Books Banned in the Texas Prison System (47 books)

What do Jon Stewart, William Shakespeare, Sojouner Truth, Juan Williams, Jenna Bush, 50 Cent, John Grisham, Noam Chomsky, Stephen King, John Updike, Kurt Vonnegut, Jack Kerouac, Gore Vidal, George Orwell, Gustave Flaubert, George Carlin, and Sister Helen Prejean have in common?

They have each written at least one book banned in Texas prisons.

I find it fascinating what books are challenged and banned in different contexts. This is an incomplete list of books that are forbidden to be sent to inmates in the Texas prison system. Reasons for bans include: sexual content, racial issues, references to drugs/crime/gangs/prison conditions and homosexuality.

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All Votes Add Books To This List

1	A Time to Kill (Jake Brigance, #1) by John Grisham (Goodreads Author) 4.12 avg rating — 824,360 ratings score: 862, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	The Color Purple by Alice Walker 4.28 avg rating — 747,403 ratings score: 758, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg 4.28 avg rating — 325,110 ratings score: 675, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden 4.16 avg rating — 2,100,252 ratings score: 565, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction by Jon Stewart 4.01 avg rating — 97,158 ratings score: 469, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Brain Droppings by George Carlin 4.07 avg rating — 18,312 ratings score: 381, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	The Courage to Heal: A Guide for Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse by Ellen Bass 4.21 avg rating — 8,274 ratings score: 371, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	M. Butterfly by David Henry Hwang 3.93 avg rating — 14,991 ratings score: 369, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	The Pillars of the Earth (Kingsbridge, #1) by Ken Follett (Goodreads Author) 4.35 avg rating — 823,004 ratings score: 369, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	The Chamber by John Grisham (Goodreads Author) 3.86 avg rating — 145,971 ratings score: 367, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie 3.71 avg rating — 71,355 ratings score: 367, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	The Last Juror by John Grisham (Goodreads Author) 3.96 avg rating — 108,356 ratings score: 268, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	The Last Hero (Discworld, #27; Rincewind, #7) by Terry Pratchett 4.18 avg rating — 39,457 ratings score: 268, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	The Pact by Jodi Picoult (Goodreads Author) 4.03 avg rating — 326,275 ratings score: 266, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	Too Scared To Cry: Psychic Trauma in Childhood by Lenore Terr 4.13 avg rating — 524 ratings score: 266, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	Utopia by Thomas More 3.55 avg rating — 82,202 ratings score: 266, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	Stopping Rape: A Challenge for Men by Rus Ervin Funk 4.30 avg rating — 10 ratings score: 257, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	A Charlie Brown Christmas by Charles M. Schulz 4.50 avg rating — 18,562 ratings score: 194, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	Big Sur by Jack Kerouac 3.84 avg rating — 37,676 ratings score: 190, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	Kiss the Girls (Alex Cross, #2) by James Patterson (Goodreads Author) 4.01 avg rating — 352,250 ratings score: 177, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	2nd Chance (Women's Murder Club, #2) by James Patterson (Goodreads Author) 4.08 avg rating — 123,719 ratings score: 177, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops? by George Carlin 3.82 avg rating — 12,632 ratings score: 172, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	Texas Tough: The Rise of America's Prison Empire by Robert Perkinson (Goodreads Author) 3.94 avg rating — 304 ratings score: 171, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	Death Before Dishonor by Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson 4.32 avg rating — 1,548 ratings score: 171, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	Friday Night Lights by H.G. Bissinger 4.14 avg rating — 66,093 ratings score: 170, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	Go and Tell Pharaoh by Al Sharpton (Goodreads Author) 3.44 avg rating — 25 ratings score: 169, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	My Soul Looks Back in Wonder: Voices of the Civil Rights Experience by Juan Williams 4.10 avg rating — 111 ratings score: 168, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	The Human Stain (The American Trilogy, #3) by Philip Roth 3.92 avg rating — 45,430 ratings score: 166, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	The Johns Hopkins Family Health Book: The Essential Home Medical Reference to Help You and Your Family Promote Good Health and Manage Illness by Johns Hopkins University 3.90 avg rating — 10 ratings score: 165, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	Arc of Justice: A Saga of Race, Civil Rights, and Murder in the Jazz Age by Kevin G. Boyle 4.08 avg rating — 3,016 ratings score: 165, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	An Illustrated History of World War II: Crisis and Courage: Humanity on the Brink by BishopMorin really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 23 ratings score: 162, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	Selma, 1965: The March That Changed the South (Beacon Paperback, 695) by Charles Fager 3.93 avg rating — 28 ratings score: 160, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	Leaving Isn't the Hardest Thing by Lauren Hough (Goodreads Author) 3.42 avg rating — 10,475 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	History of Ancient Rome by Nathaniel Harris 3.24 avg rating — 25 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	The Death of Innocents: An Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions by Helen Prejean 4.21 avg rating — 758 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	Double Whammy (Skink #1) by Carl Hiaasen (Goodreads Author) 3.95 avg rating — 21,874 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	Live from Golgotha: The Gospel According to Gore Vidal by Gore Vidal 3.62 avg rating — 1,488 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	Myra Breckinridge by Gore Vidal 3.57 avg rating — 5,254 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	Salammbo by Gustave Flaubert 3.73 avg rating — 6,569 ratings score: 95, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Steven D. Levitt 4.01 avg rating — 893,229 ratings score: 95, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	Why Me? Help for Victims of Child Sexual Abuse [Even If They Are Adults Now] by Lynn Daugherty (Goodreads Author) 4.43 avg rating — 23 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	Race: How Blacks And Whites Think And Feel About The American Obsession by Studs Terkel 4.25 avg rating — 573 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	Napalm & Silly Putty by George Carlin 4.09 avg rating — 16,820 ratings score: 89, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	We Were Soldiers Once... and Young: Ia Drang - The Battle that Changed the War in Vietnam by Harold G. Moore 4.34 avg rating — 32,793 ratings score: 89, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	Inferno by Dante Alighieri 4.03 avg rating — 204,358 ratings score: 88, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	Enchantment by Orson Scott Card 3.91 avg rating — 27,821 ratings score: 83, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	Perpetual Prisoner Machine: How America Profits From Crime by Joel Dyer 3.98 avg rating — 41 ratings score: 66, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars