Island

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Summary: If I had to go to a deserted island...
Review: If I had to go to a deserted Island and could take one book with me, this would be it. Especially when looking at current petty international conflicts, it is rather sad to read about a society that cherishes love, intellect and cooperation. At the same time it inspires hope that one day we can start living up to our human potential.

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Summary: For philosophers and Huxley fans only
Review: If you are not familiar with Huxley's other works, this book may not be the best place to start. Don't get me wrong, this book is a VERY intriguing examination of what sort of social structure would constitute a human utopia, and also of the sorts of human attitudes that tend to prevent this utopia from coming about. Taken as a work of philosophy, it is a definite winner.

This book has a story, complete with characters, motivations, and plot. However, the story is quite thin, and serves largely as a hypothetical background setting for the illustration of some of Huxley's reflections on human nature. The story is not exactly gripping, and won't provide the sort of entertainment value that some may want.

This book is written, in my opinion, for people who are familiar with the study of philosophy. Philosophers always tend to be a bit long-winded, and frequently make use of analogies (complete with characters and plots) to try to illustrate a lofty and perhaps complicated point. In this book, the characters (and the narrator) spend the vast majority of their time in the exact sorts of long-winded speeches one would expect from a philosopher.

If you are expecting another "Brave New World," you will be disappointed. If, however, you just want to have your imagination stimulated, and to provide yourself with food for thought, then I whole-heartedly recommend this book.

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Summary: Final testament from a 20th century master
Review: If you judge this book solely on its literary merit, you will be disappointed. There isn't much of a plot here, and characterization lacks adequate depth. If on the other hand, you regard this novel as a way to frame a whole set of ideas, you'll be greatly rewarded. Along with Thomas Mann, Huxley is perhaps the most intelligent and well rounded man in the world of 20th century literature, and this work is a culmination of a lifetime of thought about society, science, and the relationship between them. Huxley was a man who actually cared about humankind, and in this book he tells us what it would take to create a perfect society. He seems to have taken great pains to stay clear of science fiction and wrote the most practical utopia he could conceive based on the scientific and technological achievements of his day. Forty years later, the world of Pala lies well within our realm of technological possibility. So why don't we build it? What Huxley indirectly shows is that even when we can do it, we are not willing to pay the price for it. In a world where the market is king, and freedom without responsibility is seen as a given, Pala looks as distant and quaint as the SF worlds of Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke. Even if Pala is not feasible on a nationwide or worldwide scale, this novel has important things to teach us as individuals. It convincingly shows how we are conditioned by our environment and upbringing to behave a certain way. If we change or overcome that conditioning our lives will be transformed, even as we are encroached by the cruel world around us. Island is sure to give food for thought for a long time to come.

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Summary: Huxley's best! Nothing short of absolutely amazing!
Review: If you liked A Brave New World, or, even if you didn't, this book is a must read. It's been analogized to the Bible by those I've lent it to, and I have yet to hear a bad word about it. If you are tired of reading sarcastic utopianistic literature, read Island. It is realistic, while being uplifiting and thought provoking. The only drwback is that its hard to find..

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Summary: Island
Review: In Huxley's more famous book, _Brave New World_, he explains the problems of society and horrifically demonstrates what our world can (perhaps will) become. But in _Island_, he shows us the ideal society, and explains in depth how and why it will work, (I imagine that this book was probably more difficult to write). He leans strongly towards Buddhism, and leans away from capitalism, corporation, production, and industry. Materialism is the downfall of our society today. Although the overall question-answer, question-answer, question-answer format of the book can grow wearisome, his message and ideas are not something you should pass up. Full of wonderful quotes, beautiful ideas, and a tragic ending, _Island_ will force you to find the faults in your own life and country.

Rating:
Summary: Island
Review: In Huxley's more famous book, _Brave New World_, he explains the problems of society and horrifically demonstrates what our world can (perhaps will) become. But in _Island_, he shows us the ideal society, and explains in depth how and why it will work, (I imagine that this book was probably more difficult to write). He leans strongly towards Buddhism, and leans away from capitalism, corporation, production, and industry. Materialism is the downfall of our society today. Although the overall question-answer, question-answer, question-answer format of the book can grow wearisome, his message and ideas are not something you should pass up. Full of wonderful quotes, beautiful ideas, and a tragic ending, _Island_ will force you to find the faults in your own life and country.

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Summary: MIrror image of Brave New World
Review: In Island, Huxley takes all the devices that were used to keep a population dull and in check in his earlier novel, Brave New World, and sets them to a new purpose. Drugs are now used for enlightenment (see also Huxley's works Heaven and Hell and The Doors of Perception). Behavior modification is now for autonomy, not to control. It is a shame this book does not receive more attention, or even one percent of what its mirror image receives.

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Summary: Aldous Huxley - a way to intercultural understanding ?!
Review: In recent years I became more and more interested in culture and cultural differences. In order to understand the latter you first of all have to know your own very well and at least one other. In my opinion Huxley managed to help me with both quite a bit. He provided me a foreign culture explained it, described it to the fullest. True it is fiction but this has the advantage of being complete while in reality it might take you a lifetime to get to know a culture as a whole.

Huxley then makes us watch this culture clash with ours. At that point I realized that the absolute right or wrong does not exists nor does the only true way. I had to put my knowledge and my beliefs into perspective and question everything. I realized that different cultural backgrounds (in sense of a base of knowledge) not only lead to different actions but, even more important, also to different interpretations of what people say and how they react and do things. When I say Huxley made those two cultures clash I do not think of the British journalist interacting with the Palanese. The true clash in my opinion is the young prince of Pala. He is torn between cultures and tries to mix both not knowing that he is about to destroy paradise. You can watch that happen in a lot of countries. People are trying to import parts of foreign "evident culture" which is not compatible to their own "deep culture".

By reading this book I "experienced" cross cultural interaction - It changed my view on cultures and their interaction as much as living abroad did.

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Summary: Another Great Huxley Classic
Review: In this book, Huxley shares with us his view of the perfect society throught the eyes of an English cynic. In true Huxley fashion, we see a utopian world on the brink of destruction by the self-important west. It's a haunting views into Huxley's thoughts on perfecting and destructing society. It is best to read this book with an understanding of Indian religion, and the semantics involved with it, as Huxley uses a lot of Hindu and Buddhist jargon to describe his society. This is a must read for any Huxley fan.

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Summary: Brilliant
Review: Island, in my opinion is probably Aldous Huxley's best work, and also one of the best books I have ever read. For those of you interested in spirituality, this would probably be the book to get started on. It has a good way of telling you what peace and the "Buddha Nature" really does feel like. The book is about a utopian society on an island called Pala. Will Farnaby, 'suffering from the disease called Civilization', lands on the island, in the hope of getting the bid for a lucrative oil contract, but the more of the island he sees, the more he realizes that the island must be saved from civilization at all costs. To say more would be to spoil the story for those of you who have not read it. Needless to say, I liked this book a lot more than I liked Brave New World, or any of his other books. I feel that this was his most pointed attack on our way of life. It can be read and re-read a million times. The ideas contained in it are really refreshing, so refreshing and original that I'm still trying to come up with well founded criticisms. This book is well worth the price, now if only there were more authors who could write like this.