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In Brave New World, they are controlled by inflicting pleasure. Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture, preoccupied with some equivalent of the feelies, the orgy porgy, and the centrifugal bumblepuppy. Huxley feared those who would give us so much that we would be reduced to passivity and egoism. In short, Orwell feared that what we fear will ruin us. Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance. I found out about this book from a friend who was interested in reading it, and after researching it and seeing it compared to George Orwell's 1984, I decided to read it.
Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information. As Huxley remarked in Brave New World Revisited, the civil libertarians and rationalists who are ever on the alert to oppose tyranny "failed to take into account man's almost infinite appetite for distractions." In 1984, Orwell added, people are controlled by inflicting pain. I think critic Neil Postman said it best with, "What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. Orwell feared we would become a captive culture. Huxley feared that what we desire will ruin us." After reading Brave New World, I can definitely see how it relates to our modern society and was quite surprised to learn that it was written in 1931 What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one.
Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us.
Little do they know they've also given up their rights, joy, and love. This should be mandatory reading for all high school seniors. This book describes a futuristic world where everyone has given up their individuality and freedom in order to be relieved of all pain, danger, and uncertainty.
The characters are were well developed and intriguing. This is a very interestimg sci-fi read that gets you to really think about where the future may go.
At times I found the text somewhat dry but the message and suppositions it presented were well worth the hardships in this fantastic science fiction novel. The real frightening prospect is the fact that some of the core elements defined within this dystopian society do not seem that farfetched from modern culture.If you like philosophically betraying reads centered in the possibilities of tomorrow I highly recommend this outstanding book. Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World" frightfully ventures beyond the borders of society deep within the labyrinths of a distraught future managed through control of physiology, control of psychology, and control of society. The dystopian future portrayed in this novel is both outstanding and rather cold - with a depressing conclusion and little resolve this book is set apart from others of its kind simply by the mere fact that it acts as a "what if" in regards to our future.
This is a tale of conflict and culture shock when into this regimented society comes John "The Savage" - a human that has lived outside this society and is now learning about it from an outsider's point of view.-- Reviewed by Jodi Turchin In this classic novel, Huxley introduces readers to a future society where humans are mass produced and must stay in the class to which they are delivered.
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