The astonishing novel Brave New World, originally published in 1932, presents Aldous Huxley's vision of the future -- of a world utterly transformed. Through the most efficient scientific and psychological engineering, people are genetically designed to be passive and therefore consistently useful to the ruling class. This powerful work of speculative fiction sheds a blazing critical light on the present and is considered to be Huxley's most enduring masterpiece.
Following Brave New World is the nonfiction work Brave New World Revisited, first published in 1958. It is a fascinating work in which Huxley uses his tremendous knowledge of human relations to compare the modern-day world with the prophetic fantasy envisioned in Brave New World, including threats to humanity, such as overpopulation, propaganda, and chemical persuasion.
Mood controlling pills and uniformity As I watch the commercials for Zoloft and other psychiatric drugs that are frequently encouraged to the general public today thanks to advertising, I can't help but smell the essence of the stew descibed by Huxley in this wonderful book simmering in our own modern kitchen. It is controversal to advertise tobacco but it is perfectly suitable to make the drugs once used to control the mentally unstable as freely marketed as pepsi. There is much to be learned from this book, the lack of individuality and the pride of ignorance that it shown but the general populace when they finally succeed in causing the young "savage" to lose his cool. You could easily rewrite this book as a modern day portrayal of Los Angeles without having to make many changes.
Thought-provoking! This book was far from an easy read, but well worth it. I enjoy books such as this one because it raises many ethical questions about society and technology, etc. Huxley creates a perfect world in which people can do whatever they want and are content with life... but at what cost? Does it even matter if they don't know what they're missing? Is it worth it? Excellent and thought-provoking.
Interesting I decided to read this book because of its fame not because of some sort of requirement. After reading it, I found that it related to society in a completely different way than did 1984.
Brave New World represented the modern viewpoints surrounding sex, monogamy, drugs, and the popular culture much better so than 1984, but it did not strike a vivid enough satire for me. The ending is not in tune with what I picture of a satirical future government. This book was enjoyable, yet not as realistic as a warning nor as enjoyable as 1984.
A snapshot of today When I read this book I saw a snapshot of what is actually happening today. How ironic someone would have know this was going to happen so many years ahead of time.Excellent reading and I don't normally read fiction.
A Must Read If you are a reader who is interested in what is going on in the world today, you need to read this book. Huxley's vision of the future is a bleak one; fueled by communistic propaganda, drug addiction, and brainwashing. Huxley's writing is unconventional (especially the first part of the book), but fantastic. This book changed my view on how I see the world and the future. That's a power book.
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