Rating: 
Summary: A Warning we must heed before it really is too late.
Review: This tale is as important today as it was when I first read this book 17 years ago. Back then I was struck by the similarities of his "fictional" world and the one we live in today. The "seashell radios" that fit in your ears, the rampant commercialism, the "Parlours" that consist of television walls, technologically it reads like a prophecy. The similarities do not end there, unfortunately. In this world of Political Correctness we are shamed into rewriting books or getting rid of them outright because they are deemed "non-progressive" or "not fit for viewing by impressionable minds". When schools ban books like Huck Finn because of that lame reasoning they add fuel to the fire, so to speak. Nowadays it's considered wrong to disagree with the government because that would be "unamerican" and would "support the terrorists". Keep it up, Captain Beatty is waiting with the kerosene and a match. I still possess my original copy of the book, although if I was forced to give it up and travel the rails, then I would be Fahrenheit 451, waiting for the day to be re-transcribed for the future.
Rating: 
Summary: Fahreheit 451, an eye opening novel!
Review: What if the Nazis had won WWII? Would the world change for the better, or worse? Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury deals with a society controlled to the point where firefighters and firemen are used to start fires in the middle of the night. Animals are no longer living, but programmed machines, and thinking out of the ordinary is considered blasphemous. This is the exact type of lifestyle the Nazis would have enforced. Guy Montag, a fireman, questions these ethics after a book burning at an old woman's house goes terribly wrong. This incident inspires Guy to question his type of life and the government's thinking. As society and the fire chief catch on to Guy's unorthodox behavior, Guy finds himself a target by society and the hunt for his life begins.
The setting of this book is very difficult to follow. Ray Bradbury does a poor job of showing or even telling where the story takes place, and what the date is. Because of this, you find yourself wondering throughout the piece about simple things like where Guy is and the city he lives in. However, this sketchy plot gives you the sense that the city could actually be anywhere, which seems to be the goal of Ray Bradbury. When he first reveals to you that the city in which Guy lives is called City, it makes you wonder where in fact this story takes place. You do get clues about the type of lifestyle people live, like TV's in every household that are the size of whole walls, and the mechanical pets that are in each household. When reading this book I found myself picturing where I thought Guy was. So this was an effective way of writing to me. When Ray Bradbury describes Guy's wife driving on an isolated road in a forest, running over small mechanical animals at will, you know that the area must be in an area that has a temperate climate like Europe.
I believe that a major fault in the book would be the main character Guy Montag. Guy pretty much has two personalities: the one where he doesn't think for himself and the one where he does. His ideas and attitudes change quickly in the beginning and then they stay the same again for the majority of the book. However, the supporting characters were developed quite well and I especially like the fire chief. As Guy's main antagonist, the fire chief played a pivotal part in the transformation of Guy.
The plot on the other hand is done quite well. The first half of the book slowly sets the tone, and introduces and develops the characters. As soon as you switch over to the second half of the book, you are just blown away. The second half deals with Guy's struggles in his quest to find the truth and flee from the hell in which he lives.
It is very simple to tell when the book is in each of the action stages and when the conflicts change. The books builds up so well to the climax that you can't wait to turn the page to see what happens next. The climax keeps you glued to the book and never gives you a chance to take a break.
The theme and topic are very unique and are what keep you interested. I couldn't put down the book because I just wanted to see how a society so influenced by specific rules would turn out in the end. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy science fiction books and suspense novels. This is one of Ray Bradbury's best pieces and I think everyone will enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: Good Book
Review: What can I say that has not already been said. It is a bit dark and too short, but a great effort none the less.
Rating:
Summary: A Scary, Yet Thoughtful Social Critique
Review: This tale is far more than a simple scary novel about burning "unacceptable" books. It is a red flag warning about the ever-present encroachment of censorship in the world about us. It is not surprising that this book was indeed heavily "edited" when it was first published. The censors saw their own reflection! Fahrenheit 451 is a book, which sends a strong message we should all heed. "Social criticism" in the written form is all-important to improve our society and prevent our freedoms from being eroded. There are not many other books along this line, but I have found two very enjoyable books, which really do fit into the "Fahrenheit 451 social critique/satire" genre. They are both by the skilled author C.B. Don. One is entitled, "MANAGEMENT BY VICE"...it is a critical, hilarious satire on interactions of technical staff and managers in high-tech industry...and the other, "ACCUSED BY FACET-EYES"...is a fairytale-like science-fiction, which is heartwarming, yet with a sharp ecological message critical of our thoughtless polluting, human practices. Like the classical much recommended Fahrenheit 451, these two books are also our 21st Century must-reads, ideal for every student of satire/social critique! I enjoyed all three books and walked away thoroughly enlightened and with a new perspective on society and life!
