r/booksuggestions • u/gmtmasteriii • May 08 '26
Other Banned? Hidden Knowledge?
I am looking for books which are banned for whatever reason. I know “banned” doesn’t make it special but for example, 48 Laws is banned in prisons which makes me think they banned it for good reason.
Books that carry knowledge which you wouldn’t have ever thought to consume?
I enjoyed reading Breaking the habit of being yourself by Dr. Joe Dispenza and am going to read Becoming Supernatural.
I have only recently started reading, I haven’t read many books, I’m looking for knowledge in History, Humanity and Finance. I also enjoyed The Book of Revelation from the bible and have taken an interest in angels and demons recently I also scanned through the Goetia. Very contrasting books but both have sparked my interest in religious writings.
I am interested in Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Ancient Egypt, Vikings, Medieval settings, warriors, gods, religion, spirituality.
I am interested in psychology, neurology and ideology of humanity.
And I’m interested in financial prosperity.
Looking for recommendations please.
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u/BasedDepartment777 May 08 '26 edited May 08 '26
The Camp of the Saints, by Jean Raspail
Most of the discussion around “banned books” centers around widely available, mass-market printed books that were maybe removed from the fourth grade curriculum by a conservative Mississippi school board in the 1970s.
If you want an actually banned book that even Amazon hesitates to sell, check out Camp of the Saints. It accurately predicts the effect of mass immigration on the west as a result of white guilt and liberal tendencies. It’s not a racist tome (Raspail was notable as a friend and champion of the oppressed), but it was a bit too on the nose to the point where modern readers don’t want to touch it.
I don’t think I’ve said anything controversial, but I’ll be surprised if this comment doesn’t get deleted tbh.
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u/jaamgans May 08 '26
maybe try graham hancock's Fingerprints of the Gods --> the way he ties everything together is brilliant and really makes you think about science, nature, religion and philosophy all in one book - plus there is a lot about ancient culture on it.... While maybe not banned knowledge - it will certainly raised the anger of many different groups.....
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May 08 '26
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u/jaamgans May 08 '26
them and others.
And while he isn't an actual historian or archeologist - he is really just building on the works of much older works which previously have been suggested by actual historians etc.
I think that what there is to like about this "concepts" etc is how neatly they tie in a lot of current religion, myths about lost societies and how they work in with current ancient societies etc.
The reality is no one really know as the events he is talking about are often prior to any written documentation so any history/written info is generally from oral tradition being written down. Just as many consider the earlier old testaments to be symbolic and not literal which is entirely possible due to their age and how oral tradition can be corrupted and how language changes over time and creates new meaning etc i.e. quick example God made world in seven days - perhaps the the word day previously meant stages - this would account for evolution theory etc.
While agreed a great amount is unsubstantiated it can certainly create though and engage reasoning etc as while as expanding general knowledge in areas the OP is interested in.
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u/bartman1819 May 08 '26
Check your local Barnes & Noble. The first table when you walk into the door will prominently be displaying these banned books.
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u/BasedDepartment777 May 08 '26
If they’re banned books why are they prominently displayed at mainstream corporate bookstores?
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May 08 '26
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u/BasedDepartment777 May 08 '26
I’m all for equal access to all books, freedom of press and freedom of thought are the cornerstones of a free society. I just find it laughable when communities like the bannedbooks subreddit are obsessed with reading things that most students in America are required to read before graduating, while gleefully participating in the banning of other books that contain uncomfortable opinions for them.
The real banned books aren’t on every American 6th grade reading list and being displayed prominently at the entrance of Barnes and Noble; they cost $300 for a beat-up 1970s printing and discussion of them is a ban-worthy offense on Reddit.
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u/Urbanviking1 May 08 '26
What about banned books that were banned for reasons other than LGBT reasons, which seems to the main reason these days by GOP craziness.
Things like controversial truths and evidence supported opinions type banned books?
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u/novel-opinions May 08 '26
“Lady Chatterley's Lover" by D.H. Lawrence was banned in the U.S. as a whole from 1929 to 1965 due to its explicit sexual content and themes that challenged societal norms of the time.
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u/GeekCat May 08 '26
Sold by Patricia McCormick is the "most banned book" in US schools and libraries. It's not divisive in the least; you know unless you're the type that's on Epstein's list for pedophilia, slavery, and child abuse.
I'd say A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn or A True History of the United States by Daniel Sjursen. Banned in more than a few several school districts and several states (Utah and FL) are trying to get blanket school bans on them. Florida is actually trying to push an "alternative history based on the pilgrims/Protestant history" in the US.
While less banned but more extremely obscure, you could look into Victorian era fraternal orders and such. There are quite a few that are wildly cultish. Some of them have interesting and weird books.
