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Summary: Were this farm's livestock the original "Party animals"?
Review: The strongest message I can see this book delivering is the tenacity of elitism. So many political movements try to place the blame for the class system or pecking order on the system they are fighting, when in truth it's a basic facet of human nature. Under communist rule, nations merely trade one elite for another--the bourgeoisie for the Party "central committees". Human nature at its current stage of evolution is not ready for equality. We must never confuse resentment at being lower than we might prefer in the "food chain" with a bona fide belief in equality. It's not the same, as revolutions have proven again and again. The classic saying "everyone is created equal, but some are more equal than others" originated right here in these pages. The allegory to that in this book is the way the pigs lead the "revolution" against the human farmer, and become the new ruling class in the process. As with communism, this is done with a lot of "progressive" doctrine and holier-than-thou pontificating--put 'em under your thumb and make them think they like it. The definition of "treason" or "sedition" remains the same--disagreement with the status quo. The closing line of the Who's classic song comes to mind: "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss."
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Summary: A Superb Social-Political Satire!
Review: Like the many truths about human failings expressed in the ancient Greek and Roman fables, numerous subtle meanings and fundamental truths can be superbly revealed with wit and humor in fable-like tales, such as Animal Farm. This book gives an excellent example of the good and bad aspects of human nature within the social-political context and yet it is set within the Animal Farm fairytale with its marvelous life-like characters. Animal Farm is a must-read for all who love and appreciate the art of satirical writing. My only regret is that there are so few such books newly written these days. So, perhaps you can imagine my pleasure at finding one, which I would sincerely like to recommend in addition to Animal Farm. It describes a fantastic, contemporary science-fantasy adventure tale set in the animal world --- that of an imaginary honeybee society --- to expose our own human ecological short-comings. It is entitled, ACCUSED BY FACET-EYES by C.B.DON. I really enjoyed the wit and humor in this candid eco-social satire as much as Animal Farm. "Accused By Facet-Eyes" presents an all important eco-message and warning in much the same way that the outstanding Animal Farm classic gives its social-political message, and so I would place both these books in the same literary category of social-criticism. Do give both books a try, if you enjoy a thought-provoking read!
Rating: 
Summary: Overall, disappointing
Review: I read this book last year as an assignment. When my teacher described the plot, it all seemed quite interesting and clever. But when I read it, I found it to be utterly disappointing. The plot was not carried out well. The characters were made very generic. I would NOT recommend this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty [bad]!
Review: I didn't like this book at all! I don't care if it was supposed to symbolize history with the Russian Revolution plot but Orwell could've certainly done better to show this historical conflict in a professional and non-fiction type manner than having barn animals fight and kill each other. I wish everyone in this book died cause I didn't care one bit about any of the characters! Orwell didn't make this novel interesting and it seems like a first grader could read this book and like it because everyone at that age thinks that animals fighting is fun. However, I had to read this book in high school and why would I care about this ridiculous nonsense anymore? How dumb did Orwell think I was! I don't get why this book was even published! I advise you not to read this book you will certainly waste your time unless if you're into the silly plots that would never exist in the 21st century
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Summary: one of the best books ever...
Review: This book is brilliant...it's about a society who have been over worked and wronged who finally realizes the they are important as the people who overwork and insalve them..so they revolt and start a revolution. They stand up for their rights...they win the revolution and start there own consitution and live there lives ..but than a hilter like figure sneaky pushes his way to the top and weasels his way to dictatoship...they again must fight against one of their own...what makes this book brillant is that it's twist is it's throu the animals eyes...so is why it's called animal farm. This is a must have in any libary...
Rating:
Summary: Don't Let the Title Fool You
Review: I was asigned this book to read during the summer for school, and at first I thought it would be ridiculous. A book about animals taking over a farm? Boring. Well, it wasn't. It was a tremendous book, and I think I'll read it again just for fun. A story about how power can drive an animal, or a person, to do things that they'd never think of doing. A dispute between leaders and the ruining of a utopian dream. This book covers the aspects of the things that can destroy our own society, and teaches you a great lesson at the end. This book is in a class of its own.
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Summary: Simple Truths
Review: Such a simple, childlike tale. The story it tells, though, is very adult, very dark--and, as eastern Europe and a lot of the rest of the world could testify, it hits the truth dead center. By the way--am I the only one who finds dramatic similarities between ANIMAL FARM and the Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again?"
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Summary: Orwell Cans Communism¿s Conniving Comrades
Review: If you know zilch about the history of the late, unlamented USSR, skip this book, you're not going to get it. The more you know, the more you're bound to admire one of the 20th century's great satires---maybe its greatest. Capitalism, Communism, Lenin, the October Revolution, the Interventions, Stalin, Trotsky, Beria, the KGB, Hitler and the Fascist invasion---all these and more are in there. Orwell savagely attacks the Communist system as it turned out in fact in the USSR, not as it was originally envisioned. Along the way, the various foibles of human nature and fatal tendencies of ruling classes everywhere are held up to his pitiless examination. I will not give a runthrough of the story, but the idea is that animals, representing the working class, overthrow people, representing capitalists, and establish a workers' state---called Animal Farm. Overall, Orwell leads to the question: haven't we gone beyond our abilities to control technology and scientific knowledge ? Our political skills have not kept pace. Since Orwell completed his novel in 1945, the last section of the book, about what would happen to the Soviet Union under Communist plutocrats, was necessarily speculation for him (not for us). In some ways, ANIMAL FARM turned out to be uncannily correct, but in others, passé, because we know what happened thanks to our 57 years' hindsight. Orwell did not predict the rise of the satellite states in Eastern Europe and elsewhere, nor did he see that the building of heavy industry would be co-opted by the armaments race, bankrupting Animal Farm and ultimately bringing it down without a war. But the pigs eventually did turn into humans (i.e. workers became capitalists). Because Communism has crumbled, especially in the former USSR, people may feel ANIMAL FARM is no longer relevant. That would be wrong. We can't justly distribute resources or maintain the planet's environment. Think of the billions of impoverished people, massive pollution, the unending ecological destruction and the menace of genetically engineered everything. Now, more than ever, it seems that our world is an Animal Farm. When we protest, it is made perfectly clear to us---all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others. The Pigs, Dogs, and Sheep are always with us. If you don't understand what I'm talking about, read this book.
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Summary: I am working on this farm
Review: I had to read this book in high school. I recently picked up and read it again. I have an appreciated for this now more than ever. I am working on this farm as we speak. However, I am fortune enough to realize it and will be making my departure very soon. It is unfortune but very common that the oppress often become the oppressors... as with the management on my current platform. However, I have learned a great deal. I have also created an understanding that education is the key. Ignorance and fear of the unknown blocks individual true potential. Often it is when it is to late.
Rating:
Summary: Great Satire
Review: Animal Farm is a book that I actually decided to read (gasp) for fun. Anyway, I thought this was a great book and it can be read by just about anyone (children 10 and up), but it takes some knowledge of the Russian Revolution to get the whole meaning of this book. This book is basically about a farm that is taken over by animals. At first, things go great until Napoleon (Stalin) siezes absolute power and expels Snowball (Trotsky) from Animal Farm. Napoleon proves to be a tyrant and he takes advantage of the rest of the animals (general public) because they are gullible and are basically Napoleon's puppets throughout the whole book. My favorite characters are Moses, (The Church) and Squealer, who is the pig that spreads the propoganda around the farm. This is a very good book and EVERYONE should read it once in their life.
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