Dangerous books are mystery, thriller, and action-type books based on fiction or nonfiction. Some of these books are already banned or restricted for age and psychology. You can see the most dangerous category books in action films or movies. Most of the films are blockbusters because people like this genre. If you want to read the most dangerous books in the world, stay with me.
10 Most Dangerous Books In The World
I will reveal the most dangerous category books ranked by Goodreads review. You can read these books, or if you think any of them are hard to read, you can watch a movie. So let’s start with the 10 most dangerous books in the world.
1. Beyond Good and Evil
Beyond Good and Evil is Nietzsche’s morality. His big thing is that people have been judging morality by good and evil, thinking that evil is the opposite of good. So what interest is if you take the opposite, that it is evil? He’s saying that it’s not so simple. He says the terminology of good and evil, as the title implies. Also, He talks about master and slave morality, and it seems he is. All about master morality, he is saying that you should be exerting power over others.
This book is one of the most dangerous nonfiction books ever. Its questions, philosophy, principles, and every thought are masterpieces. The topics that the philosophers or the common people are afraid to discuss are listed in the book, questioning Christian morality. What are the bars set for morality, or are they all saying that if you are into philosophy, then Beyond Good And Evil is a must-read?
Author: Friedrich Nietzsche
Average Rating: (4.4/5)
Category: Politics & Social Sciences
2. American Gods
American Gods is an adult stand-alone fantasy mythology-based fantasy novel that follows the main character of Shadow. He’s in his early 30s and has been in prison for a few years because of an assault charge. Also, he is about to get out of prison. He gets many warnings that a storm is coming, and he is released from prison early because he finds out that his wife has been killed in an auto accident. After getting released, he comes into contact with some interesting characters who want to hire him for various jobs, and everything goes from there.
This book combines American culture with the mythology of all different pantheons. It’s a very famous book at this point. It’s been around for a long time, and multiple awards have existed. Neil Gaiman is a fantastic writer, and he does this thing with the blending of American cultures and then other cultures and old gods versus new gods. This battle is going on between them and the politics of that. If you’re used to fantasy and mythology, you get applied to America, which doesn’t usually happen.
Overall, this is a very male-dominated story. The female characters seem to get pushed aside, or are the male characters motivated to be overly sexualized? A lot is going on with that, and I haven’t found other Neil Gaiman books I’ve read. So this is very brutal in many ways and a blunt book.
Author: Neil Gaiman
Average Rating: (4.5/5)
Category: Literature & Fiction
3. 1984 (Signet Classics)
This book story takes place in a world which is in nineteen eighty-four. It was written in nineteen forty-nine by George Orwell. So it was written 40 years before nineteen eighty-four. It’s a fascinating dystopian world. Every move that you make is watched.
You cannot do, say, or think anything without ‘Big Brother,’ the ruling power. Big Brother is a fictional character who rules over everything. You can do nothing he will not know about or find out about. He has telescreens in everyone’s homes and can watch people and pick up any sounds they make.
In this world, there is a force called the thought police. These people are trained to look for people, have evil thoughts, or are not conforming to the ways of society. It was a thought-provoking book. It was incredible in the way that it was written. The ending was pretty horrific. You can not expect it. So 1984 is one of the most dangerous books in the world.
Author: George Orwell
Average Rating: (4.7/5)
Category: Genre Fiction
4. The Feminine Mystique
The Feminine Mystique is a core document of the second wave of feminism lasting from the 1960s to the 1980s. During World War II, many women took on new economic and social roles, including working in heavy industry and significant participation in the armed forces. The U.S. government emphasized these roles for women as a positive development. However, after the war ended and throughout the 1950s, the traditional cult of domesticity came back to dominate.
During the 1950s, as the economy boomed, suburbs sprung up across the country. The ideal for women was reinforced by society and media to aspire to be a housewife. A woman would focus her energies on raising her children. Another big development during the 1950s that stretched into the 60s was the civil rights movement. The movement also inspired other rights movements, including the feminist.
The Feminine Mystique starts by discussing a problem that has no name. Friedan says that women have seen despair as an individual issue and problem, but she argues it is a societal problem. As a dangerous book, it criticizes the popular social science theory of functionalism, which says that women were confined to societal roles.
Author: Betty Friedan
Average Rating: (4.7/5)
Category: Politics & Social Sciences
5. The 120 Days of Sodom
This is such a challenging book to talk about on camera and sensitively. There’s no question that any of that subject matter is in that book. Even a fraction of the explicitness of that book is entirely unpalatable. It’s an extremely violent and sexualized work of total obscenity. There’s nothing palatable about that and no enjoyment to be had there.
So 120 Days of Sodom is many things on its most simple level. It’s a satire of human civilization, humanity, and the particular repressive society where the author sometimes found himself imprisoned. Also, it’s France on the eve of the revolution, and it’s a time of total corruption. Additionally, it’s a book of moral philosophy with serious issues.
