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Summary: 1984 by George Orwell
Review: I thought 1984 was an incredible novel. Orwell's compelling story of the the future not only presents an interesting and suspenseful plot but also warns the world of a possible society that seems good on the outside but is rotten on the inside. Orwell makes a powerful point that government control can lead to the worst, particularly when it monitors every aspect of peoples' lives. He also demonstrates the fact that conformity and sameness is not necessarily happiness. I think Orwell was commenting more on communism and totalitarianism than our society, since Americans are allowed to be indiviudals, plus we have the right to freedom of speech (along with freedom of thought). Personally, I would not be able to survive in the world of 1984, where one cannot think what they please, where emotions and ideas are constantly supressed and destroyed. Overall, I thought this was an absolutely amazing book. I especially enjoyed the fascinating concept of doublethink. I recommend this novel to anyone who wants to read a good eye-opening and thrilling book. I plan on reading it again myself.
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Summary: A chilling look into our possible future
Review: George Orwell's 1984 is a book that discribes in flawless detail a realistic, but nightmarish world. It is the possibility of this world that made the most profound impression on me. I think that censorship is one of the most harmful things a government can do, and this story demonstrates what happens when censorship is taken to extremes and a reactionary elite comes to power.Orwell's vision of society, even bleaker than Fascist Germany and Communist Russia, continues to fascinate as gradually every part of it is explained in detail, from the Party's slogans to the torture of political prisoners. But most of all, 1984 reminds us of our society; of what it must never become. Censorship and conservatism are abundant in America, but as long as we remain aware, the world will never come to the dire straits of 1984. This is an essential read for any voting citizen of any country.
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Summary: Doublethinking Distopia
Review: I believe George Orwell was a visionary, a bit imaginative, but very intelligent nonetheless. His views on individual privacy and freedom of thought in 1984 are a very serious issue.
Freedoms are beginning to be limited in our country, whether in the form of tighter airline security or the banning of books in schools. What is next, the ultimate oppression of our thoughts? What would it take for a government to control thought?
In 1984, the majority of Oceania's inhabitants are compliant with "Big Brother's" oligarchical totalitarianism. This greatly bothers me because I think that in the event of another devastating depression era, the world could again turn to radical forms of government, including ones similar to the principles of "Ingsoc" (English Socialism).
Some say that society would never resort to supporting such a system; with this I must disagree. Take a look at leaders like Lenin, Mussolini and Adolf Hitler. Society followed these destructive men regardless of what some knew then, but all know now. The people wanted change-needed it; they were desperate, and this will happen again.
Will you be a denier? Ultimately, a system resembling Ingsoc will be an option, with thoughtcrime as its consequence. Do you wish to keep your privacy, your freedom to thing? I do.
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Summary: 1984 will open your mind!!
Review: I think that part of the impact of 1984 is lost now - I think it meant A LOT more to my parents growing up in the '60s. But the inner themes of the human spirit and how we function in society are just as applicapable today as when written in 1948. Orwell was a wise, wise man....
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Summary: 2+2=1984
Review: Terrifying Totalitarian Dystopia. 1984 is not a book. It is a muscle that grips the attention unrelentingly from first to last like a vice, rearranging your consciousness and perception. I pick this book up and cannot believe it is so light. Because, to read it is like the feeling Winston gets when he looks at the pyramidal headquarters of The Party: "It's too big. It can never be destroyed!" Orwell, more than any historian, made the greatest stain on the memory of Stalin with this book. 1984 poses the terrifying proposition of what would happen if insane leadership were not deposed as happened in Soviet Russia. It is also a euphoric, exhilarating plea for individuality. The right to think differently, the right to act differently. The simple, basic, human right to be an individual. Is there a more salient point to be made? I doubt it.
