'Pedophile's Guide' stirs Amazon controversy

A self-published book that has made its way to Amazon's cyber-shelves is causing some to call for its removal; others have gone even further and are calling for a boycott of the online retailer.

The book, "The Pedophile's Guide to Love and Pleasure: A Child-Lover's Code of Conduct" by Phillip R. Greaves II, is available as an ebook in the Kindle store. The self-published book is described, with misspellings, by the author in the product description on the site:

This is my attempt to make pedophile situations safer for those juveniles that find themselves involved in them, by establishing certian rules for these adults to follow. I hope to achieve this by appealing to the better nature of pedosexuals, with hope that their doing so will result in less hatred and perhaps liter sentences should they ever be caught.

On Twitter, the best way for lots of people to raise their collective voices quickly, users have called for Amazon to remove the book. Author and blogger Kristen Welch tweeted, "Dear Lord, @amazon Do you really want the force (a.k.a MOM BLOGGERS) boycotting you? Remove this book," linking to the book's page. Others went ahead and called for a boycott; a typical post came from John Sutton in the U.K., who wrote, "Not buying anything from Amazon until this appalling title is removed," linking to the book's Amazon page and attributing the idea to "lots of people." 

The ebook remains for sale on Amazon's site; Amazon has not returned the Times' request for official comment. A commenter on Business Insider posted what they say was Amazon's response, which has been widely circulated. That statement reads: "Amazon believes it is censorship not to sell certain books simply because we or others believe their message is objectionable.  Amazon does not support or promote hatred or criminal acts, however, we do support the right of every individual to make their own purchasing decisions."

Amazon has not always been such a careful supporter of controversial content on its site. In April 2009, there was an outcry when hundreds of books -- many of which had adult or gay-themed content -- disappeared from Amazon's search results. "Rubyfruit Jungle" by Rita Mae Brown; "Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic" by Alison Bechdel; "The History of Sexuality, Vol. 1" by Michel Foucault; "Bastard Out of Carolina" by Dorothy Allison (2005 Plume edition); "Little Birds: Erotica" by Anais Nin; and "Becoming a Man" by Paul Monette, which won the 1992 National Book Award, were among the books that were de-listed from the site. The company attributed the disappearance to a "glitch."

Amazon is a commercial site and can, when it comes right down to it, sell whatever it likes. Selling "The Pedophile's Guide to Love and Pleasure: A Child-Lover's Code of Conduct" might be meant to support the free flow of information. Certainly some book vendors have made it their business to deal in the extremes of free speech -- Amok Books, once located on Vermont Avenue in Los Feliz and catering to a specific and slightly twisted clientele, was dedicated to stocking books that pushed the limits of speech, taste and decorum.

However, that has never been Amazon's model. The massive company may simply have a few kinks to work out when it comes to vetting which self-published ebooks get to its Kindle store. Was anyone paying attention when "The Pedophile's Guide to Love and Pleasure" was made available on Oct. 28?

People are now. Two hours after Techcrunch posted news of the ebook on its site, the $4.95 ebook went from a sales ranking of 158,221 in the Kindle store to 5,668.

-- Carolyn Kellogg

Image: Screenshot of "The Pedophile's Guide to Love and Pleasure" for sale from Amazon.com.

Comments

[Anna Broadway]

Since this was posted, the "sales rank" has jumped even higher -- above the 1,000th mark -- which makes me wonder if you could say more about metric. Having had a book of my own for sale on Amazon, and having seen the "sales rank" jump in the past without an equal change in the number of copies available, I suspect that at least part of the ranking is driven by page views, as opposed to actual sales. Is there anything more you can say or turn up to clarify this? While your remark on the ranking change is helpful, I think it may be a little misleading without more information about what Amazon actually bases that number on (although I'm sure it's something of a protected secret).

[Dawn]

Amazon is citing that removal of the book constitutes censorship when their digital content guidelines state that they will not publish books "which may lead to the production of an illegal item or illegal activity." The author claims the purpose of the book is to help pedophiles conduct themselves in a manner that may result in lighter imprisonment, should they be caught. So this title indeed is leading to illegal activity.

