Amazon had taken down its 2023 best-selling books list on conservatism, citing concerns it “could create a disappointing customer experience.” However, the list was reinstated after an investigation by the Daily Caller.
The book “Battle on Conservatives” by media analyst Mark Dice, who is known for his conservative commentary on YouTube, was removed on June 16th. The book had garnered numerous five-star ratings and climbed to No. 4 on Amazon’s overall bestseller chart.
Dice remarked that it seemed evident Amazon aimed to suppress this book until the media inquiry from the Daily Caller prompted a reconsideration. He described it as “ironic” that a work critiquing cancel culture was itself censored by such a major retailer.
On top of addressing themes like immigration and family values, the book also comments on current ideological divides in America. Dice emphasized that banning books restricts access to diverse opinions, hindering open discussion.
After his book was initially removed, Dice attempted to appeal through Amazon’s formal channels but was turned down. Even when he reached out to Amazon’s executive team, the outcome remained the same until media attention prompted a change.
“It was clear that media scrutiny played a big role in this shift,” he noted, pointing out that Amazon’s response lacked specificity regarding its concerns about the content, instead vaguely mentioning a potential negative customer experience.
While Dice maintains a humorous online persona, he emphasized that his writing is deeply researched, with “The War on Conservatives” featuring over 900 footnotes. He expressed surprise at the situation, stating that writing isn’t merely a business venture for him but a genuine passion.
Dice has previously published several books and is working on another release planned for November. He voiced concerns that self-published authors are particularly vulnerable to Amazon’s censorship policies, especially given Amazon’s dominance in the online book market.
“As this is from a small publisher, they might have thought they could handle it quietly,” he speculated.
In a broader context, Amazon’s actions seem to reflect a trend of targeting right-leaning self-published works, potentially jeopardizing the ideological landscape of publishing.
Previously, Amazon also removed “When Harry Became Sally,” and other controversial books faced similar treatments before eventually being restored after significant backlash.
Dice expressed frustration not just at the removal of his book but at the loss of its customer ratings and reviews, likening it to erasing it from memory.
Ultimately, the reviews and ratings were reinstated, with Amazon later claiming that the book was removed by mistake and is now back on sale.
