The Book Thieves

What do the following have in common:

• Anything by Charles Bukowski
• Anything by William Burroughs
• On the Road by Jack Kerouac
• The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster
• Anything by Martin Amis

Well, Publishers Weekly has reported they're the five most stolen authors and books in the US. People half-inch them so much that bookshops have to keep them behind the counter.

Really?

Yep indeedy so. Apparently, people may be swiping Bukowski and Burroughs's works because these writers seek truth with their work. These booklifters feel the truth is a basic human right and, therefore, legitimises a bit of lightfingeredness in bookstores. 'Course it does! *nods sarcastically*

Then there's the Kerouac bandits. These guys must identify with On the Road, with the 'liberation' that permeates through the pages of this and of books by Bukowski and Burroughs. (They really have a lot to answer to!). They probably want to commit reckless acts like the ones they read about in these books.

And Auster? Well, no real explanation is given. Maybe they're just hankering for something different! Same goes for Mr Amis! People must just like him!

What if you just prefer to borrow books?

Well, if you want a how-to manual or information on UFOs or astrology, you may be out of luck. These seem to be the type of books which go missing most from library shelves. Oh and best learn the Ten Commandments just in case - The Bible is another popular steal!

Over to you

Supposing temptation got the better of you and there was one book you just had to have. Which would be the one book you'd risk getting locked up for? And why? And no Charles Dicken's Oliver Twist please! Too cliché!

Source: http://blogs.publishersweekly.com/blogs/PWxyz/2011/07/13/the-5-most-stolen-books/