Brave New World

Rating:
Summary: An ominous warning of a possible future
Review: After reading CONQUEST OF PARADISE, a frightening book about the decline of civilization into a worldwide totalitarian police state, I was compelled to go back and read this classic. In BRAVE NEW WORLD, Aldous Huxley grips the mind, and keeps you locked to the book's pages as he describes a future, one which is completely homogeneous and conformed. Practices like artificial conception and genetic tampering are the standard in this uniform society, where very few choices are allowed, and questions are rarely heard. CONQUEST OF PARADISE also examines similar technological advancements in our day by studying the development of molecular nanotechnology and its implications. Huxley skillfully describes this gloomy premonition in incredible detail, and in many instances, including artificial insemination and genetic altering, he predicted the actual future. If it does nothing else, this book should send an ominous signal to today's society. This book is a definite, must read!

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Summary: The threat of "Brave New World" gone? That would be nice...
Review: I see that some reviewers are saying the threat of a world similar to that in this novel is farther away than ever. That would be nice. Increasingly, I'm interpreting sci-fi dystopian/utopian novels not as warnings of a dire future but condemnations of a nasty present. And though this book was written in 1932, as civilization increases its messages only become more pertinent. I just finished reading this book today, and it would probably be wise to wait longer before reviewing it, but what the hell. Huxley's "brave new world" can be read as a brilliant satire of consumer society and civilization itself, in which people avoid feelings, pain, and confusion through drugs, work, and a tunnel vision that is reinforced by societal "conditioning" (though I would argue it's part of human nature as well). I was troubled by the Savage's masochistic tendencies, and confused at times as to what Huxley really thought of the Savage's over the top behavior, in the pursuit of sensation and actual feeling. Because the Savage goes so far over the top by the end, I can only assume that Huxley feels he's gone too far in the opposite direction, pursuing pain and denial simply because they are values opposed to the society he hates. Though the book is a brilliant critique, not just of society but of the way the human mind strives to shut out anything unfamiliar and uncomfortable (this is where the book's true greatness lies, I think), I'd consider deducting a star simply because it's more of an essay told in novel form than a full-fledged story. Many pages are devoted to pure description of the society, albiet cloaked in the dialogue of characters rather than in the narration, and sometimes this overshadows the characterization and story development. But the opening chapter uses an interesting, almost "cinematic" technique of "crosscutting", which can be exasperating to read but is original at least. And the characters are actually quite convincing and recognizable, especially Bernard...it's as if George Costanza from Seinfeld wound up in a future society (see Woody Allen's Sleeper). It's brimming with fantastic ideas, but I don't think it's fantastic storytelling. Nonetheless, that a minor quibble, because it's very readable and extremely insightful. Pick it up right away. 5/6

Rating:
Summary: A look at Huxley's Brave New World
Review: Individuality, an aspect of one's development, is thoroughly explored in Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, a piece of futuristic writing that speaks many truths. By examining a society based on conformity, readers are able to distinguish between the downfalls of conformity and the advantages of individuality.

The control of the government reinforces the theme of conformity within a society. One example would be that embryos are programmed into a certain caste. They can be designated to Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, or Epsilon. Each caste represents a different level of intellect. If an embryo is fortunate enough to be conditioned into an Alpha, it is the most intellectual thinker and leader of the society. Each caste has less intelligence and less strength than the previous caste. Since the Epsilon is considered to be the weakest, they must perform the tedious tasks that no one else desires. Huxley's incorporation of this example of conformity enlightens the most narrow-minded readers.

Another intriguing feature of this novel that pertains to the theme of conformity is Huxley's creative ability to integrate the symbol of the drug, Soma. This drug takes away all forms of human emotion such as love, happiness, hatred, and desire to name just a few. Therefore, all individuality is vanished by a simple, yet complex, pill. The idea behind Soma is that it provides for instant gratification. This enhances the idea of conformity because there are no human urges. Everyone feels the same way.

Huxley's development of the character John Savage adds an interesting twist to the rebellion against conformity. Through this character, Huxley exhibits a strong and free- willed individual. He speaks of the importance of the arts, science, and religion to gain a life of fulfillment. Unfortunately, his opinions were overpowered by the government's opinions because in the end, John succumbs to the powerful society, though he is appalled of the notion.

Aldous Huxley portrays a futuristic society that in a frightening way could come true. This dystopian, disturbed, society opens the minds of all who engage in this futuristic journey.

Rating:
Summary: An Ominous Vision of the Dystopia to Come
Review: Set in a dystopian futuristic society, this novel warns about the dangers of technology, standardization, and excessive government control. Huxley wrote during the Great Depression, when many people around the world worried about having basic necessities, yet he looked beyond the immediate problems and saw a hyper Fordist world, in which mass production and wealth eventually lead to a rigid and boring society--a society where no one has the right to be unhappy. Huxley's weakness as a writes is character development. His characters usually do not evoke much sympathy or interest. But this book paints such a vivid and unique picture of a dystopian life that may come that it easily deserves five stars. Also, Huxley anticipates the use of genetic engineering to shape the character of human beings. In its portrayal of a possible ominous tomorrow, the book is in the same league with Orwell's "1984" and Burgess' "A Clockwork Orange." If you never read this book, you owe it to yourself to read it as soon as you have free time.

