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Stifled Laughter: One Woman's Story About Fighting Censorship
A story of national interest chronicling one woman's struggle to restore literary classics to public classrooms of rural north Florida.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 22, 2023
This was an interesting first hand look at combating censorship in schools. Telling the story of the author's fight starting the mid 80s and going through two different school districts, this book is extremely relevant today. Unfortunately not much has changed since these cases occurred. The same censorship battles are raging, with the same arguments against literature being given. This book helps put into perspective those facts, and shows some ways one can help if instances of censorship occur in their areas. A good read for anyone who has an interest in censorship, and protecting the First Amendment.
**I received a copy of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
**I received a copy of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
March 19, 2023
In STIFLED LAUGHTER, Claudia Johnson details her struggles in an earlier, rural Florida arena to prevent books from being banned. She also chronicles her latest efforts in Virginia, centered on this same crucial issue.
When living in southern Florida, completing her university degree and initiating what would be a notable career as a writer and observer of the American scene, Johnson learned that two books were being pulled from the shelves of local schools. One was a work that she had plucked from her parents’ bookshelf at age 14, THE MILLER’S TALE, a segment of Chaucer’s THE CANTERBURY TALES that her mother recommended and that made her realize that literature could be funny. The other was LYSISTRATA by Aristophanes, an ancient comedic story of a woman’s determination to end war by depriving men of the one thing they wanted more than anything --- sex, of course. Both were seen as highly inappropriate for young readers, sexually explicit and containing words that, if a child were to say them in school, might get him or her suspended.
When activists stepped in, a lengthy lawsuit ensued. Johnson, a mother and a concerned citizen who was determined to see American free speech rights upheld, was at the forefront of the fray. The battle raged on for several years, until she and her cohorts were successful in having these two works retained for young readers. The original tale is both enjoyable and educational.
Added to this revised edition is Johnson’s recent, also successful participation in opposing the efforts of Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin to have other, more contemporary books removed from school libraries. Arrayed with the admirable, alarming and sometimes amusing court records and news articles about the struggle is Johnson’s private background --- holding together her marriage and raising her children with laudable values while developing strategies and making sacrifices to oppose the abridgement of free speech.
Johnson, whose earlier version of STIFLED LAUGHTER won the 1993 PEN/Newman’s Own First Amendment Award and garnered a Pulitzer Prize nomination, writes with intellectual depth, human-scale understanding and high good humor. This brings her perspective to the current day when book banning has become a typical tactic for various groups, often politically fueled and initiated by people who have never read the full works in question.
Concerns remain, so Johnson and those like her will continue to speak out. As she so boldly states in her Preface, “I wrote this book because I believe there are better things to come for this country than grim-faced censors banning great books in the name of decency and moral correctness.” And the ability to keep smiling, promulgated so aptly by Johnson, will be a huge support as we fight for that ideal future.
Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott
When living in southern Florida, completing her university degree and initiating what would be a notable career as a writer and observer of the American scene, Johnson learned that two books were being pulled from the shelves of local schools. One was a work that she had plucked from her parents’ bookshelf at age 14, THE MILLER’S TALE, a segment of Chaucer’s THE CANTERBURY TALES that her mother recommended and that made her realize that literature could be funny. The other was LYSISTRATA by Aristophanes, an ancient comedic story of a woman’s determination to end war by depriving men of the one thing they wanted more than anything --- sex, of course. Both were seen as highly inappropriate for young readers, sexually explicit and containing words that, if a child were to say them in school, might get him or her suspended.
When activists stepped in, a lengthy lawsuit ensued. Johnson, a mother and a concerned citizen who was determined to see American free speech rights upheld, was at the forefront of the fray. The battle raged on for several years, until she and her cohorts were successful in having these two works retained for young readers. The original tale is both enjoyable and educational.