Author: Marquis de Sade
Average Rating: (4.4 /5)
Category: World Literature
6. Souls Unfractured
Souls Unfractured is a dark contemporary romance that follows a motorcycle gang called the Hades Hangmen. Then there’s a cult, and the cult is evil. The gang is not family or not even related, but they are family because they’re always together. They go on rides together and sell guns illegally. At the beginning of the book, they go through terminology. So it’s like the glossary, and they go through the terminology of the cult.
It’s more like an emotional relationship where one can’t be without another, unlike a physical one. Many sad and emotional things do happen that are not given away. But if you can get over that, it gives you perspectives of different people and what can happen out there. It shows you real life. If you have not read the first two books, what ends up happening is they raid the compound because it sticks in. The first book is about dating. If you want to see dark moments, I recommend reading the first book in a series.
Author: Tillie Cole
Average Rating: (4.8/5)
Category: Literature & Fiction
7. A Clockwork Orange
A Clockwork Orange was first published in 1962 and had only 213 pages. The book focuses on the main character, Alex, and his friends, George and Diem. The book is also divided into three parts, the first part. You were following Alex and his friends, who all lack a complete sense of morality. Alex himself is classified as a psychopath. You were following them while carrying out what they describe as acts of ultraviolence. It could be from beating people up to raping people to burglary.
Alex’s authority was there in a large burglary. They knock Alex unconscious and leave him there by himself for the guards or cops or police. Alex is then taken by the police and sentenced to 14 years in prison. The book’s second part focuses on Alex in prison and undergoing behavior modification therapy. The third part focuses on when Alex is released from prison.
So the big thing in the book is the use of language. When you read the book, the book is a lot deeper. It makes you think about the whole free will aspect.
Author: Anthony Burgess
Average Rating: (4.5/5)
Category: Politics & Government
8. Fahrenheit 451
Fahrenheit 451 is the story of Guy Montag, who is a fireman. It was a story of loneliness and self-discovery. There’s no year indicated with a novel when this story takes place. But in this world, firemen don’t put out fires. They set fires in the houses of people discovered to own books. As books have been completely outlawed, Montag never questions his line of work until he meets Clearys, his 20-year-old neighbor. She brings light to the fact that things haven’t always been like this.
Firemen didn’t always set fires, and she brings awareness to the history of books and firemen. After this, Montag questions everything and presents his thoughts to his wife, Mildred. She completely dismisses him as she’s more into watching TV than paying attention to what’s happening worldwide. Curiosity finally gets the better of the post-rock guy, and he begins to take matters into his own hands. You’ll be unsatisfied if you go into this novel looking for an epic dystopian tale.
Author: Politics & Government
Average Rating: (4.6/5)
Category: Ray Bradbury
9. The Da Vinci Code
In this book, The Da Vinci Code, we open up with a murder. This is a very strange murder at the Louvre Museum in Paris, besides the murder victim’s body, who happens to be the museum’s caretaker. There is a strange puzzle, a mathematical message. The caretaker carved a pentagram in their chest or painted with their blood. It’s a bizarre crime scene.
So the police call in Robert Langdon (main character), the symbologist, the scholar. He comes to try to help them make sense of this crime scene. He happens to be a partner in this novel named Sophie. She’s also a police cryptologist with a father with some strange pagan background.
So that sets this up. It’s this vast suspense story that plays out here. There’s a controversial theme here in the plot: the kings of France descended from the bloodline of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. It brought a lot of interesting perspectives to this novel with serious topics.
Author: Dan Brown
Average Rating: (4.6/5)
Category: Thrillers & Suspense
10. American Psycho
American Psycho, a novel from the early 90s that sparked outrage, got dropped by its original publisher and then picked up by another as a first-person character study of a 27-year-old Wall Street investment banker who is a serial killer. The book is composed of his neurotic thoughts displayed in excruciating detail. His name is Patrick Bateman.
The film adaptation is a black comedy cult classic with an indisputably perfect performance by Christian Bale. Two more iconic scenes from the film in the book haunt the minds of everyone. American Psycho is an individual confession, but not a confrontation of emptiness, a portrayal of inner post-rock bottom, but even worse, an acceptance of it. In some moments, a disturbing celebration happened, like Lucifer and Paradise Lost in his new Kingdom of Hell, Hail Whores. So, it is one of the most dangerous novels in the world.
Author: Bret Easton Ellis
Average Rating: (4.5/5)
Category: Literature & Fiction
More Dangerous Books Lists
- Rage, Stephen King
- The Satanic Verses, Salman Rushdie
- The Secret Agent, Joseph Conrad
- The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger
- Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Harriet Beecher Stowe
- The Turner Diaries, William Luther Pierce
- The Collector, John Fowles
- The Foundation series, Isaac Asimov
- Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Friedrich Nietzsche
- A Clockwork Orange, Anthony Burgess
- Seven Days in Rio, Francis Levy
- A Million Little Pieces, James Frey
- Sarah, JT Leroy
- The Jewel of Medina, Sherry Jones
- Fight Club, Chuck Palahniuk
- Animal Farm, George Orwell
- Mein Kampf, Adolf Hitler
- Don’t Close Your Eyes, Lynessa Layne
- Deadly Intent, Pamela Clare
- Dangerous Games, Keri Arthur
- Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, Patrick Suskind
Why are some books considered dangerous?
