Book banning isn't new—it's a 2,000-year-old playbook designed to control what people know and think.

From Emperor Qin Shi Huang burning books in ancient China to 16,000 documented book bans in American schools since 2020, the pattern is always the same: those in power fear ideas that challenge their narrative. In this deep-dive episode, Amanda Polick traces the history of censorship from ancient Rome to the firing of Dr. Carla Hayden from the Library of Congress, revealing how book banning has always been about control, never protection.

In this conversation, you'll discover:

• How the Catholic Church banned books for 400+ years
• Why Robin Hood was considered communist propaganda in the 1950s
• How 11 people filed 100 book challenges across different school districts targeting specific communities
• Why libraries and librarians are being criminalized for doing their jobs
• Concrete actions you can take to protect democracy through literacy and library support

Perfect for: Educators, parents, library advocates, democracy defenders, and anyone who believes in the power of free speech and open access to information.

Correction: It's noted in the episode that some states still have obscenity laws on the books, but all 50 states do. Amanda was referring to states that have recently used those laws to specifically threaten comedians.

Show notes: https://www.amandapolick.com/blog/banned-book-episode

Instagram: @amandapolick