{"product_id":"just-plain-filthy-the-story-behind-book-bannings-trial-of-the-century-9798216196471","title":"Just Plain Filthy: The Story Behind Book Banning's Trial of the Century","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWith the threat to intellectual freedom increasing around the country, this book takes a look at the first ever school book ban case to be decided by the high courts, and offers insights into how we can use history to help the future.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn 1975, the school board members of a small Long Island town did what they thought was a no-brainer: they ordered the removal of nine books from a high school library. The books included some classics - Richard Wright's \u003ci\u003eBlack Boy\u003c\/i\u003e; Desmond Morris's \u003ci\u003eThe Naked Ape\u003c\/i\u003e; Kurt Vonnegut's \u003ci\u003eSlaughterhouse-Five - \u003c\/i\u003ebut that didn't matter to board chair Richard Ahrens, who called the collection \"anti-American, anti-Christian, anti-Semitic, and just plain filthy.\" Maybe he thought the town was with him. Maybe he thought nobody would care. He certainly didn't think he would be sued by seventeen-year-old Steven Pico or that the case would end up before the United States Supreme Court, the first and only book ban dispute ever to do so. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe only one so far. Recent years have seen a surge in book challenges, and it is only a matter of time before another reaches the high court. \u003ci\u003eIsland Trees v. Pico\u003c\/i\u003e ended in a loss for the school board, but not a resounding one. It left enough daylight for the current justices to reach a different conclusion. What was the court's ruling? How did it come about? What was the book ban climate in the 1970s and 80s, and how did it differ from today's? \u003ci\u003eJust Plain Filthy \u003c\/i\u003eis the first book to tell the complete story of \u003ci\u003eIsland Trees v. Pico\u003c\/i\u003e, the flawed yet fascinating case that is the cornerstone of intellectual freedom in America. For now.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Anthony Aycock\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 06\/11\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 224\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.1lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.40h x 6.20w x 0.70d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9798216196471","brand":"Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46836603879561,"sku":"9798216196471","price":36.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0636\/9240\/6921\/files\/img_d905ef03-2071-442a-8e13-a5f8bd8df20f.jpg?v=1780440739","url":"https:\/\/sonsanddaughtersbooks.com\/products\/just-plain-filthy-the-story-behind-book-bannings-trial-of-the-century-9798216196471","provider":"Sons and Daughters Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}