Typically, the most stolen item anywhere is a matter of demand. People desire it so much, they immediately resort to a little five-finger discount.
Which is why the San Francisco Public Library's most stolen book is curious on the surface. In a city known for its unabashed liberalism, the most stolen book is by a conservative commentator, according to the website The Gate.
"The one author our head of collections has to check regularly and purchase new copies of [are] books by Michael Savage," library spokesperson Kate Patterson wrote in an email to the paper.
"We check once a year to see if all the copies are gone and reorder. We have moved to e-book for most of them, so we can ensure copies are around. The main title that disappears quickly is 'Liberalism Is A Mental Disorder.'"
First off, if you have to check whether ALL the copies are gone, you might want to check more than once a year.
Secondly, why Savage? Why that book? Are people embarrassed to take the book out? Or do they hate Michael Savage and want to rid the library of his books?
The library told The Gate that books about conspiracy theories and paranormal activity often go amongst the missing--and Savage is often included in the conspiracy theory crowd.
When told he had the most stolen book, Savage said he he was honored, but also questioned why. "Who is stealing it?" he asked. "Is it people who are poor who agree with my message and want it, or is it people taking it out and trashing it to throw it away?"
Eh, both? Neither?
When asked why she thought Savage's books are always stolen, Patterson had a simple reply. "Your guess is as good as ours."
