# Waverley Council book removal controversy

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/waverley-council-book-removal-controversy
> Updated: 2026-08-22T22:01:01.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2.

The Waverley Council in Sydney, Australia, removed Adam Johnson’s book, ‘How to Sell a Genocide: The Media’s Complicity in the Destruction of Gaza’, from its Bondi Junction library shelves for review. The decision followed a complaint from a survivor of a December antisemitic attack at Bondi Beach.

In response to the removal, the council stated it would consider processes for closer oversight of book selection, noting that curation and purchasing are typically outsourced. 

Author Adam Johnson has criticized the move, arguing that the classification of Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide is a mainstream view within the human rights community. He further alleged that some Australian media outlets have used “libelous framing” to label his work and its defenders as antisemitic, suggesting the controversy reflects a broader pattern of suppressing criticism of Israel and Zionism.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-22: Waverley Library removes Adam Johnson’s book following complaints

The removal of Adam Johnson’s book ‘How to Sell a Genocide’ from Sydney’s Waverley Library has ignited debates over censorship and media coverage of Palestinian rights.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/waverley-library-removes-adam-johnsons-book-following-complaints

### 2026-08-18: Waverley Council removes book from Sydney library shelves

Waverley Council has removed Adam Johnson’s book ‘How to Sell a Genocide’ from a Sydney library for review following a complaint from a survivor of a Bondi beach attack.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/waverley-council-removes-book-from-sydney-library-shelves

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Cite as: Waverley Council book removal controversy. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/waverley-council-book-removal-controversy