Brave New World

Everyone is on drugs and has sex with everyone else. It reminds me of a certain part of the population of my high school, or at least my perception of that population. What is interesting is that while this lifestyle of drugged-up, subhuman stupor is forced upon the population in the book, many of us in the real world choose this lifestyle, or wish for it, in whole or in part. And ironically,...more

Everyone is on drugs and has sex with everyone else. It reminds me of a certain part of the population of my high school, or at least my perception of that population. What is interesting is that while this lifestyle of drugged-up, subhuman stupor is forced upon the population in the book, many of us in the real world choose this lifestyle, or wish for it, in whole or in part. And ironically, many of those who claim the right to drug themselves and sleep around do it on the basis of "freedom", when in reality the end of their existence is the same type of slavery inflicted upon the majority of the characters in Brave New World. So what will it be for our society? The order, comfort, and stability of control, as has been sold to us by our politicians for the past 10 or so decades, or the chaos, pain, and fulfillment of freedom?   hide

Was too dumbfounded to stop reading even though I was horrified that that MIGHT be our future. Even more frightening is that this isn't a new book. If an author saw apathy and disconnection quite a few years back, I can certainly see it now, and are we really headed to a 'brave new world' systematized with rules and professionalism and a pecking order? Quite similar to Lowry's The Giver, though...more

Was too dumbfounded to stop reading even though I was horrified that that MIGHT be our future. Even more frightening is that this isn't a new book. If an author saw apathy and disconnection quite a few years back, I can certainly see it now, and are we really headed to a 'brave new world' systematized with rules and professionalism and a pecking order? Quite similar to Lowry's The Giver, though more shocking and appalling. This is not to say this isn't a good book, though! Just not something to pass the time with if you ONLY want to be entertained.   hide

Setting aside its virtue as a sci-fi work, this book compells us to look at our own societies and reflect earnestly on our own beliefs, behaviours and opinions. how much of what we --or, rather, the majorities in our societies-- believe or hold as our own opinons are actually well-established and independently formulated worldviews of our own? Looking at this book not as a depiction of a future...more

Setting aside its virtue as a sci-fi work, this book compells us to look at our own societies and reflect earnestly on our own beliefs, behaviours and opinions. how much of what we --or, rather, the majorities in our societies-- believe or hold as our own opinons are actually well-established and independently formulated worldviews of our own? Looking at this book not as a depiction of a future u/distopian land, but as an opportunity to reflect on our own societies, particularly those where individuality is supressed, can be a thrilling experience. I think the Brave New World of Huxley's book of the same name has some very universal messages, as most societies still have very concrete means to standardize their members, alhtough ofcourse certainly not as technological or obvious as described in the book. At any rate, this book is a good reminder of why we should reflect more often on these "means" and how much influence they have on the individuals around us (or on ourselves).   hide

I thought this book was very good. Although a lot of the plot revolves around the promiscuous acts of the society, I found that a lot of it hauntingly reflected a lot of society today. It was only when I started to read more into the book that I began to see the magnitude and greatness. I especially was intrigued by Chapter 17 because it held some of the most interesting dialogue I have read....more

I thought this book was very good. Although a lot of the plot revolves around the promiscuous acts of the society, I found that a lot of it hauntingly reflected a lot of society today. It was only when I started to read more into the book that I began to see the magnitude and greatness. I especially was intrigued by Chapter 17 because it held some of the most interesting dialogue I have read. Yes, it did remind me of 1984 because the both novels are based upon with the same base; however, this book brings about another thought and view of a futuristic-moral depleted society. I must agree that not only does it confront the question of what really is civilized but brings about an important concept that technology and advancements might make us forget the essentials of life. I will have to read more into every significance in the story to fully understand all of the symbolic names, places, references, etc. just the same way I had to read into that for 1984. This book was good :)   hide

This is a classic, and positively creepy, vision of the future. In this future, there is a one-world government that controls everything. Children are grown in bottles, conditioned for their predetermined job by altering the condition of their test tubes--oxygen levels and the like--to create a caste system. After being decanted, the children are taught by recorded voices that...more

