Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' a brief Kindle best seller

sirbruce · 03-22-2009, 11:45 PM

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10200001-1.html

Quote:

Yes, Sony and Google have teamed up to offer 500,000 free e-books on the Sony Reader. Free is nice, and half a million is an impressive number, but lots of free and cheap e-books can wreak havoc on your database and best-seller lists--just ask Amazon.com, which found itself with Adolf Hitler's "Mein Kampf" briefly sitting atop its best-seller list for legal thrillers in the Kindle Store, experienced earlier Thursday.

As always, the headline is splashier than the acutal facts. It was #1 in *legal thrillers* for all of a few minutes. Still it was an excuse for someone to write an article about Kindle pricing in general.

Sonist · 03-23-2009, 12:28 AM

How did it end up in "legal thrillers," of all places?

I suppose it being #1, says a lot about just how bad the writing of John Grisham can be

RobbieClarken · 03-23-2009, 12:55 AM

I'm not surprised that it would be a best seller considering that Hitler has to be one of the most historically significant individuals. If people are reading it to try and understand how someone could become so evil it is probably a good thing. I'm more concerned that Mein Kampf has a 3.5 star rating on Amazon and almost half the reviews give it 5 stars.

Patricia · 03-23-2009, 01:15 AM

Deputy-Dawg has already uploaded an LRF version into our library, and the book has long been freely available at PG Australia.

HarryT · 03-23-2009, 04:18 AM

I have a printed edition of it and find it virtually unreadable. Half fictitious autobiography; half poorly-written political rant.

YGG- · 03-23-2009, 04:41 AM

AFAIK the copyright for "Mein kampf" is still owned by the land of Bavaria, which forbids its publication; all present copies are illegal...
And it's a bucketful of sh*t and slander that makes you want to puke.
(next we'll have to explain __again__ that the 'protocol of the elders of Zion' is a XIXth century Russian hoax

)

Sweetpea · 03-23-2009, 04:51 AM

I don't see how reading a book can be illegal. How else can we learn from somebody else's mistakes? Naturally, a person should be able to put a story in perspective, but isn't that the same with every book?

HarryT · 03-23-2009, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YGG-

AFAIK the copyright for "Mein kampf" is still owned by the land of Bavaria, which forbids its publication; all present copies are illegal...

It is illegal to publish it in Germany. Certainly not elsewhere.

ravenne · 03-23-2009, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YGG-

AFAIK the copyright for "Mein kampf" is still owned by the land of Bavaria, which forbids its publication; all present copies are illegal...

I thought so, too. Indeed the copyright´s owned by the Free State of Bavaria, because Hitler lived in Munich before his death. BUT that only preserves re-prints in Germany. Since Germany´s a "life plus 70 country" the copyright will expire 2015, 70 years after Hitler´s death.
Not all present copies are illegal: Publications are allowed in the US and UK, some Swedish and Turkish publishers re-printed it, but were stopped by interim order.
In Germany, it´s legal to own the book and to sell or buy antiquarian versions of it.

I don´t think it´s unreadable, btw (at least not the original version, maybe the English translation is). I still think it is (or can be) a dangerous book if it gets into the hands of someone (especially young people) with extreme tendencies.

YGG- · 03-23-2009, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ravenne

[....]Indeed the copyright´s owned by the Free State of Bavaria,[....]. BUT that only preserves re-prints in Germany. Since Germany´s a "life plus 70 country" the copyright will expire 2015, 70 years after Hitler´s death.
Not all present copies are illegal: Publications are allowed in the US and UK, some Swedish and Turkish publishers re-printed it, but were stopped by interim order.
In Germany, it´s legal to own the book and to sell or buy antiquarian versions of it.

Thanks for the point.
I think it's illegal in France too (not that you would have any trouble finding it..).

sirbruce · 03-23-2009, 05:40 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mein_Ka...t_availability

Sweetpea · 03-23-2009, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ravenne

I still think it is (or can be) a dangerous book if it gets into the hands of someone (especially young people) with right wring tendencies.

I think a lot of books/movies/games are. That's why education is so very important. You need something to put it into perspective. But, to just say you aren't allowed to read it, I think you will make it more interesting for those people you didn't want it to read in the first place, to read it.

bill_mchale · 03-23-2009, 03:17 PM

Since making a reference to Hitler or the Nazis is suppose to be the sign that a thread has died... I guess this thread was DOA

.

--
Bill

Marysart · 03-23-2009, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

It is illegal to publish it in Germany. Certainly not elsewhere.

It is illegal to publish or import it to The Netherlands as well.

fugazied · 03-24-2009, 02:04 AM

Hitler was a wanna-be philosopher, but failed in his attempts as demonstrated by Mein Kampf. However, I support free speech, and that includes this work despite the fact Hitler became a monster.

Even if you ban it, it would simply be available on the internet.

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03-23-2009, 12:28 AM	#2
Sonist Apeist Posts: 2,126 Karma: 381090 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: The sunny part of California Device: Generic virtual reality story-experiential device	How did it end up in "legal thrillers," of all places? I suppose it being #1, says a lot about just how bad the writing of John Grisham can be

03-23-2009, 12:55 AM	#3
RobbieClarken Addict Posts: 371 Karma: 1002274 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Australia Device: Kindle	I'm not surprised that it would be a best seller considering that Hitler has to be one of the most historically significant individuals. If people are reading it to try and understand how someone could become so evil it is probably a good thing. I'm more concerned that Mein Kampf has a 3.5 star rating on Amazon and almost half the reviews give it 5 stars.

03-23-2009, 01:15 AM	#4
Patricia Reader Posts: 11,504 Karma: 8720163 Join Date: May 2007 Location: South Wales, UK Device: Sony PRS-500, PRS-505, Asus EEEpc 4G	Deputy-Dawg has already uploaded an LRF version into our library, and the book has long been freely available at PG Australia.

03-23-2009, 04:18 AM	#5
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I have a printed edition of it and find it virtually unreadable. Half fictitious autobiography; half poorly-written political rant.

03-23-2009, 04:41 AM	#6
YGG- Dry fruit Posts: 1,157 Karma: 1047086 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Paris, France Device: Bookeen Opus + HTC Desire HD	AFAIK the copyright for "Mein kampf" is still owned by the land of Bavaria, which forbids its publication; all present copies are illegal... And it's a bucketful of sh*t and slander that makes you want to puke. (next we'll have to explain __again__ that the 'protocol of the elders of Zion' is a XIXth century Russian hoax )

03-23-2009, 04:51 AM	#7
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	I don't see how reading a book can be illegal. How else can we learn from somebody else's mistakes? Naturally, a person should be able to put a story in perspective, but isn't that the same with every book?

03-23-2009, 05:40 AM	#11
sirbruce Provocateur Posts: 1,859 Karma: 505847 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Columbus, OH Device: Kindle Touch, Kindle 2, Kindle DX, iPhone 3GS	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mein_Ka...t_availability

03-23-2009, 03:17 PM	#13
bill_mchale Wizard Posts: 1,451 Karma: 1550000 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Maryland, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch, HPC Evo 4G LTE	Since making a reference to Hitler or the Nazis is suppose to be the sign that a thread has died... I guess this thread was DOA . -- Bill

03-24-2009, 02:04 AM	#15
fugazied Wizard Posts: 1,305 Karma: 1958 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: iPod Touch	Hitler was a wanna-be philosopher, but failed in his attempts as demonstrated by Mein Kampf. However, I support free speech, and that includes this work despite the fact Hitler became a monster. Even if you ban it, it would simply be available on the internet.

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