Rating:
Summary: Technology Specialist
Review: It's not hard for me to believe that 8 minutes of one-sided conversations from a 17 year old could change 10 years of beliefs, it happens every night as "We" watch the "News", so why would the book be any different. A great awakening to what "We" are already doing to ourselves. Characters are realistic in that they are living among us already.
Rating:
Summary: A classic that hasn't aged very well at all
Review: I have to be honest and confess that my rating is really three stars + one star for the historic value. This is the novel that 7th grade English teachers across the US recommend to teach children the value of books-- I guess that that fact alone earns it a star.Bradbury creates a vision of a world where Firemen burn books when they're found instead of putting out fires. People have wall-sized interactive television which has taken the place of family life. Teenagers are encouraged to drive as quickly as possible when bored, and bearing children is officially nearly forbidden. One fireman, spurred on by a non-conformist neighbor, begins to question his task and becomes alive to the value in books. While some of the messages certainly are still relevant, the book is not as strong of an effort of other Bradbury novels. The tone and the heavy message focus date the book and tend to say more to someone interested in the concerns of the 50s then they really appeal to modern readers. Difficult not to recommend, all things considered, but don't expect too much.
Rating:
Summary: stunning idea - mediocre writing
Review: Ray Bradbury's vision of a world without books is genius. However, I don't think he was able to convey all that he wanted to with this book. It could be that the almost-novella length left him without the option to fully develop the characters. I was vexed not knowing what happended to Clarisse, and I was intrigued by the idea of the literati outcasts who roamed the rails. I think that in and of itself would have made an interesting novel. I couldn't understand the reasoning behind the book burnings. Captain Beatty's explanations left me wondering if that was the full story? Humanity is flawed in the extreme,but this seems to suggest a reverse in evolution - human intelligence on a steady downward spiral. I hope that it would take a little more than the explanations given by Captain Beatty to inspire the world-wide destruction of books - especially in this manner. Wouldn't incinerators be much more effective at destroying books than torching houses and buildings? I realize that the book was written very quickly, and maybe Mr. Bradbury got caught up in the passion of writing it, at the expense of character development. But I rated this book 4 stars anyway, because I respect the brilliance of the idea, and Mr. Bradbury made a very bold statement by writing about a topic he felt strongly about. It makes you think, which is more than I can say about the vast majority of literature published.
Rating: 
Summary: Poor audiobook
Review: This may be a classic story, but Ray Bradbury is not a classic reader... I couldn't get through 5 minutes of his voice. I DO look forward to reading the actual book!
Rating:
Summary: FAHRENHEIT 451
Review: Fahrenheit 451 in my mind is a very well-written book by Ray Bradbury. Sometimes this book did get very weird, but it all had a purpose towards the end of the book. The author of this book had a very good idea for a story like this and he wrote it very well.
Guy Montag has had his job for ten years as a fireman, but books were for burning and the houses in which they were hidden. This man goes out on midnight, runs and watches pages become inflamed in fire. Then he meets a professor that tells him in the future when people could think, and then he realizes what he has to do.
I enjoyed this book quite a bit and I would recommend this book for you if you like Science Fiction.
Rating: 
Summary: Fahrenheit 451
Review: At one point Firefighters put fires out, now they start fires. Books are illegal, when found with books in your house, your house is burnt down. The protaganist, Montag is a firefighter who never questioned his job until he met Clarisse. Clarisse makes him think about why books are so wrong. Montag decided to rebel from his job and read books. This is all fine until his plan backfires. His house is burnt down, he loses his friends and his wife leaves him. Now Montag is running from the law...
One character that stands out in my mind is Clarisse. Clarisse is a seventeen year old who enjoy reading. She meets Montag and tells him that at one point books were legal. She explains to him why she reads and tries to convince Montag to read. She changes Montag's opinion on books.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in futuristic books. This book may get a little confusing at points but it makes you think. You wonder what a world without reading would be like and if a world like this could ever exist.
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