The Pedophile’s Guide to Love and Pleasure: a Child-lover’s Code of Conduct is a controversial book on the topic of pedophilia by Philip R. Greaves II. The book, which presents a sympathetic view of pedophiles and offers its readers advice on how to avoid getting in trouble with the law, was sold by Amazon in 2010. Its United States store offered the book as a Kindle ebook download for $4.79. Readers threatened to boycott Amazon over its selling of the book, which was described by critics as a "pedophile guide". Amazon initially refused to ban the book, saying that the site "believes it is censorship not to sell certain books simply because we or others believe their message is objectionable"^[1] and that the site “supported the right of every individual to make their own purchasing decisions”. However, the site later relented and removed the book.^[2] The San Francisco Chronicle wrote that Amazon "defended the book, then removed it, then reinstated it, and then removed it again." ^[1]

Christopher Finan, the president of the American Booksellers Association for Free Expression, argued that the book should not have been banned on the grounds that it was neither child pornography nor legally obscene, due to the fact that it does not have pictures. On the other hand, Enough is Enough, a child safety organization, issued a statement saying that the book should be removed and that it "lends the impression that child abuse is normal." ^[3] People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, citing the removal of The Pedophile's Guide from Amazon, urged the website to also remove books on dog fighting from its catalogue. ^[4]

In 2010 and 2009 respectively, Amazon had removed the book Understanding Loved Boys and Boylovers and the video game RapeLay as a result of similar controversies.^[2]

Content

According to KAIT, the book's content includes advice such as where to find a child, and lists four advantages which it claims help pedophiles find children. It also advises its audience to search in poor communities and at schools for sad or lonely children, and suggests owning an animal as a means of attracting children (including a statement that "rabbits and puppies attract little girls best"). ^[5]

Author

The book's author, Philip Ray Greaves II, is a resident of Pueblo, Colorado. Local authorities state that there is no evidence that he has committed a crime, but that they will be monitoring him. Police have also said that they will be protecting Greaves due to the fact that he has received death threats. ^[6][7]

Greaves, 47, is a former nurse's aide who, according to his own testimony, suffers from manic depression. He claimed that he began writing as a form of therapy after suffering "mental collapse". A self-described "rogue scholar with respect to the topics of religion, sexuality and politics", Greaves said that he himself is not a pedophile and that the intent behind the book has been misunderstood, calling criticism of the book a "knee-jerk reaction". ^[7][8] However, both The Pedophile's Guide and one of Greaves' other titles presents a sympathetic view of pedophilia, and Greaves has expressed the view that certain forms of it "are essentially harmless and enjoyable from a few days after birth into old age. Pedophiles put the child in charge of the relationship." In the past, Greaves had announced his intention to run for president of the United States.^[7] Greaves has also mentioned that the controversy surrounding the book had helped its sales; before November 10, the book had sold one copy; afterward, CBS News reported its sales had jumped to over 3,000. ^[8]

Greaves has also said that “The word ‘pedophile,’ I believe, means somebody who loves children, OK? And you’re not somebody who loves children if you’re raping and murdering and killing them", “Anything such as kissing, fondling, that sort of thing I don’t think is that serious of a problem," and "true pedophiles love children and would never hurt them." ^[8]

References