Dangerous books that have affected society, both positive and negative

We've all read books that inspire us, books which are influential in the way we grow up and how we see the world. Most of these are personal records, having only a limited impact on society as a whole. However, some texts inspire the masses. Is this mass fascination with a particular work good or for evil? Which books can claim to be the most dangerous of our time?

The first book on my list is one that many college students may be familiar with due to a major motion picture starring Brad Pitt and Edward Norton. The book is called "Fight Club" and is written by today's greatest satirist, Chuck Palahniuk.

"Fight Club" is a strange anomaly. It's something that's not really supposed to happen. Like a geeky high school quarterback, it's intelligent and popular.

The novel discusses themes ranging from addictive consumer fixations, the knowledge of one's own existence, the questioning of societal structure, and the implications of anarchy.

Wow, that's a lot of stuff for such a small book.

Throw in Palahniuk's one-two-punch writing style (the tagline for the book is 'mischief, mayhem, soap'), the book's mainstream credibility, the fact that it has inspired musicians such as Panic! at the Disco, and we've got ourselves what I like to call an entry level novel that teaches young adults how to question their surroundings. Next up is "1984" by George Orwell.

Who here hasn't had to read this book in high school? Who doesn't know what "big brother" is? Point is that this novel has deeply ingrained itself into the psyche of our culture. It taught us that we need to be afraid of the future and question the government.

Without this book we wouldn't have many of current communications theories such as 'groupthink' and 'doublethink' (For those non comm. majors you should know that these theories are bad; very bad.). Another common controversial book is "The Catcher in the Rye".

"The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger explores things such as eternal loneliness in today's world, violence inherent in the youth, and our eventual acceptance of life. Most teens read this book and relate to the character of Holden, which is truly horrifying once they realize they shouldn't want to relate to the character, as he is morally corrupt.

The book can be credited as inspiration to some controversial pop figures. It is part of what inspired the assassination of John Lennon (Mark David Chapman, the assassin, actually thought he was Holden Caulfield) and the attempt to kill Ronald Reagan by John Hinckley Jr. More recently (and arguably more favorably) references to it can be in the work of artists such as Kevin Smith and Green Day.

Book four is Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin". It was one of the first novels to accurately portray the plight of slavery. It single handily inspired the Civil War and created help from important figures such as Harriet Tubman, Ralph Ellison and even Martin Luther King Jr.

Many people have died due to Uncle Tom and his little cabin.

The fifth book on my list is quite literally the most "dangerous" book because it actually shows how to create bombs, explosives and chaos. This is "The Anarchists Cookbook" by William Powell.

Don't get any ideas now, this book is so dangerous it is part of what inspired the Columbine shootings and is rumored to be red flagged by the government.

Anyone who purchases, downloads or checks out this book is immediately put under temporary surveillance. It is definitely an explosive stack of paper that should be approached and handled with caution.

Every novel mentioned so far is an American publication. It is only natural that the U.S. Constitution has found its way onto this list.

Here we have a tie. The U.S. Constitution and "The Communist Manifesto" are two of the most dangerous books in the world.

The U.S. Constitution is the root of everything this country has stood by whether it is for good or evil. It inspired change in the world, change in the people and change in the ideals thereof. Karl Marx's "The Communist Manifesto" also inspired much change. Both have given rise to tyrants.

When you mix democracy and communism, the world has a huge problem. See Cold War. See Mission Iraqi Freedom. Lets move on.

Number eight is "Mein Kampf" by Adolf Hitler. Although that should be enough said, I'll give you a refresher on it. This is the book Hitler wrote while in prison in the 1920's. This is the book that led the way for the rise of the Third Reich. This book and its creator are responsible for Nazi Germany, World War II and the Holocaust, even maybe the nuclear bomb. This book still today fills many lost souls with hate, anger and racism. This book is hands down evil.

Another most dangerous book is Darwin's "The Origin of Man". This journal is responsible for some of the most radical changes in the way the world works and thinks in recent history.

It is the first to really contradict modern religious views and introduce ideas of evolution and social Darwinism. It is what inspired people like Marx and Hitler. It is what will continue to be the basis of beneficial scientific research and madmen agendas alike.

Finally, the most dangerous book ever is the Bible.

Yes folks, the Bible.

Not one text has ever been responsible for more wars, crimes, wrong doings and controversy. It and other opposing religious texts are the very basis for the way the world thinks and works. Whether one believes it is truly the holy sacrament is a moor point. What really matters is that at the end of the day, the Bible is interpreted by man and therefore would itself tell you that it is corrupt and not to be trusted entirely.

I implore any and all people to think what they will about the Bible or any other text mentioned here, this is just the way I see it. Some dangerous texts are here to warn us, some try to change or control the way we think. It all comes down to points of view and now, you all have mine.