Burn This Book by Toni Morrison

Burn This Book

Notes on Literature and Engagement

Toni Morrison

HarperCollins · Print & ebook · September 11, 2012

Published in conjunction with the PEN American Center, Burn This Book is a powerful collection of essays that explore the meaning of censorship and the power of literature to inform the way we see the world, and ourselves.

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Who it’s for
Essays ask what censorship does to literature—and to the way we see ourselves.
Themes
Censorship, Freedom of speech, Literature and perspective
Genres
Censorship & Free Speech, Essay Collections, Books & Reading

About this book

Published in conjunction with the PEN American Center, Burn This Book is a powerful collection of essays that explore the meaning of censorship and the power of literature to inform the way we see the world, and ourselves. As Americans we often take our freedom of speech for granted. When we talk about censorship we talk about China, the former Soviet Union, or the Middle East.

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But recent political developments—including the passage of the Patriot Act—have shined a spotlight on profound acts of censorship in our own backyard. Burn This Book features a sterling roster of award-winning writers offering their incisive, uncensored views on this most essential topic, including such revered literary heavyweights as Toni Morrison, Salman Rushdie, Orhan Pamuk, David Grossman, and Nadine Gordimer, among others. Both provocative and timely, Burn This Book is certain to inspire strong opinions and ignite spirited, serious dialogue.

Reading Under Pressure

Essays ask what censorship does to literature—and to the way we see ourselves.

Come here for

  • Writers’ incisive views on censorship close to home
  • Literature treated as a force in public life

Expect

  • Provocation that leaves room for serious disagreement
  • A collection built to spark spirited dialogue

Where it sits

Essay Collections62%
Censorship & Free Speech60%
Books & Reading37%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • American Literary Collections
  • African American Literary Collections
  • Essay Collections
  • Letters & Correspondence
Show all 8 publisher categories
  • Medieval Collections
  • Speeches Collection
  • Women Authors Collections
  • Ethics
Authors
Toni Morrison
Publisher
HarperCollins
Published
September 11, 2012
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Censorship · Freedom of speech · Literature and perspective
Reading lane
American Literary Collections