Books That Have Been Banned In Prisons

Robert Greene's The 48 Laws of Power is known to be a popular reading choice among prisoners in the United States prison system, as well as celebrities. The bestselling book provides 48 "laws" on how to live your life and gain confidence. Greene studied the lives of Henry Kissinger and P.T. Barnum and borrowed the philosophies of Machiavelli and Sun Tzu to come up with his 48 principles. As popular as the book, it's also on the banned list at many prisons. In fact, as of 2017, there are only two books that are explicitly prohibited in Utah prions, both of which Robert Greene is the author: The 48 Laws of Power and The Art of Seduction. The Utah prison system feels that both books have the ability to teach inmates how to manipulate others. 

Zodiac Unmasked: The Identity of America's Most Elusive Serial Killer Revealed is a 2007 book that focuses on the Zodiac Killer, an unidentified person responsible for a string of murders that took place between 1968 and the early 1970s. The person claiming to be the Zodiac taunted police and claimed to have killed 37 people - and they were never caught. Zodiac Unmasked by Robert Graysmith claims to identify the Zodiac Killer.

The Michigan Department of Corrections has the Zodiac Unmasked on their banned book list because it is said to "describe instructions in the commission of criminal activity."

Advanced Home Wiring, edited by Black & Decker is, as the title suggests, a self-help manual for the would-be home improvement electrician. It walks the reader through various methods of installing electrical components and the basics of electronic wiring systems from a lamp to a remote control garage door opener. But the Department of Corrections in Michigan views the book as an escape manual and has it banned from their prisons as of February 2017. On the surface, this ban might seem logical and prudent, until one factors in the paradoxical fact that the same inmates denied access to the book could enroll in classes for vocational training to become electricians. Inmates across the country, confined in prisons of every security level are offered an opportunity to learn a tradecraft. Michigan authorities apparently find hands-on lessons from a certified instructor less of a threat to security than the same information coming in book form.
 

AAA Road Atlas: Travel With Someone You Trust was released in 2009 and contains maps for the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The book also includes helpful tips for traveling through national parks and other tourist areas. In June 2015, the book was placed on the banned list at California prisons because of the risk of such material assisting potential prison escape. 

So, They Say You've Broken The Law: Challenging Legal Authority is a 2011 self-published book written by The Lioness. The object of the book is to help others gain a better understanding of the law, particularly for those who have court appearances but may not have access to a lawyer. The book claims to be useful for defense purposes, appeals, and challenges. One would assume a book by this title would be most helpful to those who have broken the law, but the Michigan prison system disagrees. In July 2015, the Michigan Department of Corrections banned the book within their prison system. They stated:

[The book] includes content which advocates and promotes the violation of state and federal laws, including directions to avoid paying taxes and the laws which control the use of roads and highways.

The Elements of Persuasion: Use Storytelling to Pitch Better, Sell Faster & Win More Business is a 2007 book by Richard Maxwell and Robert Dickman. The book helps teach the reader how to become a better salesperson on an executive level. The authors took on a case-study-type approach to describe the best tactics when it comes to sales and marketing, and they provided plenty of examples, tips, and tricks on how to become the best in the business of sales. The book would probably be helpful for anyone who is studying business or someone looking to get into sales. However, it is not for anyone in the Texas Department of Corrections, because The Elements of Persuasion is banned there as of 2017. 

Why would they ban this book? They feel as if it could be used to persuade others negatively.