Some books are considered dangerous for various reasons, usually depending on the historical, cultural, or political context in which they are being read. A few reasons why certain books are dangerous include:
Challenging authority: Some books question or criticize the ruling power, institutions, or social norms. This can make them dangerous in the eyes of those who benefit from the existing system. They might fear losing their power or influence.
Controversial ideas or themes: Books that explore controversial topics or present unconventional ideas are dangerous to those who find such content offensive, immoral, or profane. This could be due to religious, cultural, or personal reasons.
Inciting violence or hatred: Some books promote or glorify violence, racism, or other forms of hate. These books can be considered dangerous because they inspire individuals or groups to commit acts of violence or discrimination.
Propaganda or misinformation: Books that spread false information, propaganda, or conspiracy theories are dangerous because they can influence people’s beliefs and actions based on incorrect or manipulative information.
Subversive or revolutionary content: Some books encourage readers to rebel against the current system, inciting change or revolution. These books can be dangerous to those in power who wish to maintain the status quo.
Considering danger can vary greatly depending on the time, place, and culture. A book considered dangerous in one context might be celebrated or accepted in another. As societies evolve and values change, the perception of what constitutes a dangerous book can shift.
What is the most banned book in the US?
The list of challenged or banned books has changed over time and varies across different regions and institutions. However, one frequently banned or challenged book in the U.S. is “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain.
The novel has faced controversy for its use of racial slurs, depiction of racial stereotypes, and portrayal of race relations in the 19th-century United States. Critics argue that the book promotes racism, while supporters claim it is an essential work of American literature that reflects and critiques the social attitudes of its time.
Other commonly banned or challenged books in the U.S. include:
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
- The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.
- Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck.
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
- Brave New World by Aldous Huxley.
These books, along with many others, have faced challenges and bans in schools and libraries for various reasons, including themes related to race, sexuality, profanity, and violence.
Dangerous books not to read
The perception of danger is highly subjective and depends on individual values and beliefs. However, some books have been considered dangerous or controversial for various reasons. Here are a few examples:
Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler: This autobiographical work outlines Hitler’s political ideology and the foundations of the Nazi Party. It contains anti-Semitic and racist ideas contributing to the Holocaust and World War II.
The Anarchist Cookbook by William Powell: This book, published in 1971, contains instructions for making homemade bombs, weapons, and other dangerous devices. It has been linked to various acts of violence and domestic terrorism.
The Turner Diaries by William Luther Pierce: Written under a pseudonym, this novel depicts a violent white supremacist revolution in the United States. It has been associated with acts of terrorism, including the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.
The Protocols of the Elders of Zion: This anti-Semitic fabricated text describes a Jewish plan for global domination. Despite being debunked as a hoax, it has been used to justify anti-Semitic persecution and violence.
The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie: This novel includes a fictionalized account of the life of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, which was met with widespread protests and calls for censorship from some Muslim communities. The book’s perceived blasphemy led to a fatwa being issued against Rushdie by Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini, calling for his assassination.
These books have been seen as dangerous or controversial. Controversial books can help individuals engage in intellectual discussions, analyze differing viewpoints, and better understand complex issues. However, it’s essential to approach such books with caution and sensitivity, considering their potential to incite harmful actions or propagate misinformation.
Cursed books in history
Books have been believed to be cursed or have held supernatural power throughout history. These books cover dark arts, occultism, or dangerous knowledge. Some notable examples include:
The Necronomicon: A fictional grimoire (book of magic) created by H.P. Lovecraft in his horror stories. The book contains knowledge of dark rituals, the summoning of otherworldly creatures, and the secrets to immortality.
The Voynich Manuscript: A mysterious, handwritten, illustrated book dated to the early 15th century. It’s written in an unknown script and language. Its contents, which include botanical, astronomical, and anatomical illustrations, have puzzled researchers for years. Some speculate that the book contains hidden knowledge or is cursed due to its mysterious nature.
The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage: This 15th-century grimoire, attributed to the Jewish Kabbalist Abraham of Worms, outlines a complex system of magic rituals and practices. The book’s central theme involves summoning guardian angels and controlling demons. It has been rumored that improper use of the rituals could lead to disastrous consequences, giving the book a cursed reputation.
The Lesser Key of Solomon (also known as the Clavicula Salomonis Regis or Lemegeton): This grimoire allegedly contains instructions for summoning and controlling various spirits and demons. The book’s association with the occult and the potential dangers of invoking supernatural beings have led to its cursed reputation.
The Grand Grimoire (also known as the Red Dragon): Dating back to the early 19th century, this grimoire is associated with black magic and demonic pacts. The book contains instructions for summoning demons, specifically the devil Lucifuge Rofocale, and dealing with them. The dangerous nature of the rituals has contributed to the belief that the book is cursed.
Last Words
These so-called cursed books are shrouded in superstition, myth, and legend. While they may provide insight into the beliefs and fears of the societies in which they were created, the idea of books being truly cursed is a matter of personal belief and interpretation.
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Table of Contents
