A mac & cheese cookbook, the Green Lantern and other books banned in N.J. prisons

There are 232 books banned in prisons.

Among the prohibited literature for those behind bars is “101 Things to do with & .”

It apparently has more to do with the than what you can do with an ordinary box of macaroni and (although might make anyone yearn for Herbed Macaroni and Cucumber Salad, Chili , Baked Tomato Macaroni and Fried Macaroni and ). But a report by The Marshall Project on what is not allowed in the system sometimes reads like a list from the bookshelf of a typical college dorm.

There’s “Absolute Green Lantern” and “Absolutely Everything WWE,” “Home Repair,” and “Marvel Encyclopedia.” Some dealt with drugs, like “Starting your own Cannabis Business” and “Cocaine Nation.”

The Marshall Project asked every state prison system in the country for book policies and lists of banned publications, finding about half of the states said they kept such lists, which contained more than 50,000 titles.

To be sure, the book list compiled by the nonprofit journalism site that focuses on criminal justice had titles that might raise red flags for prison administrators. Many of the titles on the list had to do with sex, violence or crime, such as “Helter Skelter: The True story of the Manson Murders.”

The list also included “Advanced Survival” and “33 Strategies of War,” described as a comprehensive guide to the subtle social game of everyday life, informed by the most ingenious and effective military principles in war.

One of the books banned was “Great Prison Escapes.”

See the entire list here.

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