Books Are Political
Why we should care about politics. Especially right now.
Most people view books as sources of entertainment, education, or escape more than anything else. However, literature has always been deeply connected to politics, fully intertwined, as both a mirror of society and a tool shaping societal values moving forward.
As writers, our personal politics inevitably seep into our work, consciously or unconsciously influencing our narratives, characters, and the way we present them. It’s crucial we recognize this and are honest about it, especially in today’s political climate, where the resurgence of book banning in the United States is just one echo of historical patterns of censorship under fascist regimes.
Politics In Literature
Every piece of literature emerges from a specific cultural and political context. It just does. As authors, we’re influenced by our experiences and beliefs, so we end up infusing our work with perspectives that either reinforce or challenge social norms. Prime example: George Orwell’s 1984. It wasn’t just a dystopian novel. Influenced by the imprisonment of novelist Arthur Koestler by Spanish fascists, and Orwell’s own experiences during WWII as a democratic socialist, it was a critique of totalitarianism. He modeled the authoritarianism of 1984 after Stalinism in the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany.
And Orwell wasn’t the only one. We see this throughout many of the great “classics”. To Kill A Mockingbird is beloved, but at the time it was even more controversial, unflinchingly addressing our nation’s racial injustice, calling on readers to question and reflect on the society we live in. The Handmaid’s Tale is packed full of political themes. Even young adult and children’s books don’t shy away from it (nor can they, since all stories are born from our own experiences and beliefs as writers). The Hunger Games is often cited when discussing oppression, systematic corruption, political unrest, and revolution. Truly, the examples are endless.
The fact that writers naturally embed their political views into their stories invites us as readers to question, analyze, and even act, when necessary. This makes literature a powerful tool for political discourse, inspiring change or helping to maintain the status quo. Either way, we can see why high control governments might have a problem with that.
Personal Politics In Writing
Bottom line, our beliefs and values shape our storytelling. An author passionate about environmental conservation might write stories which highlight the consequences of ecological neglect, or they may write solar punk stories imagining a brighter future for our natural world. Conversely, a writer with traditionalist views might emphasize themes of hierarchy and the benefits of order. The infusion of personal politics isn’t inherently a bad thing. It can become problematic, but more often it simply encourages passionate discussion and authentic explorations of our world.
I do think we need to be aware of our biases as writers, though, instead of pretending they aren’t there. Self-reflection allows us to portray our characters and situations in ways that don’t unintentionally perpetuate stereotypes or misinformation. Plus, if it’s something that truly invigorates us, it may be helpful to identify these things so we can lean even more fully into them.
Context Matters
Understanding our world enriches our engagement with literature and media. Recognizing the sociopolitical backdrop against which a book is written allows us to understand and appreciate its themes more deeply. For instance, the discussions surrounding bodily autonomy and women’s rights are essential to understanding the key themes in The Handmaid’s Tale. It can also help us see parallels between what’s on the page and what we’re seeing in our daily lives.
Beyond that, it’s important to be aware of current events because it helps us identify when literature is under threat. In recent years, the United States (where I live) is experiencing a surge of book bans, scarily reminiscent of darker periods throughout human history. And I’d venture to guess most people aren’t even aware it’s happening. Unless you’re very active in the book/reading/writing community, or you have kids in school districts where it’s more prevalent, it’s likely not something you even know about.
Book Banning
As of 2025, the U.S. faces an unprecedented wave of book bans, and we must not ignore this! Reads with Rachel has been faithfully fighting this, both at the local level by attending school board meetings where her children attend school, but also through the use of social media to raise awareness and hopefully spark others to act. In fact, just today she posted a video titled The BOOK COMMUNITY VS Book BANS that I encourage everyone watch. We have to get involved in fighting back against this!
According to PEN America, over 10k instances of book bans were recorded in public schools during the 2023/2024 school year alone, nearly tripling the figure from the previous year. In Cobb County, Georgia, Superintendent Chris Ragsdale has been responsible for the removal of numerous books, including Jaycee Dugard’s A Stolen Life because it “contains sexual material”. It’s the true life story of a girl who was kidnapped, held hostage, assaulted, and ultimately escaped to tell her story. It’s a real event, that really happened, told by the incredible woman herself, and I highly recommend everyone read that memoir.
Those aren’t the only recent examples. In Florida’s Clay County, Bruce Friedman (dubbed the “Michael Jordan of book banning”) has campaigned for the banning of approximately 1,200 books over the past 2 1/2 years. He seems to target all books containing or referencing anything related to sexuality, gender identity, or what he determines to be critical race theory. For instance, he had The Handmaid’s Tale removed (no surprise there) along with Leonardo da Vinci’s biography.
This isn’t a few isolated attacks, and doesn’t even scratch the surface, as evidenced by that staggering 10,000+ of books banned in a single year. This reflects a broader movement to suppress literature that challenges a very specific set of ideologies, looking horrifying similar to historical instances where censorship paved the way for authoritarianism.
Unfortunately, we don’t have to look hard to find examples to demonstrate the dangers of censorship in the form of book banning. In 1933, Nazi Germany witnessed the infamous book burnings, where works by Jewish, liberal, and leftist writers were destroyed in bonfires. This regime was committed to suppressing different ideas and cultural narratives, making a very public declaration that they would tamp out any dissent. We’ve seen Soviet Russia, Hungary, Spain, and other countries do the same on their road to totalitarianism.
This isn’t “culture wars”. This is the erosion of free speech, thought, and autonomy. This is the erasure of history and experiences. This is fascism.
We Must Not Turn Away
The current trend of book banning in the U.S. cannot be ignored or minimized. We must identify it for what it is, call it out now, and fight back. While proponents argue they’re protecting societal or family values, the suppression of literature and media in general restricts access to diverse perspectives, hindering critical thinking and open discourse. It’s a direct path toward outright censorship and loss of human and civil rights.
As readers and writers, it’s our responsibility to keep our eyes open and not turn away from what’s happening in our country. Supporting intellectual freedom means advocating for the availability of varied literature, even if it challenges our own beliefs. I personally will never pick up another book heavily influenced by fundie/culty/evangelical Christianity for fun, and I believe their values are inherently dangerous to our society as a whole (having escaped it myself as an adult), but I would never support banning those books, either. Because I believe in the democratic principle of free expression, and I full stop reject the employment of authoritarianism, even against those with whom I disagree.
Final Thoughts
Literature is inherently political. There’s no getting around that, and it’s foolish to pretend otherwise. It shapes our world, and is shaped by our world. Our personal politics influence not only our writing, but how we perceive the stories we read, filtering them through our own lenses and biases. In a time like right now, when censorship looms and is already being enacted, we must recognize and resist! This isn’t just about saving our books, but about saving our society from careening full force toward fascism. And we can’t step lightly around that fact anymore. It’s too late for that.
