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Do books need a special editor who reads for offensive content? And who gets to decide what’s offensive anyway?

This week we are joined by authors and to discuss censorial trends in book publishing, including the rise of so-called “sensitivity readers” and the sometimes successful campaigns to get books canceled before they are even published.

We also explore adjacent debates: Is it appropriate to write outside of one’s identity or lived experience? And can authors write about people who do bad things without endorsing the bad things they do?

Show notes:

• Podcast transcript
• “” by Kat Rosenfield
• “” by Vesper Stamper
• “” by Kat Rosenfield
• New York Times: “”
• “” by Kat Rosenfield

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