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Summary: Nightmarish
Review: George Orwell's "1984" is the greatest work of fiction I have ever read. Upon finishing, I felt as though prior to reading "1984", I had missed-out on enormous amounts of alliteration and analytical thinking. This book literally blows your doors off. A magnanimous piece of literature, such as this, can be analyzed and perceived in various lights and subject matter, but for me, "1984" is a commentary on human nature attempting to freely function in modern civilized society. The end result, in this novel, is that it cannot happen. Oceania is a conglomeration of the Americas, the United Kingdom, and the Southern tip of Africa. Oceania is ruled by "The Party" and is constantly at battle with two other conglomerations of nations, namely EurAsia and EastAsia. The leader of Oceania is "Big Brother" and his face is plastered throughout the nation with the ominous caption "Big Brother is Watching You". This is not a joke. Life in Oceania is run like a boot camp and patrons must work, perform physical exercises, and maintain a moral conscious that adheres to The Party's strict parameters. Orwell's work to create this Anti-Utopian society of "1984" is where the deep analytical thinking and metaphorical alliterations that we use today, were spawned, fifty years ago. The Party is the system and the Party runs the system but the Party is not necessarily the reason for the system. The reason why I found "1984" such a terrifying novel is that "The Party's" mantra of Peace, Freedom, and Strength are not a rallying cry of revolution or inalienable rights in a constitution, but they serve as a necessary evil to keep humanity civilized in its daily existence as a society. Fortunately "1984" is only a work of fiction, but to not read it would be an act of ThoughtCrime.
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Summary: What a way to interpret life
Review: i thought the book 1984 was the most well written book ever
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Summary: Excellent Reminder To Keep An Open-Mind!
Review: I read this book many years ago and have re-read it several times. This is a must-read for all who would dare to close their minds for it describes the end result of a dictatorial society in which no-one is allowed to think, speak or publish freely. The "Thought Police" will punish anyone trying to do so! It is an exciting storyline with a profound message. Yet, despite all our freedoms there are not many such thoughtful, newly written books on the store shelves these days. I would therefore, like to sincerely recommend one that issued recently. It too reminds us to keep an open mind and lend an ear to our global ecological mess. It is a sharp 21st century social critique in the form of an exciting, fun and enlightening science-fiction, entitled, "ACCUSED BY FACET-EYES" (C.B. DON) --- and just like "1984", it too makes one stop to ponder about our many thoughtless human actions...but thank goodness that we have the freedom to do so!
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Summary: Today's world
Review: I was reading many of the reviews on this book ( I usually start with the lowest ratings as they often have something to say other than "I just loved it" then move to the fours stars and down ) and was amazed not by the number of poor responseses ( there are long sretches of boredom associated with this book ) but with the reasoning. Anyone who thinks this an unrealistic depiction of the possible future ( or of the present ) is living in a cute little fantasy world. Sure we don't have two way T.V. monitors in our living room ordering us to do knee bends, but at least in the book those monitoring devices weren't always monitored. The odds where, given human limits when the book was written, that the observers were observing others. Now the computer can record everything. This does change things a little. In orwells world if you were naughty you might be seen so they can stop you, now if you are suspected of having been naughty your phone records, bank transactions, hardrive, medical records, etc, can be pulled up in a day. The level of propaganda is just as bad as Orwell predicted ( notice that while a (very) few media outlets have commented on the reasons that the U.S. is a world pariah the only thing the governmnt has to say is that the bad guys are evil and hate us. I guess it is just the nature of bad guys to hate as opposed to reaacting to real greivences) and the attempt to limit free speech have become absurd ( I think some guy in the news awhile back got in trouble for using the world "niggerdly" because, with no entomological connection, it 'sounded kinda like' a disfavored word ( remember to buy your lady trinkets instead of jewelry this year)). And if you don't think our prisons are as bad as depicted in the book read any of the reports put out by any of the non-US NGO's that look in to such things. Consider all the recent restirction on civil liberties in response to the terrorist attact. The Justice department "needs" these new powers to protect us from the immediate threat but they had a hissy fit over a five year sunset cluase. Why? If the threat still existed the bill could be renewed, if it was passed it would have to be overturned. Hardly seems like they were acting in good faith.
So, read 1984, read the "patriot act," ignore what the conspiracy nuts say, ignore what the government says, and see what the staus of your rights, freedom, and privacy are now. ( you will also find that you can be hauled in to prison with no real reason or recourse so you better not complain too loudly if you don't like what you find)
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Summary: An Omen?
Review: I read this book with the expectations that it was gonna make me think, and it did. The overall theme that of an oppresive society in the "future" was both thought-provoking and entertaining. People say that this book has no relevence today because of the fall of Hitler and Stalin, but I say it means more now than ever before. You just need to think of it in the opposite context. Let me explain. Today, we have a wealth of information, some say too much. That is the point. Since we as people have so much at our fingertips, it gets pretty easy for most to spend all day looking at meaningless junk and buying things that they don't need. There is where an oppressive gov't takes over by giving us freedom to look and buy, they take away our freedom of privacy, freedom of speech, and freedom of expression. And that is why this book is so important today, because we may be on the brink of a "1984" ourselves.
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