Book Review: Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Holy Shit. This book rules. In my experience, if a book has ever been banned from schools, there is a pretty good chance it is bad ass. Brave New World does not dissapoint.
This is a science fiction novel writtein in 1932 about a futuristic “Utopia” where the society is made up of genetically engineered and brainwashed test-tube babies to happily accept their pre-determined caste. Simply as a Sci Fi book – it is sweet. It reads like it was written today instead of 80 years ago. The style is easy and enjoyable to read, and the book is not that long.
But somehow it packs into its 260 pages about everything I could ask for in an facinating way that makes sense. Drugs. Sex. More sex. Orgys.. Orgys with drugs. Religious fanaticism. Orgys with religious fanatacism and drugs. The ethics of science. High tech simulated pornography, with drugs. Slavery. Racism. Obsession with celebrity. Consumerism. The value of isolation. Obsession with beauty/youth. The meaning of death. Social inequity. Abortion. Government/Corporate manipulation and control. Censorship. Societies sick interest/obsession with violence as entertianment. Massive orgy with violence. Exploration of God. Debate over values. Truth vs. Happyness.
Huxley identfies in 1932 everthing that is wrong with the world in 2009. The characters are well developed, interesting, and evolve through the story. It is not like there is the generic good guy, bad guy, hot chick. They are all good and evil.
Read this book. I give it a 8 for easyness to read, and 10 for content. If you remain unconvinced, chew on this – the movie Demolition Man was inspired by this book.
Sunday, June 28 at 1:23 pm
Sex, drugs, orgies???? I’m picking it up tomorrow from my library. I have never read any Huxley, so this will be fun.
Sunday, June 28 at 6:31 pm
Sweet – let me know what you think.
Monday, June 29 at 7:35 pm
I enjoy going to banned book lists when looking for something to read. That may be why i read brave new world, i cant remember. it is pretty awesome how old the book is and how applicable it is still. I think it would be better known than 1984 if it didnt touch on such taboo subjects. I still think we should raise kids the way they do in the book. I read his dystopian version, The Island, after it but it dont remember as much from it as I do BNW. The Island got a little confusing as to what he was trying to get across, with all the islander’s ways and the characters.
Big dog – if you could knock off Ulysses for me next that would be great. its been banned a ton and is supposed to be one of the great English works in some circles. after reading the list again ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/banned_book ) i think i’ll get Lolita next, that seems like an interesting book. If i ever write a book, its only goal will be to end up banned from as many places as possible.
Saturday, August 1 at 3:37 pm
Ahh, I finished this a couple weeks ago. A startling book for sure. I’m still not sure what to think of it. I found each character and both the Civilization and the Savage Community disgusting in some way or another. You’re right when you say they’re all good and evil. Terrible humanity is.