The Art of Literature Banned from Prisons

As we all know, prison is hell on earth and we have all heard the stories to support that claim. Prison is where you fear for you safety most and you endure the most emotional trauma. Although you can find ways to survive physically, that can only get you so far when adding other dynamics that come with prison like security, gangs, weapons or being out numbered. How do you survive? You have to build up your mentality to survive a place like prison and many times people seek for guidance in books. Knowledge becomes power for these individuals but of course power is prohibited for inmates.

Robert Greene is an author from Los Angeles who wrote many books about power, seduction, and strategy. In 1998 he wrote “The 48 Laws of Power” which would later be banned from prisons. Robert Greene book is based on gaining power and finding ways to manipulate people. Some of these laws are learning how to use your enemies, crushing the enemy, playing on people’s needs to create a cult like following and so on. It has been argued by many correction facilities that banning this book is for safety measures. The book incites criminal violence to encourage inmates to engage in power games through manipulation.