Why books are small but dangerous

Nicky Parker from Amnesty International explains how books open up whole worlds that some people don’t want us to know about – that’s why they’re censored, banned or removed

• Plus what’s coming in our joint Amnesty International and Guardian children’s books site ‘Dangerous books’ long weekender

Books are small, but they’re dangerous, no doubt about it. Otherwise they wouldn’t be censored, banned or removed.

Amnesty knows better than most how writers and readers can be some of the most feared people in society in the eyes of repressive regimes. Governments are right to revere them. Amnesty also knows better than most that writers and readers are some of the most powerful instruments of change.

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