At first glance, these books are completely harmless, but it was they who pushed people to terrible deeds.
Books influence people - this is undeniable. They can make readers laugh, cry, write their own story, or try to change their lives for the better.
But literary works do not always give bright emotions and inspire something good. It turns out that they are capable of encouraging the reader to commit a crime.
1. JD Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye
Not only one of the most controversial books of our time, but also a kind of leader in the number of strange crimes. Quite a peaceful, but somewhat tough novel about the worldview of the teenager Holden Caulfield, has inspired many criminals. Why? Riddle.
Jared Leto as Mark Chapman in Chapter 27, about the murder of John Lennon.
In 1980, Mark Chapman killed John Lennon, a member of the legendary band The Beatles. Then he sat down by the lantern and began to read The Catcher in the Rye. Mark loved this book and even wanted to rename Holden Caulfield. He said that it was on the pages of the novel that he saw an encrypted order to kill the singer.
Promotional video:
In 1981, another fan of the book, John Hinckley, attempted the assassination of US President Ronald Reagan. He was declared mentally ill and placed under compulsory treatment, but was recently released. I wonder if he keeps rereading Salinger?
2. Isaac Asimov, Foundation
Foundation is a Hugo Prize-winning series of seven science fiction novels. The books tell about the organization of the same name, which, waiting for the onset of dark times, is trying to preserve the existing civilization. It would seem that the bad thing can be picked up from such a work? However, it was he who inspired Shoko Asahara, the founder of the Aum Shinrikyo sect responsible for several murders and the 1995 terrorist attack in the Japanese subway. He considered himself Gary Seldon - one of the heroes of the cycle, the mathematician who created "Foundation". Asahara believed that he too could save humanity through his organization.
The founder of the Aum Shinrikyo sect, Shoko Asahara.
3. Stephen King, Rage
In Fury, a schoolboy kills two teachers and takes the class hostage. The book was published in 1977, and already in the 80s and 90s a wave of similar incidents swept across the United States: students brought weapons to school and actually repeated the plot of "Fury." The last straw was an incident that happened in 1997 in Kentucky. A fourteen-year-old schoolboy shot eight of his classmates. He carried not only a weapon, but also a copy of King's book, which prompted King to withdraw the book from print. Such tragedies continue, only it is not “Rage” that inspires the teenagers, but the example of their predecessors.
Shooter Michael Cornil.
4. John Fowles, "The Collector"
John Fowles' novel tells the story of a man passionate about collecting butterflies and a girl named Miranda. He decides to add her to his collection and locks her up in the basement.
Robert Burdell.
This macabre story has inspired several criminals. The "Collector" was found among the belongings of serial killer Christopher Wilder, who tortured at least 12 women. Another maniac, Robert Burdell, openly admitted that he adored Fowles' novel, but one could guess about it without his words: he was fond of collecting rarities, and then carried away by kidnapping and killing people. The number of parallels with the book in his history is frankly frightening.
5. Joseph Conrad, "Secret Agent"
The novel tells the story of a spy who is tasked with organizing a series of explosions. The book was a desktop for Ted Kazinski, an American terrorist who sent bombs in the mail. The connection between the book and Ted's actions was so obvious that during the investigation, the FBI turned to Konrad's researchers for help.
Ted Kazinski.
6. Anne Rice, Queen of the Damned
Vampire Stories is not harmless reading for girls that hasn't hurt anyone. However, the fault of Anne Rice's novel here is indirect.
Alia Houghton as Akashi in Queen of the Damned.
Allan Menzies killed his childhood friend and drank his blood. He explained that he was ordered to do this by Queen Akasha from the film adaptation of Queen of the Damned. According to him, she visited him personally. Allan was sure that for his deed he would be rewarded with immortality and in his next life he would become a vampire.
Allan was later found dead in a prison cell. I would like to believe that this was the end of his existence.
7. Robert Heinlein, "Stranger in a foreign land"
The book tells about a man who was raised by the Martians. He returned to Earth as the Messiah. The plot sunk into the soul of Charles Manson and, inspired, he created a sect that was engaged in sacrifices.
Charles Manson.
Manson himself denied Heinlein's involvement. However, there are so many parallels between the structure of the Manson sect and "Outsider" that it is hard to believe in it. Because of this apparent connection, the book was removed from US school libraries. Interestingly, the novel is included in the list of books that shaped America.
It is not the books themselves that push people to commit crimes, but their misperceptions and sick fantasies. It's a shame that because of this others suffer, and really good works are prohibited and withdrawn from the press.
Therefore, we wish that this list does not grow larger.