Banned books gift ideas for readers
The best gift for someone who loves banned books is a banned book, with the story of why it was banned. Here are ideas by budget and taste. Every book linked below is in print, with a buy button on its page.
Classic banned novels to give
- For the Orwell fan: Nineteen Eighty-Four with We, the Soviet-banned novel that came first.
- For a literature lover: Ulysses or Madame Bovary, both prosecuted in court.
- For a history reader: The Gulag Archipelago or Doctor Zhivago.
- For a science fan: Galileo's Dialogue, the book that brought him before the Inquisition.
- For someone into politics: The Prince and Rights of Man.
Themed sets
Pick three from one shelf and wrap them together:
- Dystopias: We, Brave New World, Fahrenheit 451. See banned dystopian novels.
- Spies and secrets: Spycatcher, Body of Secrets, The Official CIA Manual of Trickery and Deception.
- Propaganda and persuasion: Propaganda, Toxic Sludge Is Good for You, Culture Jam.
- Books into films: a book plus its film; see banned books made into movies.
Free extras
Tuck a free printable banned-books bookmark into the book, or print the reading challenge as a card: twelve banned classics, one a month.
Giving an out-of-print book
For a collector, a scarce title from the out-of-print shelf makes a memorable gift. Second-hand dealers often have older printings. See where to buy banned books.