10 controversial books of all times

Written texts have always been a good source of knowledge. During early stages of civilization people wanted to develop something that could keep their writings safe for centuries. To make their dream come true, they expressed their feelings either on barks of trees or leaves. With the advent of printed books, the mode of communication changed, and now through Internet, reading patterns in human beings have changed drastically. Yet people still find great fun and delight in reading books.Some of the books written by authors proved to be very beneficial for human beings whereas some books attracted a lot of controversy. There were even calls for banning the book from members of the public or those in religious or political organizations. Here is a list of 10 most controversial books : 1. Brave New World – Aldous Huxley (1932)Published in 1932, Aldous Huxley's Brave New World is his most popular novel, although it might not have been his most important. It was frequently challenged with attempts at banning, and is still considered controversial. The reader is swept into Huxley's vision of a future based on science and technology. The novel depicts drugs, sexuality, and suicide and reveals Huxley's disdain for the culture of the United States. A group of parents attempted to get the book banned because they felt there was an overemphasis on negativity.2. Nineteen Eighty-Four – George Orwell (1949)Written in 1949 by George Orwell while he was dying of tuberculosis, the book brings to light the sad state and future of a totalitarian society that is robbed of privacy, truth, or free will. It offers a fresh perspective on many topics; totalitarianism, torture, mind control, the United States, the Soviet Union, privacy, technology, power, human emotions, organized religion, censorship, sex, and more.It was a controversial book right from publication and remains so today. 3. Lolita – Vladimir Nabokov (1955)Nabokov's Lolita caused a storm of controversy when it was published in 1955 in France, and those controversies have shadowed the book ever since. This novel explores the mind of a pedophile named Humbert Humbert, who narrates his life and obsession for nymphets like the 12-year-old Dolores Haze. It was banned in France, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, South Africa, and Argentina. But in America, it was a huge success .4. The Anarchist Cookbook – William Powell – (1971)This 1971 cult classic is a guerrilla how-to book that provides strategies useful for activists — including violent activists. It covers several sections that describe organizing demonstrations, sabotage, affinity groups, stenciling, and other topics like supporting survivors of domestic violence and mental health.This book angered government officials and anarchist groups felt it misrepresented anarchist ideals. Others criticized the book for the bomb-making recipes, which they said were dangerously inaccurate. Later, when Powell was older, he tried to censor his own book and said that this book was “a misguided product of my adolescent anger at the prospect of being drafted and sent to Vietnam to fight in a war that I did not believe in.”5. The Satanic Verses – Salman Rushdie (1989)This book by Salman Rushdie sparked controversies galore because of the controversial topic it touched. The title, The Satanic Verses, refers to an incident that is disputed between fact and fiction. Some called it a blasphemous treatment of the Islamic faith as Rushdie refers to the Prophet Muhammad as Mahound, which is the medieval name for the devil. In Pakistan, there were riots in 1989 over the book where a few people were killed, and many were injured in India.6. The Harry Potter Series – J.K. Rowling (2001)J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series is wildly popular and seen generally as adventurous and harmless tales for children. However, this series has caused controversies over the past few years, from many different groups of people who look at them as stories that inspire children to become involved in witchcraft and the occult.These novels follow the life of a young wizard, whose parents were killed by the evil Lord Voldermort. The young boy receives an invitation to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft on his eleventh birthday and each book represents a year of his life at the school. The book was also criticized for inaccurate description of history, geography, European art, and architecture.7. Trail of the Octopus- Lester K. Coleman, Donald Goddard (1993)Lester Coleman co-author the 1993 book Trail of the Octopus, The Untold Story of Pan Am 103. The book revolves around a secret drug operation enabled terrorists to evade airport security in the 1988 bombing of Pan American Flight 103. The book garnered a lot of controversy after it released.8. The mention of Brahmastra in Puranas (old Hindu texts) The Puranas in Sanskrit consist of narratives on the history of the universe from creation to destruction, genealogies of kings, heroes, sages, and demigods. In some of these texts, a weapon named Brahmastra is mentioned that has sparked interest and controversy.The Puranas say, , a Brahmastra is a weapon created by Brahma, who is the Hindu God of creation. Brahmastra is considered the deadliest weapon of all and when it is discharged there is neither a counter attack nor a defense that may stop it. The Brahmastra never misses and must be used with very specific intent, as the target will face complete annihilation. According to Sanskrit writings, the Brahmastra is invoked by a key phrase that is bestowed upon the user when given the weapon. It causes severe environmental damage. The land where the Brahmastra is used becomes barren for eons and all life in and around that area ceases to exist.Upon release of the weapon, women and men become infertile. The area experiences a severe decrease in rainfall and the land develops cracks like in a drought. The survivors lose their nails and hair, and their food becomes unfit for eating. For several subsequent years, the Sun, the stars and the sky remain shrouded with clouds and produce bad weather. It doesn't take an expert to notice that the weapon holds similar characteristics to modern day nuclear weapons. The Brahmastra is mentioned in multiple Sanskrit scriptures, often times acting as a deterrent simply with the threat of use. In the Ramayana, a Brahmastra is used by Rama as the “final blow” against Rakshasa Ravana during their battle in Lanka. It is said that the collision between two Brahmastras will destroy the universe.9. Poem of the Man God- Maria Valtorta The Poem of the Man God presents a detailed account of the life of Jesus Christ from his birth to crucifixion. In many instances, the content is more elucidated than the Holy Gospels. The book chronicles the journeys of Jesus Christ and his dialogues with people such and the apostles.10. Sexual Behavior in the Human Male- Alfred KinseyThe word ‘Sex' always created a furor in the society when studied in detail. The same happened with Alfred Kinsey who was an American biologist and founder of the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction. He launched one of the largest studies on sexual reproduction in the world, and perhaps the most controversial book on the said topic. He is known to have written two most controversial books of the 20th century, Sexual Behavior in the Human Male and Sexual Behavior in the Human Femal.