This book obviously missed Amazon's vetting process, and Amazon's refusal to admit a mistake and remove the content only continues to anger parents. Their form-letter response to such a serious matter makes them look stupid. They should be in damage-control mode but instead appear indifferent to the concerns voiced today.

Having working in high-tech PR for two decades, I think I'm qualified to say that someone in Amazon PR is getting fired tomorrow, if not right now.

[jason s.]

Think back 25 years. Now change the title of this book to The Homesexuals Guide to Gay pleasure. 25 years ago this title would have caused an outrage! Now, not so much. Don't be fooled. This is the beginning of something very bad. 25 years from now this could very well be the norm. Where are the limits? Who sets the standards for what's right and wrong? Think about it.

[cjoy55]

@ Jason Did you really just compare a book about homsexual sex to a book about sex with children? Not even close to the same thing...disgusting

[Ron Franscell]

All true, but before anyone goes singing the praises of Amazon as a protector of free speech that puts ethics before profit .... let's recall that Amazon refused to sell MacMillan books for an unseemly long time when they had a disagreement about e-book pricing last year. ALL of those books cntributed far more value to the society at large than "The Pedophile''s Guide..." but Amazon put its own profits ahead of the content of those books.

In other words, if Amazon defends this as a free speech issue, it will be talking out of both sides of its fairly wide mouth.

[Steve]

FROM A LON TIME AMAZON CUSTOMER:

"Amazon is a commercial site and can, when it comes right down to it, sell whatever it likes"

AND I CAN AND WILL BUY BOOKS ELSEWHERE! GOODBYE AMAZON.

[barbara]

If this book were titled differently no one would be complaining. I think it is sick and I pray that as a parent I can learn how those sick minds work so I can better protect my child but again if he had titled it "How I entise your child and how you can prevent it" it would be selling like crazy and people would be thanking him. Maybe what we need to do is polish up the book as a guide to parents to protect their children and have the police be watching this guy like a sick criminal that he clearly is.

[jason s.]

If you think my comment was about the act of sex in and of itself then you've totally missed the point. Its about what becomes accepted in our society over time and we don't even realize it. Like I said, if this were about homosexuality 25 years ago there would have been an outrage just as there is right now about pedophiles. The actions of a pedophile will allways be wrong but the point is, will we allow this to become socially acceptable in the next generation as we've allowed other things to become acceptable in our generation?

[Nicole]

This is not an issue of censorship. We are not talking about a political view, we are talking about the promotion of terror in children and those who have been child victims in their lifetime. Every day I work with children who have been sexually abused by adults who are supposed to be loving and trustworthy. These children go through years of therapy and suffer long term effects of a situation over which they had no control.

Simple sociology explains that the power levels of an adults and children do not allow for a child to "choose" to participate in sexual activity with an adult simply because an adult automatically has more power in the relationship.

This is not about a taboo topic or the public disgust of a man who clearly has a mental illness, this is about an injustice to child victims that will forever suffer the consequences of an adults sexual pleasure. No one cares about an adults sexual freedom when it jeopardizes the emotional freedom of a child.

[ala_frosty]

It got up to #80, then Amazon pulled it for about 15 minutes .. then it came back on. About half an hour later, it eventually hit #65 on the best seller list before Amazon pulled it for real. It's not trending top-10 on Twitter posts, but the frequency is pretty high. There's a lot of anti-Amazon sentiment flowing right now and I do not expect it's going to die down overnight and there are lots of calls for a boycott.

That said there's still another title that's about pedophelia, so we'll just have to wait and see how long before they bring it back:

"Understanding Loved Boys and Boylovers"

[MichaelS3352]

Well, people have the right to boycott. People have the right to protest. But Amazon also has the right to sell the book. You can't squelch information without turning this country into North Korea, although I'm sure some Americans would love to do that. But information, especially if it is regarded as disgusting or in any way controversial, has a way of bubbling to the surface. Nothing fascinates like the forbidden.

