I saw this posted on X and so now, of course, I’m bringing you a far better article. Dazed recently posted an article called 10 books that are dating red flags or Liking Any of these 10 Books is an Immediate Red Flag. That’s right, Dazed. I looked at the address bar and found your original title. And, just because I have a book doesn’t mean I liked it. Or, let’s face it, that I’ve even had a chance to read it yet. My interests are varied, and my time is limited.

Dazed’s list:

1. A Clockwork Orange (I own it, but have not read it)
2. The Catcher in the Rye (Read it in high school; overrated)
3. The Alchemist (don’t know what it’s about)
4. Any self-optimisation book (I enjoyed the one whose cover they used, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck. Pursuing ways to improve yourself and your life is not a crime. Also, these books are typically a good way to delve into the current pop psychology.)
5. Percy Jackson & The Olympians (I don’t know much about this one, but the gripe of the article author has something about how it’s a book for kids. They also think it’s a problem if people like Harry Potter, because of course, they do.)
6. American Psycho (I don’t have a copy yet, but I’ll probably get to this eventually)
7. Any book by Michel Houellebecq (I have no idea who this is, but, after Dazed’s scathing review of its right wing themes, I might have to find this.)
8. Lolita (I’m pretty sure this has been misread as erotic when readers are meant to be revolted, but if someone enjoyed it for the pedophile angle, I can agree with Dazed that this is a red flag.)
9. All About Love (I have never heard of this. I have no idea what this is.)
10. Anything by Fyodor Dostoevsky (Yeah. This is just a sh*t take. Probably because the writers at Dazed don’t think that anyone needs to be held accountable for their actions or "something something reject objective morality.")

Here are 10 books that are dating green flags. They aren't the only green flags. But they are a good place to start. At the very least, these will make Dazed's next 10 red flags list much easier to research.

1. The Bible

Oh, I’m sorry. Did you not think I was going to come off the top rope on this? Having a copy of the Bible on your shelf, or even, *gasp* multiple copies and multiple translations, already hits too many gripes from Dazed. Objective morality? Self-help? A compelling story? A loving God? If you’re dating someone and you go to their house to find a well-thumbed through copy of a Bible that’s been handed down for generations, it’s likely that you aren’t going to be getting any action. Which is probably a good. Hopefully, they've read it and it isn't just there for decoration.

2. Harry Potter

For me, at least, if someone has a copy of the Harry Potter books, it’s likely that they are an age-appropriate partner. It also means they aren’t an impulsive woke person who throws away things because they disagree with the author about something she said on X. I disagree with the worldview of a lot of authors. I try to separate the art from the artist. Either way, Harry Potter is awesome. If that’s the only thing you have time to read or you keep a copy around because you loved it, that’s a green flag. Keep things you love. Physical media is better than digital media.

3. 1984

One way to fight Leftists is to know their playbook. I’d rather see a classic like 1984 than a classic like Atlas Shrugged. For one thing, Atlas Shrugged is like bringing a landmine to a knife fight. For another, I think it’s more likely you made it through Orwell’s dystopia than you made it through John Galt’s radio speech toward the end of Ayn Rand’s magnum opus. We read the rest of the book, Ayn. We don’t need to read your master’s thesis, too. Ironically, despite Orwell hating the Soviet Union, Leftists think that the right wants to ban 1984. The theme is: communism = bad. Next thing you know, they'll be trying to tell us Animal Farm is an allegory for the Barry Goldwater campaign.

4. The Lord of the Rings

Ideally, they would have all three books, but sometimes you get behind on your collection. If you don’t think it’s the greatest fantasy ever written, you’re wrong. This one trilogy has basically defined the genre since 1968. Everything after is a pale imitation reaching back to try to achieve its greatness. Bonus points if they have all the extended cuts on DVD or Blu-ray. You should always have JRR Tolkein’s master work at hand. You know. For answering burning questions at parties.

5. Any book by Thomas Sowell

I know what you’re thinking: why would I read any book written by an economist? Because he’s a genius, that’s why. And Thomas Sowell is so much more than an economist. One can only hope that he will go down as one of the greatest American thinkers who ever lived. Because I’ve already started calling him that, and I need the rest of the world to catch up to me.

6. The Federalist Papers

This is another thing that you should always have on hand. You know, for parties. Also, for disputes with people on the Internet. Any time someone drops the ol' "well, the founding fathers never intended..." Bam. Federalist Papers. We don't have to guess what the founding fathers intended because they wrote down what they thought. Everyone should know what the founding fathers thought about the forming of a more perfect union and the Federalist Papers is one of the best ways to figure that out. It’s also possible that they left clues to a secret buried treasure in their writings, but you’ll never know unless you read them all.

7. The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

Well, this should be obvious. Bonus points if they’ve actually read any of it. Also, if they have the version with the crumbling column on the side...that slaps.

8. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Anything By Isaac Asimov or Arthur C. Clarke

The content of science fiction has changed over recent years. Instead of looking outward, science fiction has become more terrestrial, more insular. Current sci-fi is more concerned with living in virtual worlds, cloning and artificial intelligence. Gone are the days of hopefulness. Looking into the stars and imagining something beyond our world. Gone are the dire warnings about pursuing technologies without considering the consequences. Yes, I’m sure those topics are still considered in sci-fi these days, but the classics were more prescient than they knew. Science fiction used to inspire science. Now it feels more like it just reacts to it.

9. Mere Christianity or Something by G.K. Chesterton

Faith should be examined. Whether you are delving into C.S. Lewis, Chesterton or St. Thomas Aquinas, it’s always a good thing to see someone dig deep into what they believe. Beliefs are meant to be challenged, considered and questioned. Theology books are a good companion to the Bible. Even if you don't agree, even if it brings more questions than answers, people like Lewis and Chesterton can open up a doorway to justifying your faith. Next thing you know, you'll have an apologetics show of your own.

10. Anything by Fyoder Dostoyevsky

That’s right, Dazed. The ol’ Uno Reverse card. Dostoyevsky has produced some of the greatest works of literature, including Crime and Punishment, The Brothers Karamazov, and Notes from the Underground. Part writer, part philosopher, constant seeker for meaning in the universe, Dostoyevsky is one of the great existentialists. He dabbled in socialism but had a strong Christian upbringing that influenced his work. He struggled with the concept of atheism and socialism, two ideologies that must go hand in hand. In his existential journey, he began critiquing socialism for its inability to account for the human soul. It’s deep. It’s dark. It rejects moral relativism and embraces things beyond the material.

There are a lot more. Witness by Whittaker Chambers, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Slouching Towards Gomorrah by Robert Bork, but I think I've hit some good ones. What books do you think are a green flag?

Well, there you have it. The 10 books that are dating green flags. But also good friendship flags. And also 10 things you should read and also have on your shelf. There are very few rules in reading. You never know what someone might get out of a book. Something you read today might hit different 10 years from now. Don’t limit yourself to something an “alternative style and culture” magazine tells you. Open your mind to ideas. Increase your knowledge base. Seek information. Because if you don’t, well…that just might be a red flag.

Kate works in production at LwC. She is an author. When she isn’t writing...who are we kidding? She’s always writing. You can find her here on X.