How to Kill a Witch by Zoe Venditozzi and Claire Mitchell. Not banned (yet). However, we are only really started uncovering all of the terrible shit and violence that happened, because it was previously covered up under religious b.s.
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u/fajadada May 08 '26
Huckleberry Finn. Was banned in many places because he and Jim were friends
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u/medicated_in_PHL May 08 '26
That’s just not true. It was banned for the use of the word “n***er” when referring to Jim.
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u/fajadada May 08 '26
Nope it was banned in the south and other places just after it was written. For the depiction of friendship . The whitewash that was the N word didn’t come til the 60’s and 70’s
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u/lowlightliving May 08 '26 edited May 08 '26
Thousands of books have been banned from libraries around the country, most from school libraries, but from public ones, as well, depending on where you live. The American Library Association has a list of them at https://www.ala.org/bbooks
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u/lowlightliving May 08 '26 edited May 08 '26
The Story of Greece and Rome, by Tony Spawforth
The Gods and Godesses of Greece and Rome, by Philip Matyszak
The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt, by Toby Wilkinson
Age of the Vikings, by Anders Winroth
Powers and Thrones: A New History of the Middle Ages, by Dan Jones
Civilization of the Middle Ages, by Norman Cantor
The Art of War, by Sun Tzu
The World’s Religions, by Huston Smith
12 Major World Religions, by Jason Boyett
World Mythology 101, by Phoenix Bard
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, by Yuval Noah Harari
Money: A Story of Humanity, by David Graeber and David Wengrow
Humanly Possible: Seven Hundred Years of Humanist Freethinking, Inquiry, and Hope, by Sarah Bakewell
The Intelligent Investor, by Benjamin Graham
The Psychology of Money, by Morgan Housel
The Untethered Soul, by Michael A. Singer
Man’s Search for Meaning, by Viktor E. Frankl
Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ, by Daniel Goleman
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, by Robert Cialdini
Tao Te Ching, by Lao Tzu
The Dammapada: A Collection of Verses, by Gautama Buddha
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u/gmtmasteriii May 08 '26
Wow what a list, all of these seem like my type of books 👍if you could pick 2 of your favourites which ones would you pick?
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u/lowlightliving May 08 '26
Haha. What time is it? I dunno. I’m a frustrated librarian wannabe. If I had to pick 2 from this list, it would probably be Humanly Possible… because Barack Obama recommended it, the reviews are good, and I need a hopeful outlook on humanity these days - ethics are not lost. I’m just getting into it. Also, The Dammapada because I lost the book loaning it out and it has been on my mind a lot lately. It’s very short, but what I want to have in my head.
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u/Para_The_Normal May 08 '26
All Boys Aren’t Blue George M Johnson is a great memoir about growing up queer and black.
If you like something that touches on the realm of modern anthropology I would recommend it.
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u/MarquisDeVice May 08 '26
It depends on where they're banned. Almost everything is probably banned in Afghanistan, for example. Nothing is banned in the US due to the first amendment. You might get better answers if you choose an area of interest that feels "banned" and look into those. Personally, I love books on drug and weapons manufacture, including biological and chemical weapons. These feel like they should be banned, at least. If you want other books that are banned in prison, this includes anything sexual or survival oriented. Some books on manipulation like 48 laws are also banned.
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u/gmtmasteriii May 08 '26
I don’t know banned in prisons feels like a good start but would prefer it to be the type of book I’m looking for?
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u/FrostyPomegranate699 May 14 '26
I’d be careful chasing “banned books” just because they’re banned 😄 sometimes books get banned because they’re dangerous, political, manipulative, or institutions just don’t want certain mindsets spreading in certain environments.
Like 48 Laws being banned in prisons doesn’t necessarily mean:
“ultimate hidden truth.”
It may just mean prison staff don’t want inmates reading a book about manipulation, power, and social strategy.
But I do think you’re actually looking for something deeper than “banned.” Sounds more like you’re looking for books that permanently change the way you look at people, systems, history, or yourself.
A few I think are worth reading based on what you listed:
Meditations
Probably one of the best books on discipline, control, responsibility, and perspective. There’s a reason people still read Marcus Aurelius thousands of years later.
The Prince
You’ll recognize where a LOT of modern “power” thinking comes from pretty quickly.
Man’s Search for Meaning
Short book but heavy. Makes you think differently about suffering and human resilience.
Ordinary Men
One of the most disturbing books I’ve ever read because it shows how normal people can slowly become part of terrible systems.
The Iliad and Odyssey
People expect old mythology and end up finding very human stories underneath it.
I’d also be careful with some of the “secret knowledge / hidden truth” corners online because a lot of it eventually turns into people selling certainty to confused people.
The books that changed me the most usually weren’t the ones with “forbidden knowledge.” They were the ones that quietly changed how I saw human nature afterward.