Book Bannings Help Sherman Alexie

In this Nov. 14, 2007, AP file photo, Sherman Alexie smiles at the 58th National Book Awards in New York.

From the moment he took the stage at the Egyptian Theatre on Wednesday night, Sherman Alexie was unrepentant about his work. “So I hear there was, like, some controversy with my book,” he said, as an audience of 800 erupted with laughter. He wrote a book that was pulled from a West Ada School District supplemental reading list for several months last year. “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” drew sharp criticism from some parents for its story about a Native American teen growing up near Spokane, who boasts about his masturbation and speaks frankly about teenage life. … “When books get banned, I get a lot of tweets and emails and letters from people concerned that I am disturbed or hurt,” he said. “I’m not. When my books get banned, I sell so many; the exact opposite thing the banners want”/ Bill Roberts , Idaho Statesman. More here.

Question: Isn’t it safe to say that most controversial books benefit by a ban or attempted ban?