Added to this revised edition is Johnson’s recent, also successful participation in opposing the efforts of Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin to have other, more contemporary books removed from school libraries. Arrayed with the admirable, alarming and sometimes amusing court records and news articles about the struggle is Johnson’s private background --- holding together her marriage and raising her children with laudable values while developing strategies and making sacrifices to oppose the abridgement of free speech.
Johnson, whose earlier version of STIFLED LAUGHTER won the 1993 PEN/Newman’s Own First Amendment Award and garnered a Pulitzer Prize nomination, writes with intellectual depth, human-scale understanding and high good humor. This brings her perspective to the current day when book banning has become a typical tactic for various groups, often politically fueled and initiated by people who have never read the full works in question.
Concerns remain, so Johnson and those like her will continue to speak out. As she so boldly states in her Preface, “I wrote this book because I believe there are better things to come for this country than grim-faced censors banning great books in the name of decency and moral correctness.” And the ability to keep smiling, promulgated so aptly by Johnson, will be a huge support as we fight for that ideal future.
Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott
February 17, 2024
*Thesis research read.* I cannot thank or admire Claudia Johnson enough. She sacrificed so much for the sake of ensuring students have the access to open knowledge and ideas. I appreciate that she broke up the legal updates with anecdotes from her life and family as it drove home how much time the two cases she was involved with took.
Despite this book being written about the 1980s, it is sadly still very relevant and important today in 2024 as book banning is the worst it has ever been in this country. Johnson writes, "I hope the book inspires you to join the fight and speak out. Because, as I've learned over and over in the book-banning wars, the answer to less speech is more. And the stakes have never been higher. Because it isn't just books that are imperiled. It's public education, the bedrock of democracy. And our democracy itself."
As we enter another election year, I'm equally scared and fired up. And I hope that the work of my thesis only scratches the surface of the good work done by Claudia Johnson.
Despite this book being written about the 1980s, it is sadly still very relevant and important today in 2024 as book banning is the worst it has ever been in this country. Johnson writes, "I hope the book inspires you to join the fight and speak out. Because, as I've learned over and over in the book-banning wars, the answer to less speech is more. And the stakes have never been higher. Because it isn't just books that are imperiled. It's public education, the bedrock of democracy. And our democracy itself."
As we enter another election year, I'm equally scared and fired up. And I hope that the work of my thesis only scratches the surface of the good work done by Claudia Johnson.
February 4, 2024
Republished from 1992 with a new forward from the author. It is her account of fighting censorship twice in two different towns in north Florida in the late 20th century. Not much has changed since.
One takeaway from the book is how people remember things. The lawsuit she was involved in lost in the courts, yet a few years later during the second banning of a different work; folks remembered her as filing a lawsuit not realizing it had lost. Memory is a curious thing.
One takeaway from the book is how people remember things. The lawsuit she was involved in lost in the courts, yet a few years later during the second banning of a different work; folks remembered her as filing a lawsuit not realizing it had lost. Memory is a curious thing.
July 19, 2023
Important, well-written, and at times hilarious, STIFLED LAUGHTER gives readers a unique insight into the world of book banning. We learn why it happens and what it takes to stop it (spoiler: successful or not it's A LOT of work). Johnson's passion for the cause oozes on the page and while nonfiction, it reads like a page-turner novel.
July 31, 2023
This book is incredibly uplifting, filled with humor and joy even when tackling the serious topic of censorship. As a mother, it motivated me to advocate for all children to have equal access to knowledge and learning opportunities.
May 24, 2023
A great up close look at what censorship looks like in schools and the process and aftermath thereafter.
July 21, 2023
In the midst of nation-wide book banning, this book is just about as relevant as it gets. Claudia offers great insight into her experiences and what it takes to fight for books!
September 15, 2025
A short book, but full of laughs even with the bothersome topic of censorship. The persistence of the author really gives readers something to admire.
July 17, 2014
Your choices are laugh or scream; Johnson chose to laugh.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews