It's often the premise of a dystopian story - somehow, the powers-that-be have learned to control the population by controlling the people's access to information, even seemingly innocuous works of fiction. This is a popular plot point for authors, though it is developed in very different ways. In the US, we live in a society that protects our right to read, learn, and access information - which some argue is the most important component for a successful democracy. Reading diverse books allows us to see characters facing problems similar to our own, letting us know we are not alone. Reading diverse books also enables us to see characters from different walks of life, giving us greater empathy for our fellow neighbor. Not every book is for every person, but there is a book for everyone. So READ! Pick up a mystery or science fiction, a graphic novel or nonfiction, a biography or realistic fiction, a magazine or a newspaper - just READ!
Some of my favorite books that remind me just how good we have it include We by Yevgeny Zamyatin (the guy who started it all!), The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, and Delirium by Lauren Oliver. Plus, you can't go wrong with Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, 1984 by George Orwell, or Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury! What books make you appreciate your right to read?