Rating:
Summary: (3.5) Worth reading once, but not as good as Orwell's "1984"
Review: The year is 632 A.F. ("after Ford"), and babies are no longer born. No one has a mother or father. In fact, those terms are now considered "dirty" words and are no longer used. Instead, everyone begins life as a test-tube baby, genetically and environmentally conditioned to fit into their own predestined social caste - Alpha (the highest caste, composed of society's most intelligent members), Beta, Delta, Gamma, or Epsilon (the lowest caste, composed of mindless semi-moron clone laborers). Godlike status has been conferred upon Henry Ford, and mass production is taken to frightening extremes. The world is considered stable, and everyone is happy. Working hours are light (and people are pre-conditioned to enjoy their work anyway), entertainment options abound, and promiscuity is encouraged. Taking the place of church services are weekly orgies. Happiness is the ultimate goal of existence, and if anyone should ever feel the slightest hint of depression, they are conditioned to turn immediately to the hallucinogenic drug called "soma" for immediate relief.

However, among the ranks of the intellectual Alphas, there remain a few who question the desirability of this synthetic world. One such man is Bernard Marx (interestingly, most of the names in this novel are adapted from those of historical political figures and theorists - Lenina Crowne, Polly Trotsky, Benito Hoover, Sarojini Engels, Herbert Bakunin, Helmoltz Watson, etc.). A few places in the world that are not considered worth modernizing are set aside as "savage reservations" which are now the only places where people still live in a "pre-Fordian" way. Marx takes a vacation to one of these reservations, and ends up bringing a savage back home with him. This, of course, sets the stage for all sorts of challenges to the society's values.

Perhaps I was expecting too much, based on all I'd previously heard about the book, or perhaps I would have been more struck by it if I hadn't already read "1984" by George Orwell, but Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World" came as a bit of a disappointment to me. It's definitely worth reading once, especially for fans of dystopian literature, but unlike "1984" it's not one I'm likely to return to for a second helping anytime soon. The ideas Huxley puts forth are valuable, but the delivery leaves room for improvement. The story just doesn't hang together quite tightly enough to pack a full-blown punch.

The first couple of chapters are very interesting and seem promising, but after that it felt like the story deteriorated somewhat. As I said before, I do admire the points Huxley makes, but the book was not very compelling as a whole. Much of it takes the form of satire, which is fine, and even amusing, but then there are numerous points at which the plot goes far overboard and borders on the ridiculous. When this happens, the story ceases to be believable, compromising the strength of Huxley's messages. One of the things that makes Orwell's "1984" so terrifying and thought-provoking is that, though it is futuristic fiction, it is so detailed and serious that is actually seems plausible. Books like this need to be both plausible and scary for them to have an impact. If the reader doesn't get the feeling that such a world just might actually come into being, and that it is not a place they want to live, then it's hard to take the message seriously.

My overall verdict, therefore, is that you should read "Brave New World" once, but, unless you're a real dystopia buff, I'd recommend checking it out of the library or borrowing a copy from someone else rather than purchasing it. It's a valuable piece for the ideas is proposes, and it's a quick and easy read, but it is not the most effective book of its type. The fact that it was written so long ago (1932) also means that it does not take into account any historical events that have happened since then, and perhaps this is another reason why it seems a little less realistic. I do not regret reading it, as having done so adds to one's literary and philosophical repertoire, but I much more highly recommend George Orwell's "1984" (written in 1948), which is both thoroughly engaging and highly thought-provoking.

Rating:
Summary: Brave New World
Review: This book is a true marvel. Huxley had tremendous insight considering this book was written in the twenties. This is very much the world as it is becoming in Western Civilization. Huxley paints the terrible picture of a perverted society where the individual is not capable of being an individual at all.

If I may then I'll compare this to 1984. This is totally different. Instead of a super state or "Big Brother" control over the masses through brute force, here we have a society of people who are living in a very perfect and peaceful world where people are bred through a mechanized process. The family has been successfully destroyed. Through genetics a caste has been put into place and each person seeks his own happiness or contentment.

Emotion is almost a crime in a Brave New World, while sexual promiscuity is encouraged. The people here never want to feel unpleasant and they ignore things that are plainly unjust. The people live in an almost drugged state where entertainment, recreational drug use, and easy sex are the substance of life.

This book really brings it all home. The problems today that face us are spinning out of control because the people care no longer. Morality in the freedom of the individual has been replaced in the Brave New World by a sort of political correctness that is more of a collective sense of what is right and what is wrong that is conditioned into the fetus as it is developing.

This is a great book today and will be a great book tomorrow as the human race is constantly increasing in technoloy. This book offers a choice between total security and safety (and a bland life) or an uncertain life where every man is his or her own master of destiny and may stand as a individual and free. We all must be forever on our guard of our rights or we may wake one day and find our selves living in a Brave New World.