To: Morgan Entrekin, Publisher & CEO, Grove Atlantic Press and Morgan Entrekin, Publisher/CEO
Grove Atlantic Press: Do not stoop to promoting misogyny and racism
Grove Atlantic Press just published and is actively promoting "Straight to He*l," which celebrates disdain for the disadvantaged, misogyny, racism and sexual violence. As a respected, major publishing house, Grove Atlantic Press should stop promoting this repugnant book and its author.
Why is this important?
Grove Atlantic Press is promoting the memoir "Straight to He*l" by Twitter plagiarist and Wall Street refugee John LeFevre (after the project was appropriately dumped by Simon & Schuster). The book, by a former Wall Street banker, revels in sexism, racism and disdain for the poor. Publisher Morgan Entrekin has said that progressive politics and participation in the civil rights movement shaped who he is. Let's see an endorsement of those values in lieu of a naked cash grab.
This is not a call for censorship. Mr. LeFevre has a right to say whatever he wants. However, thoughtful readers have the right to call both him and his publisher out.
To get a sense of what "Straight to He*l" is like, refer to the final chapter, wherein the author recounts a sex tourism adventure in the Philippines. Among the hi-jinx, LeFevre fondly describes "Love Monkey Bowling" in which he and his colleagues enjoyed greasing a bar-top down which they pushed naked Asian women into piles of empty bottles.
In case you are wondering whether Mr. LeFevre has any regrets or even thoughtful reflections regarding such experiences, he wants to assure you that he does not:
"These are a few of my stories. All bankers have stories just like them...I certainly enjoyed the years that I spent on Wall Street, and remain unapologetic for all that I saw and did. I enjoyed the f**k out of it" (from the "Straight to He*l" epilogue).
In the author's note, LeFevre writes, "My objective is to unapologetically showcase the true soul of Wall Street in a way that hasn't been done before. No epiphanies. No apologies. No f**ks given."
If you care about racism, misogyny, income inequality or even just the state of non-fiction literature in America, please consider supporting this petition.
This is not a call for censorship. Mr. LeFevre has a right to say whatever he wants. However, thoughtful readers have the right to call both him and his publisher out.
To get a sense of what "Straight to He*l" is like, refer to the final chapter, wherein the author recounts a sex tourism adventure in the Philippines. Among the hi-jinx, LeFevre fondly describes "Love Monkey Bowling" in which he and his colleagues enjoyed greasing a bar-top down which they pushed naked Asian women into piles of empty bottles.
In case you are wondering whether Mr. LeFevre has any regrets or even thoughtful reflections regarding such experiences, he wants to assure you that he does not:
"These are a few of my stories. All bankers have stories just like them...I certainly enjoyed the years that I spent on Wall Street, and remain unapologetic for all that I saw and did. I enjoyed the f**k out of it" (from the "Straight to He*l" epilogue).
In the author's note, LeFevre writes, "My objective is to unapologetically showcase the true soul of Wall Street in a way that hasn't been done before. No epiphanies. No apologies. No f**ks given."
If you care about racism, misogyny, income inequality or even just the state of non-fiction literature in America, please consider supporting this petition.