In the book, Szetela examines how well-intentioned efforts to diversify literature have triggered a wave of censorship, from mandatory sensitivity reads to morality clauses and social media–driven book cancellations, creating a chilling effect across publishing.
The inciting incident was the controversy about Chinese author Amélie Wen Zhao, whose young adult novel was criticized for its depiction of slavery. (She canceled publication and then un-canceled it, saying it was true to her cultural perspective of human trafficking across Asia.)
One of her critics was an author and sensitivity reader named Kosoko Jackson, who, shortly after, tried to publish a YA novel about the Kosovo war, only to have his own book withdrawn by his publisher.
“It was like a ‘Saturday Night Live’ satire of wokeness,” Szetela said. “If this is what I’m seeing as someone who doesn’t work in publishing, what was it like behind closed doors? In terms of acquisitions, in terms of editing?”
Szetela will discuss his book at a talk at the UW Center for the Study of Liberal Democracy on Monday, Sept. 22. Recently, the Cap Times sat down with Szetela to talk about his work at Mother Fool’s Coffeehouse.