7 Banned Books That Make You Smarter, Bolder, and Harder to Manipulate
Book bans are nothing new. Throughout history, powerful institutions have tried to control what people read in order to control how people think. And it is no coincidence that the books most frequently banned are the ones that challenge authority, question systems, or tell uncomfortable truths.
But here is the secret: the books they do not want you to read are often the ones you should be reading.
These seven banned books are not only powerful stories. They are tools that sharpen your mind, strengthen your voice, and teach you how to see through the noise. In a world full of manipulation and misinformation, that kind of awareness is revolutionary.
1. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
This novel was one of Toni Morrison's most haunting and brilliant works. It tells the story of a young Black girl named Pecola who internalizes white beauty standards so deeply that she longs for blue eyes.
It is often banned for its raw depiction of racism, abuse, and trauma. But that is exactly what makes it essential. It forces readers to confront the impact of systemic oppression and how deeply it can embed itself in identity.
What it teaches:
How systems of beauty, race, and shame are weaponized
How internalized oppression works
How to hold compassion for others and for yourself
2. 1984 by George Orwell
This classic dystopian novel is almost too real these days. It explores a totalitarian state where surveillance, censorship, and psychological manipulation rule every aspect of life.
It has been banned and challenged in several schools for its political themes and bleak worldview. But if you want to understand propaganda, control, and why language matters, this is required reading.
What it teaches:
The danger of government overreach
The power of language and thought
How to recognize manipulation and manufactured consent
3. Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
This memoir-style graphic novel has been one of the most banned books in America in recent years. It shares the author's journey of discovering and expressing their gender identity.
It is targeted for its LGBTQIA+ themes and honest discussions of body, identity, and self-understanding. But it offers critical insight into the importance of personal truth in a world that pressures people to conform.
What it teaches:
The courage to define yourself on your own terms
How representation saves lives
How freedom includes the right to exist fully and authentically
4. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
This book was inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement and follows Starr, a teenager who witnesses the police killing of her childhood friend.
It is often banned for its depictions of police brutality, strong language, and political activism. But that is exactly why it matters. It speaks truth to power and centers the experience of Black youth navigating injustice.
What it teaches:
How systemic racism operates in everyday life
How to use your voice against injustice
Why silence protects the status quo
5. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
This novel imagines a future where people are controlled not by force, but by pleasure, distraction, and manufactured happiness. It is banned for its criticism of consumerism and its unflinching look at conformity.
If Orwell warned us about control through fear, Huxley warned us about control through comfort. And both were right.
What it teaches:
How freedom can be lost through comfort and distraction
Why questioning convenience is a form of resistance
How to think critically about technology and society
6. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Banned for being too controversial, too sexual, or simply too powerful, this novel follows Janie Crawford as she discovers her own voice, identity, and power in a society that tries to dictate both.
It is not just a love story. It is a story about freedom, womanhood, and refusing to be defined by others.
What it teaches:
How personal liberation is political
How to reclaim your voice in a world that tries to silence it
Why lived experience is knowledge
7. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
In this dystopian novel, books are illegal and “firemen” burn any that are found. It is ironic that Fahrenheit 451 is itself banned in some places.
This book explores what happens when society stops thinking critically, silences dissent, and replaces truth with entertainment.
What it teaches:
Why intellectual freedom is essential
How apathy is a tool of control
Why reading is a revolutionary act
Final Word: Read What They Are Afraid Of
When a book is banned, ask why. Ask who is threatened by it. Ask what truth they are trying to bury. Then read it anyway.
These books will not only make you smarter. They will make you sharper. They will give you the language to challenge injustice, the imagination to envision something better, and the wisdom to recognize when someone is trying to control what you know.
