!

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    2. You know, "Farenheit 451" is a pretty dangerous book itself.

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  5. I love books mostly because of what you said: they make us think. Fantasy, both modern and historical, are definitely my favorites, in that they really give the imagination a workout with new worlds, characters and ideas. I don't think of them as dangerous, though; I suppose maybe I don't agree with Gandalf in that respect, but to me, NOT exposing oneself to new ideas and new concepts is the dangerous act, not reading a book that makes us think. Of course, its really only the other side of the same coin. Books have changed me and my life, however, mostly when I was young, by the concept of escape: I could get out of my crap childhood for a while, pretend I was someone, somewhere else. And as I grew up, books gave me the ability to handle tough situation by remembering strong characters and channeling them when I needed a little personal strength.

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    1. I think we are on the same page, so to speak. We just express ourselves in different ways. I agree if we don't expose ourselves to new ideas (and new "worlds") we are deprived. Books enrich us. Fantasy stories are my favorites, also!!

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  6. The most "dangerous" book for me would be the Bible, it can change me like nothing else. There is nothing to compare to it.

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  7. I don't believe there is a such thing as a dangerous book. I enjoy books, I adore that people have different beliefs and thoughts, that is what makes the world great. If we all thought the same thing, the world would be a very boring place indeed.

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    1. I agree thoroughly that the world would be boring if we all thought the same thing. I am actually speaking against anti-intellectualism here. And putting out that books challenge and change us. Thanks for stopping by!

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  8. It's been many years since I've read "The Giver". Other dangerous books, besides The Bible? The Hunger Games - which I read before all the hype, before the sequels that fell way short of the original. Fahrenheit 451. The Martian Chronicles. 1984.

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  9. I haven't read the Hunger Games as of yet, but agree on all the others.

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