No Guides on Essential Oils? Surprising Books that are Banned in Texas Prisons

Recently, Texas has been under the spotlight for the list of approved and banned books in prison libraries.

The most common comparison is the question as to why Hitler's "Mein Kampf" is allowed in prison libraries but classic novels such as "The Color Purple" by Alice Walker are banned.

Well, this falls under the scrutiny of what books are within the permitted categories in prison libraries and what content is denied.

What Makes a Book Bannable in Texas Prisons?

According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, a publication is susceptible for rejection if it contains any of these categories:

• Content that could aid in escape or avoid detection by authorities
• Information on creating explosives, weapons or illegal drugs
• Material that could be used to invoke prison riots and/or security threats
• Sexually graphic material that violates the law (unless for medical or educational purposes)

This means that books teaching various fighting techniques such as tai chi are not allowed. Two books on essential oils are also on the list due to their inclusion of edible plants for survival in the wilderness.

What Books are Allowed?

Books that contain content that is unpopular or just looked down upon by society do not constitute a ban. Common content like this include religious, philosophical, political and/or social genres.

This is why certain taboo pieces like "Mein Kampf" are allowed in Texas prisons but not books on tax filing for fear of perpetuating attempted fraud from the inmates.