Waverley Council removes book from Sydney library shelves

Waverley Council has removed the book ‘How to Sell a Genocide’ from the shelves of the Waverley library in Bondi Junction for review. The decision followed a complaint from an individual who survived a December antisemitic attack at Bondi beach.

The book, written by Adam Johnson, critiques the role of US media in the destruction of Gaza. A spokesperson for Waverley Council stated that the book was removed for review and that the council would consider processes to ensure closer oversight of book selection. The council noted that, like most public libraries, it outsources book curation and purchasing.

Author Adam Johnson criticized the removal, arguing that the classification of Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide is a mainstream view within the human rights community rather than a radical position. He suggested the objection was primarily based on the use of the word ‘genocide’ in the title.