1984

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Summary: A high-impact jolt to conscious thought
Review:
Orwell defines a derivative of language in 1984 - the concept of Newspeak.
It is by virtue of word reduction that the average intelligence of the world my be reduced, as to limit the quantity and quality of thought verbage is to limit the power of thought itself.

To keep a country in a permanenet state of war serves the purpose of working for the common good. Could this have been Orwell's remark upon the subtle ways of the world at the time of writing the boook, or thoughts about future oppression? I fear that Orwell was considering the former.

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Summary: A chilling science-fiction story (with a message)
Review: This is the best science fiction story ever written. In 1949, Orwell made his statement about dictatorial governments by writing a tale in which the entire world was dominated by three dictatorial supercountries, obviously based on the Russian communists of the time. In his story, a man from the nation of Oceania dares to secretly hate the countries figurehead leader, Big Brother. He must hide from the Thought Police and his more loyal comrades to join the revolutionary party, the Brotherhood, before he is discovered and tortured in the Ministry of Love, the nation's hypocritical law wnforcement. This book is a must for every fan of Brave New World or Animal farm, or any book of the like.

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Summary: Unbelievably believable
Review: The scariest, deepest, most intesting, and undoubtedly the best book I've ever read. When I started it, I couldn't put it down. When I finished it, I couldn't pick it up for fear of paranoia. Even now, after I've finnaly somewhat gotten over it, there are still some nights I can't sleep thinking about this unbelievably incredible book. It's ten times scarier than any Stephen King novel, and it's at least as deep, if not deeper, than anything written by Poe or Shakespeare. This book should undoubtedly be a requirement for anyone in the entire world living under any form of government. The story takes place in 1984, but it could be set in 2084 and not much would change. There is absolutely nothing I've ever read which even comes close to projecting the kind of heavy, depressing, absolute fear which uterly consumes the reader and stays with them forever. Of course I would recommend this book, but I must warn that it can't be treated lightly. It will send you to the edge of paranoia, and throw you into a smothering kind of depression. This is not a book you will soon forget, and it's not a book you can read without questioning everything you think and believe. You'll never hear the phrase "Big Brother is watching you" again, without chills going down you're spine, and fear filling every corner of your being

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Summary: A timeless classic that's an unforgettable must-read.
Review: This is the timeless classic which the term "Orwellian" and "Big Brother" are derived. This terrifying look into a possible future in which the Government "Big Brother" holds total control over the populace. Orwell's vision of the future still holds very true to this day and is a must-read for anyone concerned about the future of technology and governmental control. -Hans Chen

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Summary: You wanna be suicidal?
Review: Orwell tells a story about Winston Smith, a man living in the utopian world of 1984! The book deals with his struggles, and eventually, the story's end is so depressing that in the end, you may want to commit suicide or take up liquor. BEWARE

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Summary: A great book about what the world will be like in "1984"
Review: This book is wonderful. It goes into detail about how the government can do pretty much whatever it wants. In the book the government controls all the people through tv and torture if you do not do exacly what they tell you to. People are punished for having their own opinions. This book is a must read, despite its age.

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Summary: Orthodoxy is unconsciousness . . .
Review: Orwell writes beautifully of the horrors of a future without thought, without love, without language. This book is about the erasing of memory and with it the human soul. Finally we have the articulation of pure hell where a human being is likened to a cockroach . . . watched, forever, watched.

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Summary: Classic Liturature, bleak future, epic in scale
Review: 1984, written sometime in the 50's as far as i know. Takes Soviet Style goverment and brings out its darkest future. (Big Brother) Orwell himself a socialist, offers intelligent and passionate reflections of his anxieties. Read this novel before grabbing a 'why the USSR broke' book written by some self rightous Political Science phd. who unwittingly butchers Orwells 'big brother' to fit his narrow understanding. Not that there aren't good books on Soviet and Russian History, which you may want to look for after reading 1984

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Summary: An amazing read!
Review: One of my favorite books of all time, George Orwell's masterpiece is well worth the money. The world he writes of is fascinating and sad at the same time, making it a wonderful read. Hopefully its readers will learn something from its themes.

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Summary: George Orwell's classic 1984
Review: I can't say anything that probably hasn't been said already. Orwell's most famous novel warns us against the power of propaganda. "Big Brother" has become common to our language and culture.

This isn't Blair's best work, however. This and ANIMAL FARM are only really read because they warn against Communist propaganda. As mentioned in the beginning, Orwell was a social democrat (although, I would say libertarian socialist). He greatly sympathized with the anarchist movement in Spain (Homage to Catalonia). In fact, the communist attack against the anarchists is probably what inspired him to write stories like ANIMAl FARM and 1984.

I was disturbed to see a previous reviewer say something like, "If this book is properly read and understood, you will become a Libertarian."

Blair's best stuff is actually against propaganda systems found in so-called democracies like the United States and Britian. The Soviets had an extensive system, but it wasn't very effective. They kept people in line through violence, mostly. When the ability to coerece decreases (like in relatively free societies eg The United States) the need to propagandanize increases. This has really become apart of mainstream doctrine. To take a quote from someone not so mainstream, "Propaganda is to a democracy what violence is to a dictatorship." -- Noam Chomsky

It should come as no surprise why Orwell's most popular works are anti-communist...