Dangerous (book)
| Company type | Independent imprint |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2017 |
| Founder | Milo Yiannopoulos |
| Products | Books |
Dangerous is a self-published book authored by British media figure Milo Yiannopoulos, released on July 4, 2017.
Initially set for a June 13, 2017 release through Threshold Editions, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, the book's publication was canceled on February 20 following Yiannopoulos's controversial statements that appeared to endorse certain aspects of pedophilia. After this announcement, pre-orders briefly propelled the title to the top position on Amazon.com's best-seller rankings. It had previously reached number one on February 1, 2017, shortly after a violent disruption at UC Berkeley prevented Yiannopoulos from delivering a scheduled speech.
History
Dangerous marked Yiannopoulos's first book published under his own name; prior to this, he had released two poetry collections under the alias Milo Andreas Wagner. Two other proposed book projects were announced but never came to fruition. For Dangerous, Yiannopoulos received an advance of $250,000 from Simon & Schuster.
An early manuscript obtained by BuzzFeed News accused the author of extensive self-plagiarism. Yiannopoulos countered by asserting that the book was an original 70,000-word manuscript, separate from his work on Breitbart. Leaked correspondence indicated that collaborator Allum Bokhari was paid $100,000 to ghostwrite the book, a claim Yiannopoulos has denied.
The deal ignited significant controversy among more than 100 Simon & Schuster authors, including Tim Federle, Rainbow Rowell, and Danielle Henderson. In protest, author Roxane Gay withdrew her forthcoming book from the publisher. The Chicago Review of Books chose not to review any Simon & Schuster publications in 2017, and calls for a boycott emerged.
Simon & Schuster released a statement emphasizing their dedication to publishing a range of voices, including those that may be contentious, while clarifying that the views expressed by authors do not represent the company's positions.
On January 12, 2017, a group of 160 Simon & Schuster children's authors and illustrators sent a letter to publisher Carolyn Reidy condemning Threshold Editions’ decision to publish Yiannopoulos's book. They expressed concern that this could imply company-wide support for objectionable viewpoints.
Release
On May 26, 2017, Yiannopoulos announced that his book would be released by his own imprint, Dangerous Books, on July 4, 2017. Following this declaration, it rapidly ascended to become Amazon's top-selling title. The planned launch event at the Jue Lan Club was canceled on June 23, 2017 after the venue discovered it was a book release rather than a "Gay Pride" celebration.
Reception
Jocelyn McClurg of USA Today awarded Dangerous two out of four stars, describing it as simultaneously "very funny" and "dull," while suggesting that a more compelling focus on Yiannopoulos's perspectives regarding President Donald Trump would have been preferable. John Crace from The Guardian described Yiannopoulos's tone as "desperate."
The book attained bestseller status on the lists of the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today. It reached number one on Publishers Weekly nonfiction and number two on the New York Times nonfiction bestseller chart, where it remained for five weeks. Upon its July 4 release day, sales exceeded 18,000 copies—significantly below the 100,000 units claimed by Yiannopoulos—and it briefly sold out on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble, ranking first and sixty-eighth respectively on their bestseller listings.
Before Publication
The book sparked significant debate, including a declaration on Twitter by the Chicago Review of Books refusing to review any works published by Simon & Schuster due to their involvement. On February 20, 2017, after renewed backlash against Yiannopoulos over an audio clip in which he defended certain types of pedophilia, Simon & Schuster announced they would not proceed with publishing the book.
Publication
The book was ultimately published on July 4, 2017 through Dangerous Books, an independent imprint established by Yiannopoulos himself. He posted videos criticizing the bookstore chain Barnes & Noble for opting not to stock the title in physical stores; nevertheless, it remained available for purchase via their online platform.
Upon release, advertisements promoting the book appeared in public metro systems. After receiving complaints, Washington Metro chose to remove the ads. Conversely, the Chicago Transit Authority refused to take them down, explaining that it cannot ban commercial advertising solely on the basis of political viewpoints.
Legal Action Against Simon & Schuster
In July 2017, Yiannopoulos initiated a $10 million lawsuit against Simon & Schuster, accusing them of breaching their contract.
By January 2018, Yiannopoulos’s attorney Jeffrey Weingart announced a breakdown in their professional relationship due to "irreconcilable differences." Subsequently, Yiannopoulos decided to represent himself, citing Simon & Schuster’s insistence that most documents remain confidential and accessible only to lawyers, which obstructed his ability to review crucial evidence related to his claim.
During a court hearing that same month, Yiannopoulos contended that access to undisclosed confidential documents was vital for his case. Judge Barry Ostrager ruled that these documents contained "proprietary financial information" unrelated to the substantive issues and outlined the procedure for Yiannopoulos to request access under certain conditions.
On February 20, 2018, both parties submitted filings seeking dismissal of the lawsuit "without costs or fees." Simon & Schuster reaffirmed their decision to cancel the book. Yiannopoulos described ending the lawsuit as a "difficult choice" but necessary given the challenges in proving damages and his wish to avoid exhausting his book earnings and years on legal proceedings.
Editorial Feedback from Simon & Schuster
Court filings made public in December 2017 disclosed Simon & Schuster’s editorial reservations regarding Yiannopoulos’s manuscript. Editor Mitchell Ivers characterized the initial draft as "a shallow work filled with provocative jokes lacking coherent or nuanced political analysis."
The publisher recommended that Yiannopoulos construct a "more robust argument against feminism" beyond mere insults and enhance a chapter suggesting that gay individuals "should return to the closet." They also pointed out factual errors, such as Yiannopoulos’s assertion that "When America landed on the moon, the Cold War essentially ended," clarifying that the Cold War persisted until 1990.
A passage promoting unfounded allegations connecting Hillary Clinton to a satanic sex cult was completely excised and labeled as "simply repeating Fake News." Editors persistently urged Yiannopoulos to provide evidence for his claims, criticized his likening of Hollywood liberals to Nazis, and highlighted contradictions in his condemnation of feminism as a capitalist enterprise while simultaneously marketing his own branded products.
Following these revelations, Yiannopoulos accused Ivers of bias and misconduct, alleging that the editor "harbors animosity toward Republicans." Ivers, who was integral in commissioning the book, stated that the manuscript failed to deliver serious free speech commentary and amounted merely to recycled versions of Yiannopoulos’s speeches. Yiannopoulos later asserted that leaking these editorial remarks was intended to "mock and belittle" him.