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Friday, December 23, 2011

Books / Retail Bookstore Calls Mein Kampf the "Perfect" Christmas Present

Posted by Paul Constant on Fri, Dec 23, 2011 at 3:07 PM

Booksellers Waterstone's has apologised for inappropriately promoting Adolf Hitler's book Mein Kampf as a "perfect" Christmas present.

But the UK's largest bookshop chain has denied it is attempting to bolster sales of the infamously antisemitic work, despite the JC discovering several stores deliberately and prominently displaying the book.

Staff at Waterstone's in Huddersfield used a festive point-of-sale sticker to promote the book as "the perfect present" with an accompanying personal recommendation message by a staff member trumpeting the book as "an essential read for anyone".

A manager at a bookstore I worked at once noticed that a staff member had faced out a copy of The Turner Diaries on its shelf in fiction. He asked the employee why he did it, and the employee said it was to show that we carried everything, regardless of political inclination. The manager agreed that bookstores shouldn't censor the books that they carry, but he added, "Just because we have to carry that piece of shit book doesn't mean we have to make a big fucking production over it." The book stayed on the shelf, but it stayed inconspicuous, spine-out, from that point on. That strikes me as a pretty good rule of thumb for bookstores, I think.

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i don't even

Posted by sirkowski

on December 23, 2011 at 4:07 PM

I agree, MK is an essential read. If you've ever wondered how these evangelists and politicos can live with themselves, knowing all the cruelty that they inflict, that book answers all those questions.

Posted by Some Old Nobodaddy Logged In on December 23, 2011 at 4:31 PM

@2: iawtc. History is important, even, if not especially, the bad parts of history. Knowing how the past happened is the only way to possibly prevent it happening again. If you want to know how Hitler came to power, you need to read his book.

Posted by K on December 23, 2011 at 4:52 PM

O Tannenbaum O Tannenbaum
Wie schön ist unser Führer...
Er is so Rein im Winterzeit,
Sein Zieg ist süßer wann es schneit.
O Tannenbaum O Tannenbaum
Wie schön is unser Führer.

Posted by kinaidos on December 23, 2011 at 4:54 PM

The Canadian chain I work for refuses to sell Mein Kampf at all, the only book it won't sell if I remember correctly. That said, my store did send back a self-help book written by a purportedly real-life pimp who suggested people should treat their lives like a stable of prostitutes after I stamped my feet and shouted for a week.

Posted by sjbrot

on December 23, 2011 at 5:04 PM

Mein Kampf IS the perfect gift for the Ron Paul supporter in any family!

Posted by Cato the Younger Younger on December 23, 2011 at 6:11 PM

It isn't like Mein Kampf is much of a threat these days, but yea "the perfect Christmas gift" is a bit much. Unless maybe you are worried about Chanukah's war on Christmas.

Posted by Cascadian Bacon on December 23, 2011 at 7:48 PM

good book , being black i know all about struggle . tip the title translated means my struggle . hitler was actually quite successful , he lowered un employment expanded his economy , re instilled patriotisim in his people . if not for that pesky jew thing he would be remembered for his greatness . hell he was time magazines man of the year in 1935 .

Posted by whatsbeckgottadowithit on December 23, 2011 at 7:51 PM

#8 Yeah, cuz fascism would be so great without the hate...... e_e

Posted by sirkowski

on December 23, 2011 at 9:31 PM

@9, well when you put it THAT way. But the Gestapo uniforms were really a good looking. And Hitler ruined a perfectly good salute so no one will be able to use it for a few hundred years. (Yeah, the Nazi salute is really a variant on the ancient Roman salute: fist bump on the heart and extend the arm outward)

Posted by Cato the Younger Younger on December 24, 2011 at 4:11 AM

I got Mein Kampf out of a university library a few years ago and I think it's important for every serious anti-fascist to read. But I'd never buy it.

Not to defend Waterstones putting it on prominent display, but the JC have taken the quote out of context. According to the guardian, it read, "An essential read for anyone seeking to understand one of history's most despicable figures. A shocking read and a vital warning for future generations."

@8 - If it wasn't for the "pesky jew thing", Hitler would still be remembered for killing homosexuals, trade unionists, roma, disabled people, captured Red Army soldiers and anyone who opposed him politically, as well as invading nearly every country in Europe. And I assure you that the German economy and the German people were a lot worse off in 1945 than in 1933. Nice try at rehabilitating Hitler though, dickhead.

Posted by Camembert on December 24, 2011 at 6:53 AM

I tend to bury books like that when I go to the book store. Because of the damage it has done The Turner Diarrheas is a book no reasonable person should ever provide it to anyone.

Posted by frankdawg on December 24, 2011 at 8:02 AM