How to Defend Books and Why: Book Bans and How We Fight Them

by Danny Caine

You're invited to the book revolution! Fight back against censorship and empower your community with this close look at the book banning movement.  In a moving, compulsively readable call to arms for readers everywhere, Danny Caine, bestselling author of How to Resist Amazon and Why and How to Protect Bookstores and Why, offers an expertly-crafted confrontation of far-right, Christian nationalist attempts to reshape American culture through ban campaigns targeting schools, libraries, bookstores, and prisons with a silencing campaign against marginalized identities—in life and in literature.  From the first-ever banned books display at San Francisco's City Lights in the 1950s to the rapid rise of so-called Moms For Liberty during the COVID-19 pandemic to attempts to silence Palestinian authors, Caine charts the course of repressive censorship campaigns, along with the creative and sometimes unlikely activists who've stood up against them. Each chapter is based on a particular book banning episode, bolstered by research and legal precedent, and concludes with helpful takeaways for further reading or resistance. Throughout, Caine approaches these heated issues with gentle openness harkening back to his work as a public school teacher and a bookseller. He emphasizes our collective responsibility towards art, free speech, and each other. 

Genres: Nonfiction

192 pages, Paperback

Expected publication June 2, 2026

Reviews

[Dpalange44 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book on a shelf at my local bookstore and it really spoke to me. I loved the history and the practical tips for fighting book bans.

When fighting back against book bans, people often feel alone. This book was a reminder that there are others out there to help AND there are others out there that need our help.

[Patricia R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book discussing the current efforts by groups in our society to ban books and try to limit what is available to us. Topics covered include how libraries, schools, bookstores, prisons and areas such as the Gaza strip are being affected. The book also offers ideas on how to preserve our rights to have books available to us.

[Wyrd Witch · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most important books you could pick up at this time. Don't miss this one when the full edition comes out.