And consider all the information we teach our kids--physics and mathematics, for example. Certain highschoolers have used their prowess in those subjects to design atomic and hydrogen bombs. A fifteen year old girl performed that feat in the early 1980s. World History is another example--that discipline can make a demoralized, depressive cynic--or a misanthrope--out of ANY thinking teen.

Sorry, folks, but the cat is long since out of the bag. True, as I said, you can boycott, and you can carry picket signs. But when you have a free society, you have freedom of information, and you will have these social cyclones until that free society is free no more.

And that, I admit, is an inherently unstable, and perhaps dangerous, situation. But the only real cure for it is dictatorship. So there you are.

[KuugenTheFox]

This is hillarious. I've been crying tears of amusement over all the rage from those so-called normal people. I am so very amused by all the parents that go crying "boycott, bla bla, shame on you, bla bla, I won't buy anything from you, bla bla." and so on.
This just made my day.

[Vicki]

Amazon has their heads up their arses. To release a statement that it is censorship to refuse to offer a how to book on the sexual rape of children (a criminal offence) is about as lame as it gets! It's abominable.

[Tony]

I cancelled my account with Amazon the instant I heard the story on the news. What is going on in this world? Will Amazon do anything for money? The Humane Society uncovered cockfighting magazines on Amazon, and now this disgusting garbage. This is scary.

[R. York Moore]

I don't care if they DID pull the book (just last night). The reality is the corporate leaders at Amazon tried to defend it as a free speech issue. How is instructing people on molesting children an example of free speech!?!? I have to be one of Amazon's very first customers when they were operating out of a garage but I'm done with them. The only way I'd return is if there were a public firing of the individuals who okayed this, a public apology, and a large donation to a non-profit caring for victims of abuse.

[Jesse]

Where are we headed as a society?

[Edward Cristobal]

After reading all these craps about Amazon selling this abhorrent and repugnant book, I decided to deleted all my orders. Be prepared Walmart, you may need to stock up more products on your shelves this holiday season.

Regardless, if they pulled out this garbage or not, the damage is already done with the customers rank.

[Lois Thatcher]

Goodbye Amazon, you will never see another dime of my money.

[Robyn]

Where are the limits? Well, for one, homosexuality is between two consenting adults who love each other. Pedophelia is the sexual abuse/rape of a child. HUGE difference! What upsets me is now, for the bigots of same-sex relationships, this now adds fuel to the fire. They may say, "See. We told you that if you allow gay marriage, pedophelia will be considered okay." Of course, this couldn't be further from the truth. How in the WORLD can Amazon justify criminal rape of a child (and a guide book for how to do it and get a "lighter" sentance) as just free speech? This is NOT the same as a same-sex relationship. There is no love. There is no consent. Only the desire to control and harm children and youth. What a horrible shame that Amazon cannot have the courage to stand up to an author who doesn't just "have different ideas and opinions," but wants to cause harm to children and has a guidebook to do it.

[Robyn]

"Who sets the standards for what is right and wrong?" Again, same-sex relationships are consentual and are based on mutual love and respect.
Pedophelia is based on control and abuse of a child. So, yes, love of another-wether it be same-sex or opposite-sex, that's right if it is based out of love and mutual respect. Designing a "guide-book" on how to rape or harm a child. Yes, that's wrong.

[Ryan Sanders]

Really why all this outrage and free publicity about this book? Its a book no more no less and regardless of the content Amazon or anyone for that matter has the right in this country to write, publish and print the subject matter. We forget that once you say what can and can't be written you are giving up your right to free speech. I don't want to read about pedophiles any more than I want to read about hemorrhoids but maybe...just maybe if I read this book I would be better informed on how the pedophile mind works and how I can better protect myself and my family from harm? We've all heard the stories, we are all repulsed by the thought but is putting our head in the sand and staying ignorant the answer? Is giving up or rights the answer? Does anyone really think that banning this book is going to make pedophilia stop or go away? Let's all grow up and be more adult about this book because all this press is only giving it more publicity than it deserves.

