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Bondi library removes book after complaint
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Waverley Library removed Adam Johnson's book How to Sell a Genocide after a Bondi attack survivor.
The removal raises questions about censorship and community sensitivities in public libraries.
Background
The book, critical of US media coverage of Israel's actions in Gaza, was pulled from shelves for review after a complaint from a survivor of the December 2025 Bondi Beach massacre. The library serves an area with a large Jewish community, and the decision has sparked debate over book selection and freedom of expression.
How it unfolded
- recentlyA survivor of the Bondi Beach massacre posted on Facebook expressing distress at seeing the book on the library's new-release shelf.
- recentlyWaverley Council confirmed the book was removed from shelves for review, citing the need for closer oversight of book selection.
- recentlyAuthor Adam Johnson criticized the removal, saying 'genocide' is a mainstream opinion among human rights experts.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Waverley Council said the book was removed for review and will consider closer oversight of book selection.
- Author
- Adam Johnson said objections seem based on the title using 'genocide', which he says is a mainstream finding.
- Palestinian group
- A Palestinian advocacy group said libraries should hold 'challenging' books and criticized the removal.
Still unverified
The complaint was reportedly from a survivor of the Bondi attack, but this has not been officially confirmed.