Harry's Blog

You've got to admire thinking as stupid as this. This conservative US website has picked the "most harmful" books of all time.

It's a surprising list, showing not only the bias and crass stupidity of the authors, but also their inability to think for themselves outside of their own narrow prejudiced little world.

Yes one would expect Mein Kampfe to be on such a list. But Darwin's Origin of the Species? Or The Course of Positive Philosophy? The Kinsey Report? Or Keynes General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money?

One might actually call the list the most influential books of the 20th century, perhaps the most important books of the 20th century. But when faced with a bunch of academics that are one weak beer away from being back in their pickup with Bubba and Billy-Bob, you know you're going to get a dismal collection of reactionary claptrap. These guys think feminism is one of the most harmful concepts of the 20th century, get a clue guys.

I could just about cope with this being a report from wacky fundies, shit, I've dealt with enough of them in my life. But this report is be academics, people with the responsibility to teach the young. Their lack of critical thought and surprising anti-intellectualism makes me wonder what kind of cracker university actually employs Neanderthals like this.

They completely ignored genuinely harmful books such as The Bible (yes I'm a Christian, but heck a lot of harm has been done by folks not quite getting the message and using the book for oppression) or hateful bullshit like the Left Behind Books (and their ultimately evil kiddie versions).

But then, books aren't harmful. People and ideas are harmful. And this report by the guys from Cracker U seems to show that they really don't understand any of these concepts at all. But this is a website that gives time and space to Anne Coulter, so I suppose it's no surprise really.

So if I was going to do such a list what books would I pick? Tough question, I just don't believe the premise. I'd certainly like to live in a world without the Left Behind series (Interesting reading on Left Behind here), but you can't un-invent stupidity, only educate those influenced by poorly thought out ideas.

So no books will get banned by me. Though if we could trap Dan Brown or Tim LaHaye's fingers in a door or something, that wouldn't be the worst thing ever.