[Robyn]

Pedophelia is not "hilarious" as one poster wrote. It harms and affects many children and youth. Not sure how anyone could laugh at the abuse of a child.

Yes, there is free speech. I am a very big supporter of supporting free-speech even to those I might disagree with. Again, though, this goes WAY beyond something I "disagree with." It is a "guidebook" on how to commit a CRIME. More disturbingly, how to commit a crime against a child.

[Robyn]

"Do we really think banning a book with stop pedophelia? Grow up people."
Wow. I don't think anyone is naive enough to think a simple ban on a book will suddenly rid the world of abuse of children. No one is saying that. What is being said, is that a guidebook for how to rape and harm children, should NOT be considered, "Freedom of expression," because it isn't. "Grow up?"
It is those that think this type of "expression" isn't harmful. Is just "freedom."
AS another poster said, freedom does NOT include harming another person or a child. This is not sexual freedom nor is it sexual expression. It is a guide book on how to rape a child. So, yes, let's grow up and take it seriously.

[Shawn Marie Hardy]

I stand firmly for our freedom of speech. We are all entitled the freedom to write and express ourselves without limitation, but how can we think it is o.k. for this material to remain available for the sickos who might potentially perpetrate violence against children?

There are many things that have become "politically incorrect", and rightfully so. Let's take how we refer to certain individuals and groups. There are words and labels we just don't use anymore because it's inappropriate. This is a clear case of inappropriate content, and just because we have freedom of speech does not mean it should be o.k. to allow the circulation of a "how to" guide for pedophiles.

Let me ask this. Would Amazon allow the selling of a book if it promoted terrorist activity in the United States--say, with the title, "The Terrorists Guide to Mass Murder and Destruction in NYC and Beyond?" I don't think so. Something tells me the author of that book would be arrested.

As a single parent with one daughter, I'm very worried about where we are headed in this country. Sure, we should all be entitled our freedom of speech, but lets start thinking about the increase in crimes against children in this country--the constant list of children that have gone missing. Isn't this kind of material just adding fuel to a raging fire?

[Prosperity leads to madness....]

I clearly understand the constitutional rights, but where do you draw a line? How far does the pendulum swing, should it swing all the way to the moon ? Emerson is right prosperity leads to madness! Is greed, and profits the only think that matters , I think it is unethical teetering on insane to promote sickness. Why would you want your company associated with the lowest behavior on the planet? Isn't their enough negativity on the planet without having to make a buck by selling to a sickness/pathology . When you promote something through a company as big as Amazon does that mean you condone the behavior? I think so! How far is to far?Boycott Amazon! Consumers can make a difference. We want dignity, ethics and yes high standard of behavior in society. No we do not want to "normalize deviancy " and become desensitized to the issues. We want to protect our innocent children, our childrens, children we want a better stronger. highly ethical and dignified educated future generation of Americans.

[Mika]

just one quick comment, simply because i cannot stand to be on this page any longer! To all of those comparing this to homosexuality! Gay,lesbian, and transgender sex....goes on between to conscenting adults. Not a child, and an adult who knows that their actions are worng...period....

[Former Amazon Patron]

Disgusting that you would promote a book that obviously is injurious to children. I, along with many of my peers are supporting a boycott of Amazon. You reap what you sew. Good-bye Amazon.

[Thomas Severe]

Has anyone actually read the book ?

[daphnee]

Some of you laugh at parents for being outraged, you are sick and you make me sick. I was the victim of a pedophile when I was 4 years old. I am NOT laughing. These parents have every right to be enraged. They should want to protect their children from crazy sickos, and not letting people like that hide behind a flag of "freedom of speach."
What repulses me the most are those of you who can't tell that there is a difference between freedom of speech, and something published with malicious intent. Anything that is published that instructs others in methods on how to harm children is malicious intent as far as I am concerned.
I believe all rational people know that banning/removing the of book will not rid the world of pedophiles, but we don't need it out there encouraging any either. They are driven enough by their own sick twisted desires. They are sick twisted people who certainly don't need a book to tell them how to be any more twisted than they already are. To those of you who defend this book, or this man I hope to god you never have a child in your life that ever goes through this. Will you be able to look them in the eye and tell them you defended this mans "freedom of speach"?

