Literary ecstasy for yer mind!! / Books that changed the world (or at least some laws) / Verileah 14 years ago

Books that changed the world (or at least some laws)

I was reading this post today, about a romance author who investigated the treatment of pregnant women in prison and ended up writing a bill (which passed with only one 'no' vote) banning the use of shackles for women in labor. The article is not for the easily squicked, it gets graphic in places, but the gist is that this author wrote a book that exposed some really hideous practices, added a happy ending where a law gets passed to prevent those things from happening, and then *made the happy ending happen in real life*.

That reminded me of The Jungle, by Upton Sinclair. While Sinclair was really interested in exposing working conditions and promoting socialism (oooh scary), his horrifying accounts of the meat industry in Chicago led to the eventual creation of the FDA.

I was wondering what comes to mind for others when they think about books that really made a difference. I'm sure there are tons of examples. So share! Or talk about the article, we can do that too :).

pharren 14 years ago
Two immediately came to mind, but they aren't happy, or very positive:





Perhaps "The Little Red Book" isn't Mao Zedong's most influential work (and really isn't "his" book, but it is a collection of quotations from his other books and speeches and articles - though he is listed as the author), in terms of bringing about massive changes, like his previous books that led to the formation of the People's Republic of China, but it has sold a bazillion copies and is still read by people everywhere.
Dia 14 years ago
I find it strange that anyone could think that a women could get up during labor and do anything dangerous. Prison systems are inherently fucked up, its like a world that shapes the people inside it!

I can't think of any books off the top of my head. Maybe because I mostly read senseless stuff, i will think on this!
Verileah 14 years ago
I think it's great when otherwise "frivolous" fiction, like romance, can end up changing things. I'm sure there are teen dramas out there that had a role in developing various legislation to protect young people, for example. It doesn't matter if the book itself is silly, if you manage to uncover something that cannot be dismissed.

But for a serious, non-fiction book - The Silent Spring by Rachel Carson contributed heavily to the launch of the EPA and the environmental movement as a whole by exposing the risks of DDT.

A book I have not yet read, but would like to - Ten Days in a Mad House by Nellie Bly. That's the one where the reporter pretends to be insane so she can get thrown into a mental hospital and then report on the conditions. The book resulted in major reform in caring for the mentally ill (and completely sane, for that matter).
Vulash 14 years ago


Although even without the book we'd probably be at the same place
Vulash 14 years ago
I assume we aren't talking about religious books or the such?
pharren 14 years ago
Another huge contribution from Darwin is his book on facial expressions and emotions in man and animal. Don't feel like looking up the actual title, but it is mentioned a lot in psychology :X
Verileah 14 years ago
We can talk about whatever we want :). When I first started the thread I was thinking of fiction only, but I didn't specify that and so the discussion moved quickly to include non-fiction too.
Dia 14 years ago
So I used your article as a reference on my exam yesterday. We're reading clockwork orange and we had to compair some example from the book to something happening currently. His jail treatment I used with those womens.

Thanks for posting it!
Verileah 14 years ago
*tips hat* glad to help!