This is a classic, and positively creepy, vision of the future. In this future, there is a one-world government that controls everything. Children are grown in bottles, conditioned for their predetermined job by altering the condition of their test tubes--oxygen levels and the like--to create a caste system. After being decanted, the children are taught by recorded voices that indoctrinate them with the message that the government wants them to receive. All conceptions of morality are dead, and "right" is what is good for the community. Children are encouraged to begin sexual experimentation when they are extremely young, and the coda of the day is "Everyone belongs to everyone else." Long term relationships are a threat to the stability of the community. Individuals who start asking too many questions are sent to live on an island where they can't do any damage. Into this world is thrust The Savage, raised on a Savage Reserve where elements of our culture still exist. His worldview is informed by the works of William Shakespeare, suppressed along with all other art in the Brave New World outside. How will the Savage respond to this? Huxley creates a piece of literature that is as engaging as it is a message about the dangers of the direction our society was headed in 1939 adn still today....   hide

Brave New World tells us exactly how the ideal society would have to run. Everyone in the world wishes for efficiency, and few are willing to accept the cost of said efficiency. For some, a willingness to accept what the New World State is offering is a fate worse than death. This book is an amazing story. The political tone of the book greatly mimics what society is currently facing. The...more

Brave New World tells us exactly how the ideal society would have to run. Everyone in the world wishes for efficiency, and few are willing to accept the cost of said efficiency. For some, a willingness to accept what the New World State is offering is a fate worse than death. This book is an amazing story. The political tone of the book greatly mimics what society is currently facing. The government of the World State is controlling and seeks command over ever faucet of life in the New World State, not too unlike President Barack Obama's attempt to nationalize private industries, banks, and healthcare...   hide

One of the great novels of ideas - a stimulating and entertaining read that has only become more relevant since it was written. It's a fantastic read in today's context for obvious reasons but also because it's been copied, "hommaged", and referenced so much in all art forms since being written, yet its simplicity and understated insight it's still the best version...more

One of the great novels of ideas - a stimulating and entertaining read that has only become more relevant since it was written. It's a fantastic read in today's context for obvious reasons but also because it's been copied, "hommaged", and referenced so much in all art forms since being written, yet its simplicity and understated insight it's still the best version of that Tyranny of Utopia angle. Still the book feels quite slight, almost a novella or short story rather than the more powerful thing it could be, and the writing is no poetry, at times - especially in the last third - feeling more like a didactic university essay (albeit a very clever one) than a novel. The strings show, occasionally, but this one will leave your mind opened, nudged, and awake.   hide

If people ask "What's your favorite book?", I have responded "Brave New World", ever since I was 15. I recently read it again to see if it lived up to my own hype. OMG, so much more so! The thing with this book is not the story (since it's a bit simplistic), nor the writing (since it can be a bit obscure), but it's overwhelming CONCEPTS. I felt like a...more

If people ask "What's your favorite book?", I have responded "Brave New World", ever since I was 15. I recently read it again to see if it lived up to my own hype. OMG, so much more so! The thing with this book is not the story (since it's a bit simplistic), nor the writing (since it can be a bit obscure), but it's overwhelming CONCEPTS. I felt like a high-wattage halogen bulb went off above my head. Ideas like 'is it better to be happy artificially or be miserable genuinely?', and 'what is the purpose of humanity?' and 'is stability and contentment really the ultimate goal, and if it is what is the price you're willing to pay for it?'. PLEASE read this book, and then ask yourself, "Who was the protagonist?" This book for me was like marijuana for other people...it opened my eyes to a whole new way to see the world around me.   hide

There are some books that bring an apocalyptic change in the minds of young intellectual lads, this book is one from that lot.When Stephen Hawking to Jim Morrison admittedly read it and could relate to it you would agree this book is something really special and profound in its essence.It is actually.It is circa 500 Years After Ford(After Christ) who brough out the ford car.People now confuse...more

There are some books that bring an apocalyptic change in the minds of young intellectual lads, this book is one from that lot.When Stephen Hawking to Jim Morrison admittedly read it and could relate to it you would agree this book is something really special and profound in its essence.It is actually.It is circa 500 Years After Ford(After Christ) who brough out the ford car.People now confuse Ford and Freud to be the same Messiah.The Result? -Machines,Technology,Drugs,Sex prevails in this World, Children are Hatched and Taught in their sleep.And when our hero The Savage comes into this world he commits suicide because he loves a girl crazed out for Sex with All Men, Wants No Marriage and thinks bearing Children is Blasphemy!!!P.S - A must read.   hide