[JimK]

All the talk about a company being able to sell what they please, and free society, etc., unbelievable that anyone can support Amazon, or the author in this. Comparing a "guide to pedophilia" to anything else is ignorance, if not stupidity. I applaud everyone who will no longer do business with Amazon, I am another that will do so, and not just until they remove the book (if ever), but permanently because they put such material up in the first place. I think that whatever freedom people cite to support Amazon and the author ends where child abuse, and any crime, begins.

[Jim C]

Amazon has really messed up big time. I for one will never buy anything from them again and I hope they go out of business for there big blunder. They deserve nothing less. We need to protect our children from these sick bastards who think it is ok to hurt children.

[Donna]

I think this is an OUTRAGE; SHAME ON YOU Amazon for choosing to romp in such disgust. If we dont stand up for the rights and protection of children in society, then who will. We must understand that we as a poeple have power within our reach. Boycot Amazon and also call for a full aploigy ON BENDED KNEES to all the children who have been victims of such abuse. It truely is a crime to condone such behavior displayed in this book, therefore we must not allow the likes of perverted people to believe that they have a platform to display their FILTH. Acountability is what we need to all those who wrench our money, yet feel they dont have an obligation to respect and preserve the rights of the inocent children. Yes, im talking about you AMAZON. I WONDER IF THOSE WHO HAVE CHOSEN TO CONTINUE THE SALES OF THE BOOK WITHIN AMAZON HAVE CHILDREN? AND IF SO, WHERE ARE YOUR MORALS AND ETHICS? MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD PEOPLE!

[Donna]

And to the MIKA, I HEAR YOU. How dare we compare the Gay, Lesbian lifestyles to the CRIMINAL ACTS OF Amazon for promoting what the law says is crime; HARMING CHILDREN THROUGH ABUSE OR AT LEAST PROMOTING IT. Have we lost it?.... Since when have children become consenting adults? THE AURTHOR OF THIS BOOK QUITE FRANKLY NEEDS TO BE LOCKED UP!

[cjoy55]

Thank you Robyn and Mika very well said. Jason I got your point and you sound like a homophobe. Pedophiles will never be tolerated because it is CHILD ABUSE not a consentual relationship between adults.

[reasonableperson130]

I want to preface this by saying Amazon at no time had a legal obligation to pull the book or to prevent it from being sold. That being said, Amazon was morally right to allow the book to go on sale. It is not their place as a bookstore to determine what their customers can choose to read from. It IS their place to try to collect the most diverse collection of materials and allow their readers to choose the books they are interested in. At the same time, Amazon was pragmatically right in removing the book. If one book, that probably isn't going to sell very well anyway, poses to cost Amazon a great deal of money in boycotts, then they have made the right decision in pulling the book. In my mind, the most morally reprehensible party here is the boycotters. I understand that they are morally appalled by the book, and understandably so, but the idea that these boycotters have any determination on the availability of books is repugnant. If the ideas are repulsive, which they are, then just don't read the book. But pushing to have a book pulled, "banned" in every practical sense of the word, is not an idea that I can support morally.

[Madeleine]

I find it disgusting and victimizing that 13 year olds may NOT participate on commenting on this thread, while there are books like such put out about them.....so authors can write what they want about the sexual parts or sexual desires for 13 year-olds, but they can't post how they themselves feel about it here? Just one problem among many about the rape and destruction of young children and adults.......

[Madeleine]

I want the head of Amazon, FIRED, to resign, EXCUSED from his duties, or however else it can possible be expressed. The man or men or people running Amazon do NOT KNOW how to exercise proper leadership and have not met the requirements for being at the helm of a large company.